// Determine the maximum query size MySQL is configured to handle.
$q = mysql_query("SHOW VARIABLES LIKE 'max_allowed_packet'");
// Error Trap
if (! $q) return SOME_ERROR_CODE;

// Fetch the row.
$row = mysql_fetch_assoc($q);
// Error Trap
if ($row === false) return SOME_ERROR_CODE;

// Save the value.
$MySQL_MaxPacket = $row['Value'];