testing null strings for form field values

[charles]

if ( $formdata{view_name} ne "" ) {
  $view = $formdata{view_name};
  $viewtag = "1";
}

is there a special method for testing against a null string for a form
field's value? i am using the above data, but it seems to always return
with a value of "1" making me think that something is incorrect in my if
test. the form itself does not have anything default value specified for
view_name.

finally, my questions are starting to deal with perl used within cgi. i'm
a (brand) newbie to perl. should these questions go to beginners@ or
cgi-list@

thanks!!
-charles