$sth=$dbh->do($sql) ||
    &error("Unable to perform update statement:<br /><br />$sql<br /><br />$DBI::errstr\n");
  $updated=$sth->rows;
  $dbh->commit() ||
     &error("Unable to commit changes made by the update statement: <br /><br />$sql<br /><br />$DBI::errstr\n");;
  $sth->finish;