Hi Guys, thanks for your quick replies, i appreciate it! I have installed xoops and am checking that out. looks like I should be able to get things up and running quickly and just drop in my own code to fill out the areas that dont quite fit. I'll let you know how i get on. Thanks moberemk! Steelmanronald: I know what you mean, and i think in the future if the site takes off I'll go back and code more of it myself. At the moment I just want to get something up and running to see how it goes, so the less personal coding I have to do the better. I hope i wont get stuck trying to learn someone elses code... been there, done that :( so fingerscrossed! Thanks for the help guys. Mo.