[alane]

Sorry for delay replying but I wanted to use weekent to try out REGEXP suggestion but couldn't get it to work.

Do I just have to replace my original code

PHP Code:

$query = "SELECT 

    model, 

    brand, 

    gc_number, 

    dir, 

    manuals_pdffiles.id, 

    pdf_file, 

    category, 

    pdf_info, 

    DATE_FORMAT(date_available, '%d %b %y') AS Fdate, 

    safety, 

    asbestos,

    class 

FROM 

    manuals_models 

LEFT JOIN 

    manuals_pdffiles ON manual_id = manuals_pdffiles.id 

LEFT JOIN 

    manuals_brands ON brand_id = manuals_brands.id 

WHERE 

    (model like '%$entry%') AND class = 1 

ORDER BY 

    brand, model "; 

with this or do I have to change anything else?

PHP Code:

$sRegExp = preg_replace('/\W/', '[[:punct:][:print:]]*', $entry);

$query = "SELECT

    model,

    brand,

    gc_number,

    dir,

    manuals_pdffiles.id,

    pdf_file,

    category,

    pdf_info,

    DATE_FORMAT(date_available, '%d %b %y') AS Fdate,

    safety,

    asbestos,

    class

FROM

    manuals_models

LEFT JOIN

    manuals_pdffiles ON manual_id = manuals_pdffiles.id

LEFT JOIN

    manuals_brands ON brand_id = manuals_brands.id

WHERE

    model REGEXP '$sRegExp' AND class = 1

ORDER BY

    brand, model "; 

The nested REPLACE version seems to work ok.

Thanks for your help and suggestions.