Would somebody be kind enough to explain why this query produces a false result $latest=mysql_query("SELECT MAX(fee_recd) FROM members",$connectup)or die ("Query failed:<br>$latest<br>Error: " . mysql_error()); but this one doesn't $latest=mysql_query("SELECT fee_recd FROM members ORDER BY fee_recd DESC LIMIT 1",$connectup)or die ("Query failed:<br>$latest<br>Error: " . mysql_error()); Louise -- PHP Database Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php