Storing Variable & Function Info

I've run out of ideas. I want to store a variable name and a function call in a text column of a MySQL database and have them interpreted at runtime, but I can't figure out how to do it. Examples: "This is the $nbrtimes you've asked." and "$answer is the square root of sqrt($nbr)." I've tried to figure out "eval()" but don't seem to be able to make it work either. Any ideas? -- Raquel ============================================================ They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. --Benjamin Franklin