php -> mysql table

i am trying to get fields from a contact mail form to enter into a table in mysql, i have tried different methods and sites to get it to work.

email sends just fine, but nothing gets added to the db.

code i have is

$db->sql_query("INSERT INTO ".$prefix."_contactlist VALUES (sender_name, sender_email, address, city, zip, phone)");


can anyone see something that i cant?
di i need to set the table first?
little lost....
*note* it is part of a module i am making for phpnuke 7.2

You're not providing valid values. Character/string types need to be quoted, but your values list is just a bunch of unquoted names. I would assume that you mean for these to be variables (in which case they need dollar signs or to be scoped in the $_POST[] or other appropriate array); even so, they should be quoted or your query will bomb. You might also consider adding some error catching code ($db->sql_query(...) || die("query error"), for example) to help you debug.

i felt like i was missing something, my head isnt all there today. i fixed the problem and it works now, thanks again.