Tom,
i have hit this problem again, any chance you could throw an eye over it please. I have ruled out the session valiable being the problem but have included the code here as it is in my application. the first block works perfectly the second returns a "Invalid argument value" error.

<% @Language=VBScript  
<% Option Explicit   
<% ' Making sure that the Engineer user is logged in
If SESSION("USER_ROLE") <> "SITE" AND SESSION("USER_ROLE") <> "DEPHEAD" Then
	Response.redirect ("default.asp?timeout=3")
End If

Session.Timeout=5
  
<!--#include file="connection.asp"-->
<!--#include file="adovbs.inc"-->
<%
Dim whattodo, step3_RS, step3_SQL

whattodo = request("what")


Set step3_RS=Server.CreateObject("ADODB.Recordset")
step3_SQL = "SELECT per_stage, per_deph, per_ddate, per_cc FROM web_permit WHERE per_num= '" & SESSION("USER_PERMIT") & "'"
step3_RS.Open step3_SQL, objConn, , adLockOptimistic

If whattodo = "CANCEL" Then
	step3_RS ("per_stage") = "Cancelled"
	step3_RS.Update

---------------------------------------------------------------------


<% @Language=VBScript  
<% Option Explicit   
<%  
If SESSION("USER_ROLE") <> "PURPLE" Then 
	Response.redirect ("default.asp?timeout=5") 
End If 

Session.Timeout=5
  
<!--#include file="connection.asp"-->
<!--#include file="adovbs.inc"-->
<%

Dim step3_RS, step3_SQL
Set step3_RS=Server.CreateObject("ADODB.Recordset")
step3_SQL = "SELECT * FROM web_permit WHERE per_num= '" & SESSION("USER_PERMIT") & "'"
step3_RS.Open step3_SQL, objConn, , adLockOptimistic

If not step3_RS.eof Then
	step3_RS ("per_stage") = "trial"
	step3_RS.Update

Slán
~M

>>hi all
>>i have the following code. it works on page1.asp perfectly, only updating one record, however on page two it updates most records in the table. this is the exact same code char-4-char on the 2 pages, i am really stumped, any ideas?
>>
>>Dim step3_RS, step3_SQL
>>Set step3_RS=Server.CreateObject("ADODB.Recordset")
>>step3_SQL = "SELECT per_stage FROM web_permit WHERE per_num= '" & SESSION("USER_PERMIT") & "'"
>>step3_RS.Open step3_SQL, objConn, , adLockOptimistic
>>
>>step3_RS ("per_stage") = "Claimed"
>>step3_RS.Update
>>
>>Slán
>>~M
>
>Mark;
>
>You know your needs and application design so I am just voicing my opinion from what I see and know. I can only see this code so I am basing my suggestion upon it. I try to avoid Session.
>
>I would not use the Session() in the select statement. Would removing Session be a serious problem?
>
>Tom