Mysql like and stripslashes strangness... Help :)

I'm trying to figure out how to use the $_get command on a string and keep the %'s around the value. Stripslashes removes some of the value. Example below. $test = "%2003%"; Want to use it like this> select * from db where test like '$test'. When I use stripslashes, I get " 03%". I'm trying to allow the user to check a date that contains whatever they wish to search on or a comments field similarly. Any value for $test that starts with an alphanumeric character works fine... ($test = "%t20003%") returns "%t2003%" after stripslashes is ran on the variable. I've searched the web, but have found no examples of how to get around this. Anyone ever had to work through this percent issue? :) Gale L. Allen Jr Macintosh Support Specialist 865/947-5740 "Remember, Love wins over all" (: