Connorhd  is the script that gave me the effect I was looking for.  However, I liked how you had your site done and I may be incorporating some of your ideas. 

Thnak you for giving of your time as well.  I have found this to be a very helpful forum considering I only posted my message yesterday.

It work wonderfully!
Thank you very much for your trouble and time.

The code you gave me works, however the color is too dark, making the text hard to read.  I tried playing playing with the code but I could not make the dark-grey lighter.  How can I use your code and reflect a lighter grey? My currect code is as follows;
Thanks for your help.



    $subject .= '  '.(!empty($subject_new_posts) ? $subject_new_posts : '');
            $subject .= !empty($subject_multipage) ? ' '.$subject_multipage : '';
        }

?>
    <tr class="puntopic">
        <td class="puncon1cent"><?php echo $icon ?></td>
        <td class="puncon2"><?php echo $subject ?></td>
        <td class="puncon1"><?php echo pun_htmlspecialchars($cur_topic['poster']) ?></td>
        <td class="puncon2cent"><?php echo ($cur_topic['moved_to'] == null) ? $cur_topic['num_replies'] : ' ' ?></td>
        <td class="puncon1cent"><?php echo ($cur_topic['moved_to'] == null) ? $cur_topic['num_views'] : ' ' ?></td>
        <td class="puncon2" style="white-space: nowrap"><?php echo $last_post ?></td>
    </tr>
<?php

Thanks for the reply.
To clarify, when a user logs in, they will see two forums; STUDENT MESSAGES and STAFF MESSAGES (index.php page). Currently, When the user clicks on STUDENT MESSAGES, for example, they only see the listed topics for that forum (viewforum.php page), then they have to click on each topic in succession to see each message. 

I would like to change this so that when users click on STUDENT MESSAGES, the Topics,  along with the MESSAGE , are viewable all on one page.
Thanks.

I need to make a minor change so it will fit with my school web site. 
I have two categories, one called Students and the other called Staff. I need to modify it such that when a user (staff member) goes into either category, the forum for each, all posts are automatically expanded.

In short, when the Students forum is clicked all posting are viewable on one page. This makes it easier for the principal to read all posted announcements for the students over the PA system.

Can anyone help?