Unexpected parse code '='

[Schlo_50]

[b]Parse error[/b]: parse error, unexpected '=' in [b]/home/www/dombar0.freehostia.com/adduser2.php [/b] on line [b]29[/b]

I keep getting this message after i submit my user registration form. This is my first proper go at a script so i am a n00b to it, although i just can't figure out whats wrong.

Line 29 is this:

[color=blue]£conn=@mysql_connect( "localhost","databaseusername","databasepassword" )[/color]

This is the main script:

<?php
$self=$_SERVER['PHP_SELF'];
$firstname=$_POST['first_name'];
$surname=$_POST['sur_name'];
$username=$_POST['user_name'];
$password=$_POST['password'];

?>

<form action="http://dombar0.freehostia.com/adduser2.php" method="post">
First Name: <input type="text" name="first_name"><br>
Last Name: <input type="text" name="sur_name"><br>
Username: <input type="text" name="user_name"><br>
Password: <input type="text" name="password"><br>
<input type="Submit">
</form>

<?php
if( $firstname and $surname and $username and $password )

{           
             £conn=@mysql_connect( "localhost","databaseusername","databasepassword" )
or die( "Err:Conn" );
$rs = @mysql_select_db( "dombar0_work", $conn )
or die( "Err:Db" );
$sql="INSERT INTO users ( first_name, sur_name, user_name, password)
values ( $firstname, \"surname\", \"username\", \"password\" )";

$rs = mysql_query( $sql, $conn );
if ($rs){ echo( "Records Added:$firstname $surname $username $password" ); }
}
?>

Also, while im here can someone tell me simply what '<form action' is and what i should type after it?

Thanks for any help with either questions guys ;)

Schlo_50

[HuggieBear]

Try changing the [color=red][b]£[/b][/color] at the beginning of the line for a [color=green][b]$[/b][/color] ;)

Regards
Huggie

[Schlo_50]

Thankyou, i checked everything else apart from the '$' signs. lol Now i just need to figure out why the script loaded with no errors but didn't actually add anything to my database..:(

[HuggieBear]

Do you know what the @ in front of the function calls is doing?

@ supresses the error messages.  So if you're having issues with nothing getting into your database then I suggest you remove the @ and try again.

Regards
Huggie

[Schlo_50]

Is my <form action...bit ok? Im not sure what i should put there, although the URL back to the page with the form on it seems to work..

[Schlo_50]

Cheers Huggie, all is working and adding to the database now. I had some spaces where there wern't meant to be so i fixed them and added the password encryption function Mysql uses. Will probably be back soon! lol