Um, the DATA method is what we are talking about! You just put your template in the DATA section of your Perl script. I use this all the time for simple CGI scripts and examples i post here at the Monastery - but for anything serious, i use another file for the template. As for your overkill problem, the more you use HTML::Template the less the overkill seems to be a problem.

As for your problem at Re: html template in a perl script, have you looked into Template yet? Kake Pugh has an excellent article over at perl.com: How to Avoid Writing Code that demonstrates how well that Class::DBI works with Template Toolkit.

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)