Mysql like and stripslashes strangness... Help :)

[Allens <ateam3@mac.com>]

I'm trying to figure out how to use the $_get command on a string and 
keep the %'s around the value. Stripslashes removes some of the value. 
Example below.

$test = "%2003%";
 Want to use it like this>  select * from db where test like '$test'.

When I use stripslashes, I get " 03%".
I'm trying to allow the user to check a date that contains whatever 
they wish to search on or a comments field similarly. Any value for 
$test that starts with an alphanumeric character works fine... ($test = 
"%t20003%") returns "%t2003%" after stripslashes is ran on the 
variable. I've searched the web, but have found no examples of how to 
get around this. Anyone ever had to work through this percent issue?
:)
  Gale L. Allen Jr
  Macintosh Support Specialist
865/947-5740

  "Remember, Love wins over all"
(: