mysql_connect failes w/ variables and defines. why?

Does anyone know why if I pass mysql_connect() or mysql_select_db() parms as variables or defined constants the connection always fails? If I copy and paste the values I assign to the variable or the defined constant it works like a champ. Can anyone explain this? Thanks in advance. -- Dana Holt / danah@home.com Xenos Online http://www.xenosonline.com/ --------------------------- http://www.theydidmewrong.com/ http://www.shedidmewrong.com/ http://www.hedidmewrong.com/ --