Hi, I've been trawling through this script for a fair few hours now trying to find the error. I've made code hacks and all sorts to it, but have not had any luck yet. If someone can find the problem with it, that would be much appreciated! I have commented the code as best I can - if you need clarification - just let me know and I'll try to provide it. Many thanks to those who have a look. Regards, Matt Wombell [code] <?php $link = mysql_connect('localhost', 'xxx', 'xxx') or die('Could not connect: ' . mysql_error()); echo 'Connected successfully'; mysql_select_db('xxx') or die('Could not select database'); //IGNORE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.... note: values for $u, $s, $t, $p, $e, $randcheck, $row are all taken from the db in the missing code below . . . - code removed - site security check! . . //users table query $usertable = "SELECT * FROM `users` WHERE userid='$u'"; $getuser = mysql_query($usertable); $gotuser = mysql_fetch_array($getuser); $user = $gotuser['fname']; //schools table query $schoolstable = "SELECT * FROM `schools` WHERE schid='$s'"; $getsch = mysql_query($schoolstable); $gotsch = mysql_fetch_array($getsch); $sch = $gotsch['school']; $continue = 0; //check the tutor password $tutorpass = $_POST['tutorpass']; $checktutorpass = "SELECT * FROM `users` WHERE userid='$u'"; $tutorpasssql = mysql_query($checktutorpass); $tutorpassfetch = mysql_fetch_array($tutorpasssql); $tutorpasstext = $tutorpassfetch['password']; if (strcmp($tutorpass,$tutorpasstext) == 0) { $continue = 1; } else { echo "wrong password"; } //if tutor password is ok, then continue... while ($continue == 1) { //get box and list values (numerical) from form posted $boxid = $_POST['boxname']; $listid = $_POST['listname']; echo "listid: $listid<br>"; echo "boxid: $boxid<br>"; //add the listid to the box sql table $grabboxsql = "SELECT * FROM `boxinfo` WHERE `boxno` = $boxid"; $doboxsql = mysql_query($grabboxsql); $gotboxsql = mysql_fetch_array($doboxsql); //find list number to assign as (iterate until an empty '$slid' value is found) $sl = 1; while ($sl <= 10){ $slid = "sl".$sl; $whatsl = $gotboxsql["$slid"]; if ($whatsl == 0) { //update the sl(X) value $updatelist = "UPDATE `boxinfo` SET `$slid` = '$listid' WHERE `boxno` = '$boxid'"; $doupdatelist = mysql_query($updatelist); $doneanupdate = 1; break 2; //break out of the two while statements } else { $sl = $sl + 1; //otherwise iterate until an empty '$slid' is found } } } //continues if an update has been done to the '$slid'... while ($doneanupdate == 1) { //find users on the list that has been added to sl(X) $findusersonlist = "SELECT * FROM `lists` WHERE `listid` = '$listid'"; $findusersonlistsql = mysql_query($findusersonlist); $findusersonlistarray = mysql_fetch_array($findusersonlistsql); //find the users in the list (in array order e.g. 1,3,4,5) $fuol = 1; while ($fuol <= 100) { $fuoluser = "userid".$fuol; $fuolvalue = $findusersonlistarray["$fuoluser"]; //finds when a userid is not 0 while ($fuolvalue > 0) { //find first available row with '0' in it $space = 0; while ($space < 500) { $findingspace = "SELECT * FROM `userlists` WHERE `userid` = '$fuol'"; $findingspacesql = mysql_query($findingspace); $findingspacearray = mysql_fetch_array($findingspacesql); $spacevalueid = "box".$space; $spacevalue = $findingspacearray["$spacevalueid"]; if ($spacevalue == 0) { //if empty one is found, update the list value in the `userlists` table $updatespace = mysql_query("UPDATE `userlists` SET `$spacevalueid` = '$boxid' WHERE `userid` = '$fuol'"); //set the update pointer $doneanotherupdate = 1; //echo to say completed and what action done echo "done an insert at $spacevalueid = $boxid where userid = $fuol<br>"; break 2; //break out of the two while statements } else { $space = $space + 1; //otherwise iterate } } } $fuol = $fuol + 1; //iterate $fuol to get new $fuol value to continue thru the array values } } //echo statements to show that the script has completed echo "i think i've inserted the sl value - but please check `boxinfo`!<br>"; echo "done insert of values to users - check - i may be lying!"; /* the issues: will work up to the point where it searches through values that are not in the array and ends up in a loop */ ?>[/code]