Forms and Form Data

Setting and Resetting Form Variables

• Just like the CGI param() method can be used with one argument to get a field value, it can be used with two arguments to set a field value.
• This is important, because any param values over-ride any "value" or "default" settings within the actual form element CGI specifications.
• For example, the following code sets an internal hidden state field to a new value.
  

      # Create a hidden field that maintains state so we know where we
      # are in the sequence of forms.
      $query->param('myState', 'DoPageTwo');    
      print $query->hidden({-name=>'myState'});
  

• Although it looks like it should work, the following code will not modify the state field value correctly any time the script is called with any data.
  

      # Create a hidden field that maintains state so we know where we
      # are in the sequence of forms. (note:  won't work, even though 
      # it looks like it should).
      print $query->hidden({-name=>'myState',
                            -value=>'SomeNewValue'});