I think you are using HTML::Template in the same way you would CGI.pm, ask yourself why?

If you want to write the HTML in terms of programatically generating HTML, then use CGI.pm. But if you want to separate the logic from the presentation, then use HTML::TEmplate as a templating system, not as a poor substitute for CGI.pm!

I build menues on my sites too. But I actually write them in different ways. So I can maintaint hem OUTSIDE the Perl files.

jdtoronto