...
  my @args = ( 
    '/where/the/program/is/rwcli60',
    "report=$rpt_name",
    'userid=user_id@db',
    'server=my_server',
    'destype=printer',
    "desname=$desname",
    "btch=$btch",
    "record=$record",
    'subbtch=0' );

  my $retval = system( @args );
  die "system failed: $?" unless $retval == 0;