registering a session variable from a select * query.

hi, I have been working on updating my user auth section. to authorise users I have a simple select * from my_users if there is a matching row I register the input from a text box (username and password textboxs) once I have the username and passsword registered as a sessaion var I want to do another authorisation - not dependant on a text box but from the results of the select so I now do. extra_auth_query="select * from my_users where acount_name ='$login_username' and account_password=PASWORD('$login_pasword')"; run_auth_query=mysql_query($extra_auth_query); Within the select * I return a column called "auth_level", I now want to be able to do this if $auth_level from the select I have just ran =A register the auth level as a session var else echo "you are not allowed in this area get out...." can anyone help with how to get and register the auth_level thanks, Matt.