I'm pretty confused, partly because I
had a friend help me write most of this and now im just trying to
add some bits to it. the following part of the
script doesnt seem to do what i want it to

if($es =~ /----------/)
{print "

<form action=/cgi-bin/FormMail.pl method=post name=accept_estimate_cos
+t target=_self id=accept_estimate_cost>
  <input type=hidden name=job_number value=$jn />
  <input type=hidden name=phone_number value=$ph /> 
  <input type=hidden name=agency value=$ag />
  <input type=hidden name=product value=$pr />
  <input type=submit value='Accept Estimate' name=I_accept_the_Estimat
+e>
  </form>
  <form action=/cgi-bin/FormMail.pl method=post name=accept_estimate_c
+ost target=_self id=accept_estimate_cost>
  <input type=hidden name=job_number value=$jn />
  <input type=hidden name=phone_number value=$ph /> 
  <input type=hidden name=agency value=$ag />
  <input type=hidden name=product value=$pr />
  <input type=submit value='Decline Estimate' name=I_decline_the_Estim
+ate>
  </form>
</td></tr>
[download]

regardless of whether "----------" shows up in the file
that is read to memory it never shows the form buttons,
i dont know why.

I actually want the form to show up if $es is not equal
to "----------" but im not sure how to do an
IF NOT type of operation either.
Sorry, Im really new to all this.

In summary: two probs - my logical operation is the opposite of what i need,
and it doesnt actually occur anyway.