mySQL commands in PHP

Does anyone know how to execute mySQL functions and operators from PHP? Typically in mySQL, if I wanted to do this: SELECT lcase(substring(first_name, 1,1)), lcase(last_name) FROM personal_info WHERE row_id ='5'; It'd return my name in the following format: csano But if I do the same thing from a PHP mysql_query function, it doesn't work. Does anyone know how to work around this and enable PHP to read in mySQL specific functions and operators? This really saves a lot of time and headache in programming PHP stuff. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks! Chris ______________________________________ s a n o g r a p h i c s d o t c o m graphics with an ultimately creative touch