you are correct what I want to do with the date is add a new key called date into the hash so that it maps date->value, then login->time etc, I was thinking that inputting the data would need the column name, followed by the value, fields are always in same order in the data file, I would also like to add a value for site which would contain a code indicating which account is being measured. I really don't know where to go for figuring out how to get this into sql which is my main problem, seems there are not many examples out there for using parameters in a query programmatically I am guessing because stored procedures are the preferred mechanism for doing so. I don't want to build a stored procedure for it as I am not that versed in sql. I guess that would be a viable option to pursue though.