check to see if something exists in db

[Anon]

i am wanting to check to see if something, anything is in the colum, what is the proper syntax. For example:

$query = "SELECT * FROM $usertable WHERE (openHouse LIKE '$openHouse' OR '$openHouse' = ' ')

Only I want to see if there is something there and thats it, it doesn't have to be match or be 'LIKE' anything. Basicly it is a check box saying that I want all homes with something in that colum(open houses).

HELP! Thanks in advance for all advice!

[Anon]

SELECT COUNT(*) ....

There will be one result returned, with one field. If that field contains a nonzero value, then there are matching records in the db.

[joeywoodbury]

Thanks, I will try that out