$sql = "SELECT * FROM sp WHERE NOT EXISTS (SELECT * FROM SP,SUPPLIER WHERE SUPPLIER.snum = SP.snum)"; $sth = $dbh->prepare($sql); $sth->execute or die "Error: $DBI::errstr\n"; $sth->bind_col(1,\$spnum); $sth->bind_col(2,\$snum); $sth->bind_col(3,\$pnum); $sth->bind_col(4,\$qty); while($sth->fetch){ $sql = "INSERT INTO sp_err SELECT * FROM sp WHERE spnum = $spnum && snum = $snum"; $sth = $dbh->prepare($sql); $sth->execute or die "Error: $DBI::errstr\n"; print "deleted row"; }