my $sth = $dbh->prepare("UPDATE $table SET upc=$upc WHERE item_id=$item_id;"); die "DBH Error:" . $dbh->errstr . "\n" if (!$sth); if (!$sth->execute) { # Oops! $item_id doesn't exist in $table so add it. my $sth = $dbh->prepare("INSERT INTO $table (item_id, upc) VALUES($item_id, $upc);"); die "DBH Error:" . $dbh->errstr . "\n" if (!$sth); die "STH Error:" . $sth->errstr . "\n" if (!$sth->execute); }