use strict;
use warnings;
use CGI qw(:standard);

my %snailmail = (
   Pam => 'pammy@foo.com',
   Sal => 'sally@bar.com',
   Tom => 'tom@there.com',
);

print header,start_html('find it');

print start_form,
   p('Name: ', textfield('name')),
   p('Fetch: ', popup_menu('search',[qw(Exact All)])),
   p(submit('fetch')),
   end_form,
;

if (param('fetch')) {
   if (param('search') eq 'Exact') {
      my $name  = param('name');
      my $email = $snailmail{$name};
      if ($email) {
         print p("$name: $email");
      }
      else {
         print p("'$name' not found in directory");
      }
   }
   else {
      print p("$_: $snailmail{$_}") for sort keys %snailmail;
   }
}
[download]

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)

First of all, your code doesn't compile. Secondly, your indentation is pretty poor. Here's what I think the code should look like: (Not compiled -- just reformatted using perltidy)

if (param()) {
    my $name   = param('name');
    my $update = param('search');

    if ($search eq "Exact") {
        if ($name) {
            if (exists $snailmail{$name})  # Missed closing )
            {
                print "$snailmail{$name}";
            } else {
                print " Name not found in directory ");
            }  # Missed open and closing braces
        } else {
                  print " Please enter a name to search for ";

                  #  Nothing here allows a user to enter a name.
        }  # Missed open and closing bracesA
    } elsif ($search eq " All ") {
              foreach (sort keys %snailmail) {
                  print "$_ : $snailmail{$_} ";
              }
    }  # Missed closing brace
}  # Missed closing brace
[download]

Finally, I'd suggest you do some work running this code through the debugger, trying different values and seeing where it takes you. If you're still stuck after all that, come on back and post again.

hth

if (param())
{
    my %values;
    $values{$_} = param($_)
        for qw( name search );

    if ($values{search} eq 'Exact')
    {
        if ($values{name})
        {
            if (exists $snailmail{$values{name}})
            {
            }
            else
            {
            }
        }
    }
    elsif ($values{search} eq 'All')
    {
    }
}
[download]

This makes sure you only enter keynames in once. The more times you type something, the more likely it is you will typo something.

It's true that the more code, the more potential bugs, but that technique removes perl's ability to warn about variable name typos, unless you're using a locked hash. Better to stick with first-class lexicals in this case.

Also true. This is why I personally use the following variation:

my $useful_object = Useful::Class->new;

$useful_object->$_($cgi->param($_))
    for qw( param1 param2 param3 );
[download]

I get the benefits of hash naming with the benefits of Perl's watchful eye. (Albeit, at runtime and not compiletime, but a decent compromise, imho.)

------
We are the carpenters and bricklayers of the Information Age.

Please remember that I'm crufty and crochety. All opinions are purely mine and all code is untested, unless otherwise specified.