assistance with html/php get

I have an html/php form where I have a text box where free form info can occupy such as birthdate, weight, height, other personal info. Oh yes, this entire routine was created for me by a friend who has now passed away so I am on my own to debug and/or make changes. Anyways, I wrap text input boxes in an "addslashes" function, which corrected an issue I had with quotes. Except, if I enter someones height, such as 5 ft 11 inch (as: 5' 11" ) While I see the entry in the URL as 5'+11"++ ( etc) What actually get posted is: 5? 11? If I go back in and edit that field, and replace the '?" with the applicable quote (' or "), I still see the same 5'+11"++ in the URL, but this time it does indeed get written into the table as expected. I would appreciate a hint on what I should be looking for to determine where/how the '?' are getting in there. The insert always places 5? 11? while the update always corrects it. I am stumped. -- Jim Pazarena php@paz.bz Haida Gwaii - British Columbia - Canada