referencing objects within objects

I have an object called formCass. Referencing things like $this->sql are no problem. I also have an array, $this->fields, which is an array of fieldClasses within formClass. Within the fieldClass, I do a mysql_fetch_field. Wait, here's the code: <? class fieldClass { var $fetchresult; var $table_result; var $input_type; // text, select, radio, hidden var $sql; // sql statement for select input_type var $title; // display name for field on form var $edit_option; // view-only, edit, hidden var $validate; // function call to validation procedure. var $input_mask; // text of input mask for field. // Methods definition function fieldClass ($result, $field_ofs) $fetchresult = @mysql_fetch_field($result, $field_ofs) or die("Fetch Result failed"); echo "<PRE> blob: $fetchresult->blob max_length: $fetchresult->max_length multiple_key: $fetchresult->multiple_key name: $fetchresult->name not_null: $fetchresult->not_null numeric: $fetchresult->numeric primary_key: $fetchresult->primary_key table: $fetchresult->table type: $fetchresult->type unique_key: $fetchresult->unique_key unsigned: $fetchresult->unsigned zerofill: $fetchresult->zerofill </PRE>"; } } // end of field class definition ?> OK, this works: blob: $fetchresult->blob but I want to be able to reference $fieldClass->fetchresult->blob or even $this->fetchresult->blob So that the contents will be viewable up at the formClass level (I'm really new to all of this, so I've probably shot myself in the foot on three levels already). In essense, I want to be able to reference the contents of $fetchresult array as a property of the formClass. I'm assuming that if its just a function variable, it will disappear when the function ends. What is the referencing structure when going down into classes within classes like this? Is there another route I should be pursuing? Yes, I've read through the manual, but the places I thought of to look don't cover this. I probably haven't looking in the right place. Just a pointer to the proper subject matter will be helpful. What I have started doing is creating functions within the class to return these variables, and functions to set them, like gets and sets in VB, but if there is a less tedious way to do this, I would appreciate knowing it. Dwight