You have seemed to have left quite a bit out of your description.

but based on what you did say let me propose an explanation. If i expected that

my $index = $q->param('orderby');
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was to give me the value of a cgi parameter called orderby i would expect to see a html section something like

<input type="text" name="orderby" value="10" />
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But i do not see you posting such a section.