Sorry, it never fails. As soon as I send a mail, I find the answer. My last question was about how to find the names of the tables in aparticular database(just a dump of the names). Well I found out the answer is the following mysql> show TABLES; I did as it told but it still return an empty set. Here are the results: mysql> show tables; Empty set (0.01 sec) mysql> select database(); +------------+ | database() | +------------+ | blackbook | +------------+ 1 row in set (0.00 sec) mysql> use blackbook; Database changed mysql> show tables; Empty set (0.00 sec) mysql> select * from name; +---------+------------+-------------+-----------+---------------+ | name_id | name_first | name_middle | name_last | name_lst_updt | +---------+------------+-------------+-----------+---------------+ | 1 | Michael | K. | Turner | NULL | +---------+------------+-------------+-----------+---------------+ 1 row in set (0.00 sec) You can see that I am attached to a database and that tables exist but 'show tables;' doesn't seem to work. I am sure it is user error but could you please show me my error. Thanks in advance - Blessings, Mike Revelation 1:8 I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. -- The Mighty JC