You need to print() the return of start_form as it just returns a string of the form tag that it's built up e.g

print start_form( {
              -action  => "action_dbi.cgi",
              -enctype => "application/x-www-form-urlencoded",
              -method  => "post" }
);

__output__

<form method="post" action="action_dbi.cgi" enctype="application/x-www
+-form-urlencoded">
[download]

HTH

_________
broquaint