Slick Nick

Hey, Im just learning PHP. Im trying to make my third PHP application, but im not sure about a couple things. First of all, how do you check to see if the username and password actually exists in the MySQL database? So far iv got it so that it takes your username and checks if it is in the database, and then displays that usernames password and email that (s)he registerd with (for testing purposes). Problem is though if you put in a non existant username , it just displays "Your password and email are: - -". I need it so that it makes sure that the password and username both exist in the database For my second problem, how would you make it so that when a certian amount of files are read on a page (the fread(); function) then at the bottom of the page there is a link to go to the next page. For example, 5 files are being displayed on the main page. You add another file(max file limit per page is 5) and then php creates a new page, identicle to the main page but with the new files (or old) being displayed instead. Kind of like on a forum when so many people reply and it creates a new page. Sorry if that was confusing, I explained it as best i could :S I think thats it right now. Il make another topic or post here when I have another problem >_> thanks in advance