+$cgi->param('duplicate_of_custnum') =~ /^(\d+)$/;
+my $duplicate_of = $1;
+if ( $duplicate_of ) {
+ # then negate all changes to the customer; the only change we should
+ # make is to order a package, if requested
+ $new = qsearchs('cust_main', { 'custnum' => $duplicate_of })
+ # this should never happen
+ or die "nonexistent existing customer (custnum $duplicate_of)";
+}
+