if ($type == "INTEGER") {
    $convAnswer = checkInteger($answer);
} elsif ($type eq "DATE") {
    $convAnswer = checkDate($answer);
} elsif ($type eq "IPADDRESS") {
    $convAnswer = checkIpaddress($answer);
} elsif ($type eq "FOO") {
    $convAnswer = checkFoo($answer);
} else {
    die qq(There is no such type as "$type"\n);
}