if ( $x > 10 ) { $query = '(select Name from Customers where CustId=?)' $cust_sth = $dbh->prepare( $query ); $cust_sth->execute( $custid ); } else { $query = '(select Name from Sales where SalesId=? and SalesTerritory=?)' $sales_sth = $dbh->prepare( $query ); $sales_sth->execute( $salesid, $territory ); }