$query = mysql_query("SELECT seatid, taken FROM tg"); while ($a = mysql_fetch_array($res)) { $s_array[$a["seatid"]] = $a["taken"]; } function checkseat($id) { global $s_array; if($s_array[$id] == "true") { echo " bgcolor='red'"; } elseif($s_array[$id] == "almost") { echo " bgcolor='orange'"; } else { echo " bgcolor='green'"; } }