update
Hi Jason
don't seem to be getting very far as I still have the same issuedespite implementing your last code suggestion
I cant get the search at search.php to behave as I want it to.
I need to search the database and allow the user by means of the drop down box to create their own filter ie show them Males who are asian and who are between 30-40 years old.
The search does work but all of the select boxes seem to want to show the entries for each record.
Are searches supposed to work in this way in mysql?
thanks
Ian