diff --git a/functions.php b/functions.php
index 66eb3c7..8fddea8 100644
--- a/functions.php
+++ b/functions.php
@@ -1,10 +1,6 @@
 <?php
 function fetchCats() {
-    $server = 'mysql';
-	$username = 'student';
-	$password = 'student';
-	$schema = 'assignment1';
-	$pdo = new PDO('mysql:dbname=' . $schema . ';host=' . $server, $username, $password);
+    $pdo = startDB();
 	$stmt = $pdo->prepare('SELECT * FROM category');
 	$stmt->execute();
 	$cats = $stmt->fetchAll();
@@ -22,4 +18,13 @@ function adminCheck() {
 		echo'<script>window.location.href = "../index.php";</script>';
 	}
 }
+
+function startDB() {
+	$server = 'mysql';
+	$username = 'student';
+	$password = 'student';
+	$schema = 'assignment1';
+	$pdo = new PDO('mysql:dbname=' . $schema . ';host=' . $server, $username, $password);
+	return $pdo;
+}
 ?>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/layout.php b/layout.php
index 2e6e524..9381337 100644
--- a/layout.php
+++ b/layout.php
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ require_once 'functions.php';
                 echo $pageContent;
             ?>
         <footer>
-			<a style="text-decoration: none;" href="admin/adminCategories.php">admins</a><br>
+			<a style="text-decoration: none;" href="../admin/adminCategories.php">admins</a><br>
 			&copy; ibuy <?php echo date('Y')?>
 		</footer>
         </main>
diff --git a/public/account/login.php b/public/account/login.php
index dd5e16a..a81a3c1 100644
--- a/public/account/login.php
+++ b/public/account/login.php
@@ -10,12 +10,9 @@ $pageContent = '<p>Don\'t have an account?<a href=\'register.php\'>Click here to
     </form>';
 $stylesheet = '../assets/ibuy.css';
 require '../../layout.php';
+require_once '../../functions.php';
 
-$server = 'mysql';
-$username = 'student';
-$password = 'student';
-$schema = 'assignment1';
-$pdo = new PDO('mysql:dbname=' . $schema . ';host=' . $server, $username, $password);
+$pdo = startDB();
 
 if (isset($_POST['submit'])) {
     $stmt = $pdo->prepare('SELECT * FROM users WHERE email = :email');
diff --git a/public/account/register.php b/public/account/register.php
index 918977d..55f6e67 100644
--- a/public/account/register.php
+++ b/public/account/register.php
@@ -1,10 +1,8 @@
 <?php
+require_once '../../functions.php';
+
 function addUser() {
-    $server = 'mysql';
-    $username = 'student';
-    $password = 'student';
-    $schema = 'assignment1';
-    $pdo = new PDO('mysql:dbname=' . $schema . ';host=' . $server, $username, $password);
+    $pdo = startDB();
 
     $stmt = $pdo->prepare('INSERT INTO users (first_name, last_name, email, password, admin)
     VALUES (:first_name, :last_name, :email, :password, :admin)');
diff --git a/public/account/settings.php b/public/account/settings.php
deleted file mode 100644
index e69de29..0000000
diff --git a/public/admin/addCategory.php b/public/admin/addCategory.php
index 895c505..873eec3 100644
--- a/public/admin/addCategory.php
+++ b/public/admin/addCategory.php
@@ -12,11 +12,7 @@ $pageContent = '<h1> Add Category</h1>
 require '../../layout.php';
 
 if (isset($_POST['submit'])) {
-    $server = 'mysql';
-	$username = 'student';
-	$password = 'student';
-	$schema = 'assignment1';
-	$pdo = new PDO('mysql:dbname=' . $schema . ';host=' . $server, $username, $password);
+	$pdo = startDB();
 	$stmt = $pdo->prepare('INSERT INTO category(name)
     VALUES(:name)');
     $values = [
diff --git a/public/admin/deleteCategory.php b/public/admin/deleteCategory.php
index 3e47ade..fd3d73b 100644
--- a/public/admin/deleteCategory.php
+++ b/public/admin/deleteCategory.php
@@ -6,11 +6,7 @@ require_once '../../functions.php';
 adminCheck();
 
 if (isset($_GET['category_id'])) {
-    $server = 'mysql';
-	$username = 'student';
-	$password = 'student';
-	$schema = 'assignment1';
-	$pdo = new PDO('mysql:dbname=' . $schema . ';host=' . $server, $username, $password);
+	$pdo = startDB();
 	$stmt = $pdo->prepare('DELETE FROM category WHERE category_id= :category_id');
     $values = [
         'category_id' => $_GET['category_id']
diff --git a/public/admin/editCategory.php b/public/admin/editCategory.php
index af33a9e..4b07bd1 100644
--- a/public/admin/editCategory.php
+++ b/public/admin/editCategory.php
@@ -15,11 +15,7 @@ if (isset($_GET['category_id'])) {
     $_SESSION['cat_id'] = $_GET['category_id'];
 }
 else if (isset($_POST['submit'])) {
-    $server = 'mysql';
-	$username = 'student';
-	$password = 'student';
-	$schema = 'assignment1';
-	$pdo = new PDO('mysql:dbname=' . $schema . ';host=' . $server, $username, $password);
+	$pdo = startDB();
 	$stmt = $pdo->prepare('UPDATE category SET name= :cat_name WHERE category_id= :category_id');
     $values = [
         'cat_name' => $_POST['name'],
diff --git a/public/index.php b/public/index.php
index da021ef..39516be 100644
--- a/public/index.php
+++ b/public/index.php
@@ -10,20 +10,15 @@ if (isset($_GET['pageHeading'])) {
 else {
     $pageHeading = 'Latest Listings';
 }
+require_once '../functions.php';
 
 $pageContent = '<h1>'.$pageHeading.'</h1>
 <ul class="productList">'.populateList($pageHeading).'</ul>';
 require '../layout.php';
 
-
 function populateList($category) { 
+	$pdo = startDB();
     $output = '';
-    $server = 'mysql';
-	$username = 'student';
-	$password = 'student';
-	$schema = 'assignment1';
-	$pdo = new PDO('mysql:dbname=' . $schema . ';host=' . $server, $username, $password);
-
     if ($category === 'Latest Listings') {
         $stmt = $pdo->prepare('SELECT * FROM auction WHERE endDate > "'. date("Y-m-d H:i:s"). '" ORDER BY endDate DESC');
         $stmt->execute();
diff --git a/public/listing.php b/public/listing.php
index 974db00..dfa653f 100644
--- a/public/listing.php
+++ b/public/listing.php
@@ -4,15 +4,11 @@ $pageContent = '<h1>Product Page</h1>
 <article class="product">'. populateContent() .'</article>';
 
 require '../layout.php';
-
+require_once '../functions.php';
 
 
 function populateContent() {
-    $server = 'mysql';
-    $username = 'student';
-    $password = 'student';
-    $schema = 'assignment1';
-    $pdo = new PDO('mysql:dbname=' . $schema . ';host=' . $server, $username, $password);
+    $pdo = startDB();
     
     $stmt = $pdo->prepare('SELECT * FROM auction WHERE listing_id= :listing_id');
     $values = [