i added:

          print "please enter a username /n";
          my $usernameentered = <STDIN>;

          print "please enter a password /n"; 
          my $passwordentered = <STDIN>;
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to the top of the script i also changed the ? to a real username and password it failed with the following.... DBD::mysql::st execute failed: called with 2 bind variables login.pl line 16. SQL Error: called with 2 bind variables when 0 are needed im guessing this maybe becasue this is where my <STDIN> where meant to go? sorry to keep bombarding you with questions but im really stuck! bogglemaster89 UPDATE- I replaced what I typed with question marks, it runs now, but im not sure what to do to get it to match these passwords and if they dont match through an error.......to the end-user of course not me!