I think that you need to show more of the code. Specifically the bits that create the dropdown list and the bits that interpret the CGI parameters.

And here's a tip. $FORMNAME{'valuename'} is not the "normal way" to access CGI values. If anything, it points to a potentially broken CGI parameter parser.

--
<http://www.dave.org.uk>

"The first rule of Perl club is you do not talk about Perl club."
-- Chip Salzenberg