my oops - here's the "search_item" code...

sub search_item($$$$) {
  #*
  # to search for a list of user IDs which match one criteria (ie: eye
+_clr=1)
  # searches can only happen with the logged in user
  # we must not include the logged in user in the search results!
  # nor should we include those that are banned or security level 888 
+or higher
  #*
  my ($db, $usersRef, $name, $value) = @_; # a DBH && a reference to a
+ list of users to search && the name of the item to search for && the
+ value the named item must be
  my @searched; # a list of UIDs which match the given name=value pair
+s

  my $query = "select ID from users where $name='$value';";
  my $resultsRef = sql_execute($db, $query);
  if ($resultsRef) {
    if (ref $resultsRef eq "ARRAY") {
      # we have multiple hits!
      my @array = @$resultsRef;
      foreach my $hit (@array) {
        # $hit is a hash reference.
        my %hash = %$hit;
        push @searched, $hash{ID};
      }
    } else {
      # we only have one hit!
      my %hash = %$resultsRef;
      push @searched, $hash{ID};
    }
  }

  # it is very possible to have an empty "searched" array.
  # this is totally ok.

  return @searched; # an array of uid's which matched the specified cr
+iteria, minus the logged in user's uid
  #usage: my @results = search_item($db, \@uList, "eyes", "1");
}
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