Maybe you could start by posting all the lines where you call the subroutine (banner($category)). The entire subroutine may not be necessary.

Also, are you warning $var so you can see what happens to the value when it "disappears?" Is it an empty string or undefined? Does it disappear somewhere in the sub, or does it never make it in?

Russ
Brainbench 'Most Valuable Professional' for Perl