Also, since you are using a relative pathname, your current directory might not be what you think - probably better using an absolute path. Also, we don't know what param() does, but if the suffix comes from a file, check that it has been chomped (there might be a new-line at the end).
I type in www.mydomain.com/.../test.pl?f=sdfkjkkk to my browser. I then pick up this filename in my script via $thef=param('f');
I tried chomping it as you suggested, but no difference and I had tried absolute paths. If you see my replies above, it clearly has to do with this picking up using param() Thanks for the reply and any further suggestions!