If you want to change the value of a field from its
  previous value, you have two choices:

  (1) call the param() method to set it.

  (2) use the -override (alias -force) parameter (a new
  feature in version 2.15).  This forces the default value
  to be used, regardless of the previous value:

    print $query->textfield(-name=>'field_name',
                            -default=>'starting value',
                            -override=>1,
                            -size=>50,
                            -maxlength=>80);

jeffa

L-LL-L--L-LL-L--L-LL-L--
-R--R-RR-R--R-RR-R--R-RR
B--B--B--B--B--B--B--B--
H---H---H---H---H---H---
(the triplet paradiddle with high-hat)