#database connection variables defined here with 'our' scope
sub function1 {
	eval {
		my $db = DBI->connect("DBI:mysql:database=$sql_database;host=$sql_host;port=$sql_port", $username, $password,{'RaiseError' => 1});
};
return "some value", "Error: $@" if $@;

}


##</code><code>##

sub function1 {

	my $db=&connect(pass in connection parameters...) 
	if typeof $db = string 
		return "some value", "Error: $db";
}

sub connect{

	eval {
		my $db = 	DBI->connect("DBI:mysql:database=$sql_database;host=$sql_host;port=$sql_port", $username, $password,{'RaiseError' => 1});
};
if $@
	return $@;
else
	return $db
}