Help with message please: Warning: mysql_free_result() expects parameter 1 to be resource, null given in...... line

Question

I would really appreciate some help with my search & results page that is now throwing up the following error:
Warning: mysql_free_result() expects parameter 1 to be resource, null given in...... line (the line number refers to the following code:
mysql_free_result($RSsearchforsale);
mysql_free_result($RsSearchForSale2);
mysql_free_result($RsSearchForSale3);
mysql_free_result($RsSearchForSale4);
I am new to php and am setting up a dynamic site in Dreamweaver (thanks to the Missing Manual – very helpful). I apologise in advanced for my lengthy description of the problem (perhaps get yourself a drink before continuing!)
I have a Search page with 4 list menus where the user can select an option from ANY or ALL of the menus, if a menu is not selected the value posted to the results page will be 'zzz'.
On the results page I have 4 recordsets, all getting the correct results, only one recordset is required to run depending on how many of the menus from the search page have been selected and a test is run before executing the sql using a SWITCH statement checking how many of the menus had passed the 'zzz' values from the Search page if you see what I mean. The results page  has Repeating Regions, Recordset Paging and Display Record Count. The exact result that I require are generated by this method.
THE PROBLEM, when a user makes a selection the first page of 10 results is fine, but the error message above is shown at the bottom of the page, AND when the user clicks NEXT to go to the next page of results THERE ARE NO RESULTS.
This is exactly what happens depending on how many menus selected and which recordset is used:
4 menus selected from Search: runs RSsearchforsale, results correct but 3 error messages on 1st page relating to mysql_free_result($RsSearchForSale2),mysql_free_result($RsSearchForSale3), & mysql_free_result($RsSearchForSale4). The display record count shows correct results found. NEXT page is empty of results and still shows the correct display record count as if it should be displaying the records, also has the same 3 error messages.
3 menus selected from Search:  runs RsSearchForSale2, results correct but 3 error messages on 1st page relating to mysql_free_result($RSsearchforsale),mysql_free_result($RsSearchForSale3), & mysql_free_result($RsSearchForSale4). The display record count shows correct number of results. NEXT page shows results from the  DEFAULT setting of the recordset and the Display record count reflects this new set of results. Also still shows the 3 mysql_free_results for RsSearchForSale2, 3 and 4.
2 menus selected from Search: runs   RsSearchForSale3, results correct but 2 error messages on 1st page relating to  mysql_free_result($RSsearchforsale) & mysql_free_result (RsSearchForSale4). The display record count is correct. NEXT page does exactly the same as described in above 3 menus selected.
1 menu selected from search: runs RsSearchForSale4, results correct but 1 error meaasge on 1st page, mysql_free_result($RSsearchforsale). Display record count is correct and again when NEXT page is selected does as described in above where 2 or 3 menus selected.
If you have gotten this far without falling asleep then thank you and well done! I have pasted my code below and I know its a lot to ask but please please can you give me an idea as to where or why I have gone wrong. I felt I was so close at perfecting this search and have been working on it for weeks now. I feel sure the problem is because I have 4 recordsets on the page but I could find no other way to get the exact results I wanted from the menus.
Looking forward to any help.
<?php require_once('Connections/propertypages.php'); ?>
<?php if (!function_exists("GetSQLValueString")) {
function GetSQLValueString($theValue, $theType, $theDefinedValue = "", $theNotDefinedValue = "")
  $theValue = get_magic_quotes_gpc() ? stripslashes($theValue) : $theValue;
  $theValue = function_exists("mysql_real_escape_string") ? mysql_real_escape_string($theValue) : mysql_escape_string($theValue);
  switch ($theType) {
    case "text":
      $theValue = ($theValue != "") ? "'" . $theValue . "'" : "NULL";
      break;   
    case "long":
    case "int":
      $theValue = ($theValue != "") ? intval($theValue) : "NULL";
      break;
    case "double":
      $theValue = ($theValue != "") ? "'" . doubleval($theValue) . "'" : "NULL";
      break;
    case "date":
      $theValue = ($theValue != "") ? "'" . $theValue . "'" : "NULL";
      break;
    case "defined":
      $theValue = ($theValue != "") ? $theDefinedValue : $theNotDefinedValue;
      break;
  return $theValue;
$currentPage = $_SERVER["PHP_SELF"];
$maxRows_RSsearchforsale = 10;
$pageNum_RSsearchforsale = 0;
if (isset($_GET['pageNum_RSsearchforsale'])) {
  $pageNum_RSsearchforsale = $_GET['pageNum_RSsearchforsale'];
$startRow_RSsearchforsale = $pageNum_RSsearchforsale * $maxRows_RSsearchforsale;
$varloc_RSsearchforsale = "mpl";
if (isset($_POST['location'])) {
  $varloc_RSsearchforsale = $_POST['location'];
$vartype_RSsearchforsale = "vil";
if (isset($_POST['type'])) {
  $vartype_RSsearchforsale = $_POST['type'];
$varprice_RSsearchforsale = "pr9";
if (isset($_POST['price'])) {
  $varprice_RSsearchforsale = $_POST['price'];
$varbed_RSsearchforsale = "b5";
if (isset($_POST['beds'])) {
  $varbed_RSsearchforsale = $_POST['beds'];
switch (true) {
case ($varloc_RSsearchforsale != 'zzz' && $vartype_RSsearchforsale != 'zzz' && $varprice_RSsearchforsale != 'zzz' && $varbed_RSsearchforsale != 'zzz'):
mysql_select_db($database_propertypages, $propertypages);
$query_RSsearchforsale = sprintf("SELECT DISTINCT trueprice,`desc`, `propid`, `bathrooms`, `photo1`, locationtable.loc, typetable.style, bedtable.`number` FROM detailstable JOIN locationtable ON detailstable.location=locationtable.locid JOIN typetable ON detailstable.type=typetable.typeid JOIN pricetable ON detailstable.price=pricetable.priceid JOIN bedtable ON detailstable.beds=bedtable.bedid WHERE location=%s AND price=%s AND type=%s AND beds=%s ORDER BY detailstable.trueprice ASC", GetSQLValueString($varloc_RSsearchforsale, "text"),GetSQLValueString($varprice_RSsearchforsale, "text"),GetSQLValueString($vartype_RSsearchforsale, "text"),GetSQLValueString($varbed_RSsearchforsale, "text"));
$query_limit_RSsearchforsale = sprintf("%s LIMIT %d, %d", $query_RSsearchforsale, $startRow_RSsearchforsale, $maxRows_RSsearchforsale);
$RSsearchforsale = mysql_query($query_limit_RSsearchforsale, $propertypages) or die(mysql_error());
$row_RSsearchforsale = mysql_fetch_assoc($RSsearchforsale);
if (isset($_GET['totalRows_RSsearchforsale'])) {
  $totalRows_RSsearchforsale = $_GET['totalRows_RSsearchforsale'];
} else {
  $all_RSsearchforsale = mysql_query($query_RSsearchforsale);
  $totalRows_RSsearchforsale = mysql_num_rows($all_RSsearchforsale);
$totalPages_RSsearchforsale = ceil($totalRows_RSsearchforsale/$maxRows_RSsearchforsale)-1;
$queryString_RSsearchforsale = "";
if (!empty($_SERVER['QUERY_STRING'])) {
  $params = explode("&", $_SERVER['QUERY_STRING']);
  $newParams = array();
  foreach ($params as $param) {
    if (stristr($param, "pageNum_RSsearchforsale") == false &&
        stristr($param, "totalRows_RSsearchforsale") == false) {
      array_push($newParams, $param);
  if (count($newParams) != 0) {
    $queryString_RSsearchforsale = "&" . htmlentities(implode("&", $newParams));
$queryString_RSsearchforsale = sprintf("&totalRows_RSsearchforsale=%d%s", $totalRows_RSsearchforsale, $queryString_RSsearchforsale); } ?>
<?php require_once('Connections/propertypages.php'); ?>
<?php if (!function_exists("GetSQLValueString")) {
function GetSQLValueString($theValue, $theType, $theDefinedValue = "", $theNotDefinedValue = "")
  $theValue = get_magic_quotes_gpc() ? stripslashes($theValue) : $theValue;
  $theValue = function_exists("mysql_real_escape_string") ? mysql_real_escape_string($theValue) : mysql_escape_string($theValue);
  switch ($theType) {
    case "text":
      $theValue = ($theValue != "") ? "'" . $theValue . "'" : "NULL";
      break;   
    case "long":
    case "int":
      $theValue = ($theValue != "") ? intval($theValue) : "NULL";
      break;
    case "double":
      $theValue = ($theValue != "") ? "'" . doubleval($theValue) . "'" : "NULL";
      break;
    case "date":
      $theValue = ($theValue != "") ? "'" . $theValue . "'" : "NULL";
      break;
    case "defined":
      $theValue = ($theValue != "") ? $theDefinedValue : $theNotDefinedValue;
      break;
  return $theValue;
$currentPage = $_SERVER["PHP_SELF"];
$maxRows_RsSearchForSale2 = 10;
$pageNum_RsSearchForSale2 = 0;
if (isset($_GET['pageNum_RsSearchForSale2'])) {
  $pageNum_RsSearchForSale2 = $_GET['pageNum_RsSearchForSale2'];
$startRow_RsSearchForSale2 = $pageNum_RsSearchForSale2 * $maxRows_RsSearchForSale2;
$varloc2_RsSearchForSale2 = "mpl";
if (isset($_POST['location'])) {
  $varloc2_RsSearchForSale2 = $_POST['location'];
$varprice2_RsSearchForSale2 = "p9";
if (isset($_POST['price'])) {
  $varprice2_RsSearchForSale2 = $_POST['price'];
$vartype2_RsSearchForSale2 = "vil";
if (isset($_POST['type'])) {
  $vartype2_RsSearchForSale2 = $_POST['type'];
$varbed2_RsSearchForSale2 = "b5";
if (isset($_POST['beds'])) {
  $varbed2_RsSearchForSale2 = $_POST['beds'];
switch (true) {
case ($varloc2_RsSearchForSale2 == 'zzz'):
case ($varprice2_RsSearchForSale2 == 'zzz'):
case ($vartype2_RsSearchForSale2 == 'zzz'):
case ($varbed2_RsSearchForSale2 == 'zzz'):
mysql_select_db($database_propertypages, $propertypages);
$query_RsSearchForSale2 = sprintf("SELECT DISTINCT trueprice,`desc`, `propid`, `bathrooms`, `photo1`, locationtable.loc, typetable.style, bedtable.`number` FROM detailstable JOIN locationtable ON detailstable.location=locationtable.locid JOIN typetable ON detailstable.type=typetable.typeid JOIN pricetable ON detailstable.price=pricetable.priceid JOIN bedtable ON detailstable.beds=bedtable.bedid WHERE (location=%s AND price=%s AND type=%s) OR (location=%s AND price=%s AND beds=%s) OR (location=%s AND type=%s AND beds=%s) OR (price=%s AND type=%s AND beds=%s) ORDER BY detailstable.trueprice ASC", GetSQLValueString($varloc2_RsSearchForSale2, "text"),GetSQLValueString($varprice2_RsSearchForSale2, "text"),GetSQLValueString($vartype2_RsSearchForSale2, "text"),GetSQLValueString($varloc2_RsSearchForSale2, "text"),GetSQLValueString($varprice2_RsSearchForSale2, "text"),GetSQLValueString($varbed2_RsSearchForSale2, "text"),GetSQLValueString($varloc2_RsSearchForSale2, "text"),GetSQLValueString($vartype2_RsSearchForSale2, "text"),GetSQLValueString($varbed2_RsSearchForSale2, "text"),GetSQLValueString($varprice2_RsSearchForSale2, "text"),GetSQLValueString($vartype2_RsSearchForSale2, "text"),GetSQLValueString($varbed2_RsSearchForSale2, "text"));
$query_limit_RsSearchForSale2 = sprintf("%s LIMIT %d, %d", $query_RsSearchForSale2, $startRow_RsSearchForSale2, $maxRows_RsSearchForSale2);
$RsSearchForSale2 = mysql_query($query_limit_RsSearchForSale2, $propertypages) or die(mysql_error());
$row_RsSearchForSale2 = mysql_fetch_assoc($RsSearchForSale2);
if (isset($_GET['totalRows_RsSearchForSale2'])) {
  $totalRows_RsSearchForSale2 = $_GET['totalRows_RsSearchForSale2'];
} else {
  $all_RsSearchForSale2 = mysql_query($query_RsSearchForSale2);
  $totalRows_RsSearchForSale2 = mysql_num_rows($all_RsSearchForSale2);
$totalPages_RsSearchForSale2 = ceil($totalRows_RsSearchForSale2/$maxRows_RsSearchForSale2)-1;
$queryString_RsSearchForSale2 = "";
if (!empty($_SERVER['QUERY_STRING'])) {
  $params = explode("&", $_SERVER['QUERY_STRING']);
  $newParams = array();
  foreach ($params as $param) {
    if (stristr($param, "pageNum_RsSearchForSale2") == false &&
        stristr($param, "totalRows_RsSearchForSale2") == false) {
      array_push($newParams, $param);
  if (count($newParams) != 0) {
    $queryString_RsSearchForSale2 = "&" . htmlentities(implode("&", $newParams));
$queryString_RsSearchForSale2 = sprintf("&totalRows_RsSearchForSale2=%d%s", $totalRows_RsSearchForSale2, $queryString_RsSearchForSale2);
}?>
<?php require_once('Connections/propertypages.php'); ?>
<?php if (!function_exists("GetSQLValueString")) {
function GetSQLValueString($theValue, $theType, $theDefinedValue = "", $theNotDefinedValue = "")
  $theValue = get_magic_quotes_gpc() ? stripslashes($theValue) : $theValue;
  $theValue = function_exists("mysql_real_escape_string") ? mysql_real_escape_string($theValue) : mysql_escape_string($theValue);
  switch ($theType) {
    case "text":
      $theValue = ($theValue != "") ? "'" . $theValue . "'" : "NULL";
      break;   
    case "long":
    case "int":
      $theValue = ($theValue != "") ? intval($theValue) : "NULL";
      break;
    case "double":
      $theValue = ($theValue != "") ? "'" . doubleval($theValue) . "'" : "NULL";
      break;
    case "date":
      $theValue = ($theValue != "") ? "'" . $theValue . "'" : "NULL";
      break;
    case "defined":
      $theValue = ($theValue != "") ? $theDefinedValue : $theNotDefinedValue;
      break;
  return $theValue;
$currentPage = $_SERVER["PHP_SELF"];
$maxRows_RsSearchForSale3 = 10;
$pageNum_RsSearchForSale3 = 0;
if (isset($_GET['pageNum_RsSearchForSale3'])) {
  $pageNum_RsSearchForSale3 = $_GET['pageNum_RsSearchForSale3'];
$startRow_RsSearchForSale3 = $pageNum_RsSearchForSale3 * $maxRows_RsSearchForSale3;
$varloc3_RsSearchForSale3 = "mpl";
if (isset($_POST['location'])) {
  $varloc3_RsSearchForSale3 = $_POST['location'];
$varprice3_RsSearchForSale3 = "p9";
if (isset($_POST['price'])) {
  $varprice3_RsSearchForSale3 = $_POST['price'];
$vartype3_RsSearchForSale3 = "vil";
if (isset($_POST['type'])) {
  $vartype3_RsSearchForSale3 = $_POST['type'];
$varbed3_RsSearchForSale3 = "b5";
if (isset($_POST['beds'])) {
  $varbed3_RsSearchForSale3 = $_POST['beds'];
switch (true) {
case ($varloc3_RsSearchForSale3 == 'zzz' && $varprice3_RsSearchForSale3 == 'zzz'):
case ($varprice3_RsSearchForSale3 == 'zzz' && $vartype3_RsSearchForSale3 == 'zzz'):
case ($vartype3_RsSearchForSale3 == 'zzz' && $varbed3_RsSearchForSale3 == 'zzz' ):
case ($varbed3_RsSearchForSale3 == 'zzz' && $varloc3_RsSearchForSale3 == 'zzz'):
case ($varloc3_RsSearchForSale3 == 'zzz' && $vartype3_RsSearchForSale3 == 'zzz'):
case ($varprice3_RsSearchForSale3 == 'zzz' && $varbed3_RsSearchForSale3 == 'zzz'):
mysql_select_db($database_propertypages, $propertypages);
$query_RsSearchForSale3 = sprintf("SELECT DISTINCT trueprice,`desc`, `propid`, `bathrooms`, `photo1`, locationtable.loc, typetable.style, bedtable.`number` FROM detailstable JOIN locationtable ON detailstable.location=locationtable.locid JOIN typetable ON detailstable.type=typetable.typeid JOIN pricetable ON detailstable.price=pricetable.priceid JOIN bedtable ON detailstable.beds=bedtable.bedid WHERE (location=%s AND price=%s) OR (location=%s AND  type=%s) OR (location=%s AND beds=%s) OR ( type=%s AND beds=%s) OR (price=%s AND type=%s) OR (price=%s AND beds=%s) ORDER BY detailstable.trueprice ASC", GetSQLValueString($varloc3_RsSearchForSale3, "text"),GetSQLValueString($varprice3_RsSearchForSale3, "text"),GetSQLValueString($varloc3_RsSearchForSale3, "text"),GetSQLValueString($vartype3_RsSearchForSale3, "text"),GetSQLValueString($varloc3_RsSearchForSale3, "text"),GetSQLValueString($varbed3_RsSearchForSale3, "text"),GetSQLValueString($vartype3_RsSearchForSale3, "text"),GetSQLValueString($varbed3_RsSearchForSale3, "text"),GetSQLValueString($varprice3_RsSearchForSale3, "text"),GetSQLValueString($vartype3_RsSearchForSale3, "text"),GetSQLValueString($varprice3_RsSearchForSale3, "text"),GetSQLValueString($varbed3_RsSearchForSale3, "text"));
$query_limit_RsSearchForSale3 = sprintf("%s LIMIT %d, %d", $query_RsSearchForSale3, $startRow_RsSearchForSale3, $maxRows_RsSearchForSale3);
$RsSearchForSale3 = mysql_query($query_limit_RsSearchForSale3, $propertypages) or die(mysql_error());
$row_RsSearchForSale3 = mysql_fetch_assoc($RsSearchForSale3);
if (isset($_GET['totalRows_RsSearchForSale3'])) {
  $totalRows_RsSearchForSale3 = $_GET['totalRows_RsSearchForSale3'];
} else {
  $all_RsSearchForSale3 = mysql_query($query_RsSearchForSale3);
  $totalRows_RsSearchForSale3 = mysql_num_rows($all_RsSearchForSale3);
$totalPages_RsSearchForSale3 = ceil($totalRows_RsSearchForSale3/$maxRows_RsSearchForSale3)-1;
$queryString_RsSearchForSale3 = "";
if (!empty($_SERVER['QUERY_STRING'])) {
  $params = explode("&", $_SERVER['QUERY_STRING']);
  $newParams = array();
  foreach ($params as $param) {
    if (stristr($param, "pageNum_RsSearchForSale3") == false &&
        stristr($param, "totalRows_RsSearchForSale3") == false) {
      array_push($newParams, $param);
  if (count($newParams) != 0) {
    $queryString_RsSearchForSale3 = "&" . htmlentities(implode("&", $newParams));
$queryString_RsSearchForSale3 = sprintf("&totalRows_RsSearchForSale3=%d%s", $totalRows_RsSearchForSale3, $queryString_RsSearchForSale3);
} ?>
<?php require_once('Connections/propertypages.php'); ?>
<?php if (!function_exists("GetSQLValueString")) {
function GetSQLValueString($theValue, $theType, $theDefinedValue = "", $theNotDefinedValue = "")
  $theValue = get_magic_quotes_gpc() ? stripslashes($theValue) : $theValue;
  $theValue = function_exists("mysql_real_escape_string") ? mysql_real_escape_string($theValue) : mysql_escape_string($theValue);
  switch ($theType) {
    case "text":
      $theValue = ($theValue != "") ? "'" . $theValue . "'" : "NULL";
      break;   
    case "long":
    case "int":
      $theValue = ($theValue != "") ? intval($theValue) : "NULL";
      break;
    case "double":
      $theValue = ($theValue != "") ? "'" . doubleval($theValue) . "'" : "NULL";
      break;
    case "date":
      $theValue = ($theValue != "") ? "'" . $theValue . "'" : "NULL";
      break;
    case "defined":
      $theValue = ($theValue != "") ? $theDefinedValue : $theNotDefinedValue;
      break;
  return $theValue;
$currentPage = $_SERVER["PHP_SELF"];
$maxRows_RsSearchForSale4 = 10;
$pageNum_RsSearchForSale4 = 0;
if (isset($_GET['pageNum_RsSearchForSale4'])) {
  $pageNum_RsSearchForSale4 = $_GET['pageNum_RsSearchForSale4'];
$startRow_RsSearchForSale4 = $pageNum_RsSearchForSale4 * $maxRows_RsSearchForSale4;
$varloc4_RsSearchForSale4 = "mpl";
if (isset($_POST['location'])) {
  $varloc4_RsSearchForSale4 = $_POST['location'];
$vartype4_RsSearchForSale4 = "vil";
if (isset($_POST['type'])) {
  $vartype4_RsSearchForSale4 = $_POST['type'];
$varprice4_RsSearchForSale4 = "p9";
if (isset($_POST['price'])) {
  $varprice4_RsSearchForSale4 = $_POST['price'];
$varbed4_RsSearchForSale4 = "b5";
if (isset($_POST['beds'])) {
  $varbed4_RsSearchForSale4 = $_POST['beds'];
switch (true) {
case ($varloc4_RsSearchForSale4 == 'zzz' && $vartype4_RsSearchForSale4 =='zzz' && $varprice4_RsSearchForSale4 == 'zzz'):
case ($varloc4_RsSearchForSale4 == 'zzz' && $varprice4_RsSearchForSale4 =='zzz' && $varbed4_RsSearchForSale4 == 'zzz'):
case ($varloc4_RsSearchForSale4 == 'zzz' && $varbed4_RsSearchForSale4 =='zzz' && $vartype4_RsSearchForSale4 == 'zzz'):
case ($varbed4_RsSearchForSale4 == 'zzz' && $vartype4_RsSearchForSale4 =='zzz' && $varprice4_RsSearchForSale4 == 'zzz'):
mysql_select_db($database_propertypages, $propertypages);
$query_RsSearchForSale4 = sprintf("SELECT DISTINCT trueprice,`desc`, `propid`, `bathrooms`, `photo1`, locationtable.loc, typetable.style, bedtable.`number` FROM detailstable JOIN locationtable ON detailstable.location=locationtable.locid JOIN typetable ON detailstable.type=typetable.typeid JOIN pricetable ON detailstable.price=pricetable.priceid JOIN bedtable ON detailstable.beds=bedtable.bedid WHERE location=%s OR price=%s OR type=%s OR beds=%s ORDER BY detailstable.trueprice ASC", GetSQLValueString($varloc4_RsSearchForSale4, "text"),GetSQLValueString($varprice4_RsSearchForSale4, "text"),GetSQLValueString($vartype4_RsSearchForSale4, "text"),GetSQLValueString($varbed4_RsSearchForSale4, "text"));
$query_limit_RsSearchForSale4 = sprintf("%s LIMIT %d, %d", $query_RsSearchForSale4, $startRow_RsSearchForSale4, $maxRows_RsSearchForSale4);
$RsSearchForSale4 = mysql_query($query_limit_RsSearchForSale4, $propertypages) or die(mysql_error());
$row_RsSearchForSale4 = mysql_fetch_assoc($RsSearchForSale4);
if (isset($_GET['totalRows_RsSearchForSale4'])) {
  $totalRows_RsSearchForSale4 = $_GET['totalRows_RsSearchForSale4'];
} else {
  $all_RsSearchForSale4 = mysql_query($query_RsSearchForSale4);
  $totalRows_RsSearchForSale4 = mysql_num_rows($all_RsSearchForSale4);
$totalPages_RsSearchForSale4 = ceil($totalRows_RsSearchForSale4/$maxRows_RsSearchForSale4)-1;
$queryString_RsSearchForSale4 = "";
if (!empty($_SERVER['QUERY_STRING'])) {
  $params = explode("&", $_SERVER['QUERY_STRING']);
  $newParams = array();
  foreach ($params as $param) {
    if (stristr($param, "pageNum_RsSearchForSale4") == false &&
        stristr($param, "totalRows_RsSearchForSale4") == false) {
      array_push($newParams, $param);
  if (count($newParams) != 0) {
    $queryString_RsSearchForSale4 = "&" . htmlentities(implode("&", $newParams));
$queryString_RsSearchForSale4 = sprintf("&totalRows_RsSearchForSale4=%d%s", $totalRows_RsSearchForSale4, $queryString_RsSearchForSale4);
}?>

Answer 1

Hi David,
Thank you for your reply and patience, we are getting closer in spite of me!
Of course i needed to change the name of the recordset, i did that the first time i did it (when i got the error), the when i re did it i forgot, in my defense i was also trying to get a full understanding of the code using the W3Schools php reference and writing by the side of the code on a piece of paper what it meant in English.
Anyway after re doing the code correctly it still displayed all the records of my database but i realised that was because i was POSTING from the search form and when i changed it to the GET method I now get results when all 4  list menus are selected from and the paging works. After reading about the POST / GET method i chose the POST option, is the GET method a better option in my circumstance?
On my site now if the user selects from 1,2 or 3 of the menus rather than selecting the relevant records it displays the NO RESULT page, I would like my users to be able to select from all of the menus or ANY combination of the menus and find exact results for their search, for example if they only select a location and a price i want it display all records that match that location and price with any number of bedrooms and any Type of property: Perhaps this is due to how my list menus are set up, for each menu the first Item label is Location (or Beds or Type or Price) and the value i have left blank which i believe means that it will use the item label as the value, the second Item label for all menus is Any and again the value has been left blank. All other item labels have values relevant to database records.  
I do look forward to your reply and cannot thank you enough for following this through with me, please continue to bare with me just a little more,
best regards
Tessimon
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:56:24 -0700
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Help with message please:  Warning: mysql_free_result() expects parameter 1 to be resource, null given in...... line
You're not adding the WHERE clause to the SQL query. My example code uses $query_search. You need to change that variable to match the name of your recordset, i.e. $query_RSsearchforsale.
Moreover, the WHERE clause needs to go before ORDER BY.
$query_RSsearchforsale = "SELECT trueprice,`desc`, `propid`, `bathrooms`, `location`, `type`, `price`, `beds`, `photo1`, locationtable.loc, typetable.style, bedtable.`number` FROM detailstable JOIN locationtable ON detailstable.location=locationtable.locid JOIN typetable ON detailstable.type=typetable.typeid JOIN pricetable ON detailstable.price=pricetable.priceid JOIN bedtable ON detailstable.beds=bedtable.bedid ";
// Set a flag to indicate whether the query has a WHERE clause
$where = false;
// Loop through the associatiave array of expected search values
foreach ($expected as $var => $type) {
  if (isset($_GET[$var])) {
    $value = trim(urldecode($_GET[$var]));
    if (!empty($value)) {
      // Check if the value begins with > or <
      // If so, use it as the operator, and extract the value
      if ($value[0] == '>' || $value[0] == '<') {
        $operator = $value[0];
        $value = ltrim(substr($value, 1));
      } elseif (strtolower($type) != 'like') {
        $operator = '=';
      // Check if the WHERE clause has been added yet
      if ($where) {
        $query_RSsearchforsale .= ' AND ';
      } else {
        $query_RSsearchforsale .= ' WHERE ';
        $where = true;
      // Build the SQL query using the right operator and data type
      $type = strtolower($type);
      switch($type) {
        case 'like':
          $query_RSsearchforsale .= "`$var` LIKE " . GetSQLValueString('%' .
$value . '%', "text");
          break;
        case 'int':
        case 'double':
        case 'date':
          $query_RSsearchforsale .= "`$var` $operator " .
GetSQLValueString($value, "$type");
          break;
        default:
        $query_RSsearchforsale .= "`$var` = " . GetSQLValueString($value,
"$type");
$query_RSsearchforsale .= ' ORDER BY detailstable.trueprice ASC';
>