MySQL connect function

Hi all I know this is a somewhat lazy request, but here's my situation: I have multiple files in which i need to connect to a MySQL database. Instead of typing out the connection each time for each file, I want to just create a connect.php file that says: <?PHP function connect($sql){ [i'll leave out syntax, but yes, it works fine when NOT being included] } ?> then in the files i need to connect, i'd like to say: require "connect.php"; $sql_result = connect($sql); then later on i call the $sql_result: while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($sql_result)){ and get an error.....now, i didn't think it mattered that i used mysql_fetch_array after i've already closed the connection in the included file, because i still have the result.....yet i received an error...... is this technique just plain stupid, can it work, or does anyone have a suggestion to easily accomplish a similar thing? Much thanks! Jack Dempsey