use vars qw($Status); $Status = "initializing..."; my $mw = MainWindow->new(); my $frameStatus = $mw->Frame(-relief => 'ridge', -border => 2)->pack(-side => 'bottom', -fill => 'x'); $frameStatus->Label(-text => 'Status: ')->pack(-side => 'left'); $frameStatus->Label(-textvariable => \$Status)->pack(-side => 'left');