2 possibilities: either you put the defined value instead of the definition down in the option value (but i'm sure you thought of this one) or you use "echo constant($_POST['myType']);". Or GET, depending on how you send your form. Hey, this time I learned something, too! I found it in the php helpfile, making my way from define to a chapter about constants, to this function. Here, if you're looking for functionality things, I think it's better than the online documentation: http://www.php.net/download-docs.php -----Original Message----- From: Ng Hwee Hwee [mailto:hhwee@xxxxxxxxxxx] Sent: 13 October 2005 07:13 To: PHP DB List Subject: Defined Constants Hi all, just a very simple question. my form has the following define statements and select box: define("JOVIAL", "likes to joke alot"); define("CHEERFUL", "always wears a smile on his face"); define("ADVENTUROUS", "likes sports and plays well too"); define("MYSTERIOUS", "there's always something to discover everyday"); <select name="myType"> <option value="JOVIAL"><?=JOVIAL;?></option> <option value="CHEERFUL"><?=CHEERFUL;?></option> <option value="ADVENTUROUS"><?=ADVENTUROUS;?></option> <option value="MYSTERIOUS"><?=MYSTERIOUS;?></option> </select> after i post my form, the value $myType will be one of my define statements. For example, user chooses "CHEERFUL" thus when i echo $myType, I will get "CHEERFUL" but actually, what i really want to get is "always wears a smile on his face". can someone advise me how i can achieve this?? sounds simple but i really don't know how!! =( thanks in advance!! hwee -- PHP Database Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php