I'm trying to learn how to use CGI::Session. After extensive reading all day, googling, POD, etc., I'm at a loss as to why the following won't pass a variable to the next .pl that is called. (I want to use CGI::Session using a hidden field instead of a cookie). The first script runs fine, using HTML::Template, and prints the following at the bottom:

     my sid is: 004493c708b377edb6b73dbc5f6b9e61
     my f_name is: CGI::Session::File=HASH(0x1b303c)

The second script opens up Excel nicely but gives me an error message. NOTE: $sid is passed via a hidden field in a form, so I'm expecting it to move to the next script via &call_vars which moves all my other variables. Another note: if $sid didn't exist, use strict would complain.

However, it shows my $sid as being "1" and not the big long alphanumeric string I would have expected. So, since it doesn't appear that the $sid is being passed, I'm not really expecting f_name to show up... but I also wasn't expecting a param error either...

     my sid is: 1
     Software error: Can't call method "param" without a package
     or object reference at /local/.../SCRIPT2.pl line 12.

SCRIPT1 (which contains a button that calls SCRIPT2)

#!/usr/local/bin/perl5_8
use strict;
use HTML::Template;
use CGI::Session;
use CGI ':standard';
my $CGI = CGI->new;

&call_vars;     #this calls via EXPORT all my variables like $sid
$|=1;
print $CGI->header;

my $session = new CGI::Session("driver:File", undef, {Directory=>'/tmp
+'});
$sid = $session->id();

$session->param('f_name', 'Sherzod');     #test variable

#stuff that sets up template, generates @loop_data for template, etc. 
+snipped out
$template->param(passdata => \@loop_data,);
print $template->output();

print "<br>my sid is: $sid<br>";
print "<br>my f_name is: $session<br>";
[download]

SCRIPT2

#!/usr/local/bin/perl5_8
use strict;
use HTML::Template;
use CGI::Session;
use CGI ':standard';
my $CGI = CGI->new;

$|=1;
print $CGI->header(-type => 'application/vnd.ms-excel');  
print "<br>my sid is: $sid<br>";

my $f_name = $session->param('f_name');      #<===   Line 12
print "<br>my f_name is: $f_name<br>";

my $template = HTML::Template->new(filename            => "SCRIPT2.tmp
+l",
                                    associate           => $CGI,
                                    loop_context_vars   => 1,
                                    global_vars         => 1,
                                    associate           => $session
                                    );
[download]

Any clues for the clueless? TIA...