PHP not working, help me debug plz

[AmazingAnt]

ok, i have the following code:

<? php
echo "<form action='****.php' method=post><input type='hidden' name='filenumber' maxlength='5' value='";
echo $number;
echo "'><input type='submit' value='Next File'></form>";
?>

it's getting the variable "$number" from elsewhere on the page, but for some reason, when i load the page it keeps saying
"Parse error: parse error, unexpected T_ECHO in C:\*********.php on line ***"

The line number correcsponds to the echo "<form action='****.php' method=post><input type='hidden' name='filenumber' maxlength='5' value='";

any ideas?

[The Little Guy]

remove the space between <?
and
php

[bokeh]

<? phpGet rid of that space!

[AmazingAnt]

oh, duh... i knew that. sometime my mind runs loose and this happens... thanks again... why is it that you're always answering like all of my questions though?

[bokeh]

why is it that you're always answering like all of my questions though?Because they are so basic.

[AmazingAnt]

oh, thanks, such a confidence booster.... i suppose i'll stop having that problem once i get good at this php thing.... oh, but isn't it your username that has kiss under it? ("Keep it simple, stupid!")