so far i have this which might give a better explanation
$colname_albumimage = "-1";
if (isset($GET_['albums.albumID'])) {
$colname_albumimage = $_GET_['albumfilter.albumID'];
}
mysql_select_db($database_rubymain, $rubymain);
$query_albumimage = sprintf("SELECT pictures.picfilepath FROM
pictures WHERE pictures.albumimage = 'Y' AND pictures.albumID =
%s", GetSQLValueString($colname_albumimage, "int"));
$albumimage = mysql_query($query_albumimage, $rubymain) or
die(mysql_error());
$row_albumimage = mysql_fetch_assoc($albumimage);
$totalRows_albumimage = mysql_num_rows($albumimage);