quoth Paul Bennett: > you mean like this (sql statement) > > $sql = "update $jobsTable set partsUsed = partsUsed.'$newData' where > reference = '$id' limit 1"; > ? > > this throws an error in mysql (syntax error) MySQL doesn't have a concatenation operator. Try the CONCAT() function: UPDATE foo SET bar = CONCAT(baz, "qux") ... Each RDBMS seems to have its own method of doing it. PostgreSQL's concatenation operator is '||'. If in doubt, refer to your vendor's documentation :) -- shawn allen mailto://shawn@alterior.net phone://415.577.3961 http://alterior.net aim://shawnpallen