Dreamweaver - PHP where do I go for Info

Author

PHP where do I go for Info

mike rawlinson

2005-03-07, 6:33 pm

I have been asked to try and set up a site that uses a data base........I
need advice or a tutorial .......am I right in thinking I need
PHP...........are there any free things to set up a Data base using PHP for
a estate agent type of business so they can up load without messing the web
site up .......think it might be over my head but hey if you dont ask I wont
know .

Thanks

Mike

David B

2005-03-07, 6:33 pm

mike rawlinson wrote:
> I have been asked to try and set up a site that uses a data base........I
> need advice or a tutorial .......am I right in thinking I need
> PHP...........are there any free things to set up a Data base using PHP for
> a estate agent type of business so they can up load without messing the web
> site up .......think it might be over my head but hey if you dont ask I wont
> know .
>
> Thanks

MySQL is an Open Source database program, and PHP is an open source
technology that is used to manipulate. Both are free and can be run on
Windows platforms.

You can get information from their websites (www.mysql.com and
www.php.net, I believe), though I find a lot of it pretty hard to
understand. I get most of my advice from the forums at
www.sitepoint.com, though there are a lot of PHP/MySQL fans on this
forum as well.

If you're just getting started, you might want to do a search for
"Apache Friends." They have a program called XAMPP, which includes
MySQL, phpMyAdmin (for administering MySQL), PHP and Apache. You can
download and install everything fairly easily. However, it can still
take a while to get everything configured and learn how to use it.

If you can afford it, I'd pay someone $100-$200 to come into my house
and spend a day helping me configure my new software and create some
simple PHP scripts and databases that I could use as models. If you have
a website (preferably a multi-domain site), then your tutor could even
publish a couple databases online for you.

I found it quite a wrestling match and might have saved weeks or even
months if I had someone to simply walk me through it.

--
http://www.geobop.org/ (Geobop) | http://www.geoworld.org/ (GeoWorld) |
http://www.geozoo.org (GeoZoo) |
http://www.geosymbols.org (GeoSymbols) | http://www.politix.us/ (Kids'
Politix) |
http://geowebworks.geobop.org/ (Ethical Web Design) |
http://www.freedomware.us/ (Open Source Activism)

mike rawlinson

2005-03-07, 11:17 pm

Thanks for that David .think its really over my head ..........All I want is
for the client to be able to update photos and info without messing the site
up ..........not sure which way to go ....

Mike

"David B" <webmaster@geobop.org> wrote in message
news:d0igie$gbt$1@forums.macromedia.com...
> mike rawlinson wrote:
>
> mysql is an Open Source database program, and PHP is an open source
> technology that is used to manipulate. Both are free and can be run on
> Windows platforms.
>
> You can get information from their websites (www.mysql.com and
> www.php.net, I believe), though I find a lot of it pretty hard to
> understand. I get most of my advice from the forums at www.sitepoint.com,
> though there are a lot of PHP/MySQL fans on this forum as well.
>
> If you're just getting started, you might want to do a search for "Apache
> Friends." They have a program called XAMPP, which includes MySQL,
> phpMyAdmin (for administering MySQL), PHP and Apache. You can download and
> install everything fairly easily. However, it can still take a while to
> get everything configured and learn how to use it.
>
> If you can afford it, I'd pay someone $100-$200 to come into my house and
> spend a day helping me configure my new software and create some simple
> PHP scripts and databases that I could use as models. If you have a
> website (preferably a multi-domain site), then your tutor could even
> publish a couple databases online for you.
>
> I found it quite a wrestling match and might have saved weeks or even
> months if I had someone to simply walk me through it.
>
>
> --
> http://www.geobop.org/ (Geobop) | http://www.geoworld.org/ (GeoWorld) |
> http://www.geozoo.org (GeoZoo) |
> http://www.geosymbols.org (GeoSymbols) | http://www.politix.us/ (Kids'
> Politix) |
> http://geowebworks.geobop.org/ (Ethical Web Design) |
> http://www.freedomware.us/ (Open Source Activism)

Nancy Gill

2005-03-07, 11:17 pm

> If you can afford it, I'd pay someone $100-$200 to come into my house
> and spend a day helping me configure my new software

The installation instructions for both PHP and Apache are pretty straight
forward .. also there are tutorials in a lot of places. Try
http://www.dreamweavermxsupport.com .. that's TMM Gareth Downes-Powell's
site and he has a lot of great tutorials on getting started with PHP .. both
on Linux and Windows.

--
Nancy Gill
Team Macromedia Volunteer for Dreamweaver MX/UltraDev
http://www.macromedia.com/go/team/
Co-Author: Dreamweaver MX: Instant Troubleshooter (August, 2003)
Technical Editor: DMX 2004: The Complete Reference, DMX 2004: A Beginner's
Guide, Mastering Macromedia Contribute
Technical Reviewer: Dynamic Dreamweaver MX/DMX: Advanced PHP Web Development

David B

2005-03-07, 11:17 pm

Nancy Gill wrote:
>
>
> The installation instructions for both PHP and Apache are pretty straight
> forward .. also there are tutorials in a lot of places. Try
> http://www.dreamweavermxsupport.com .. that's TMM Gareth Downes-Powell's
> site and he has a lot of great tutorials on getting started with PHP .. both
> on Linux and Windows.

Yes, I found Apache Friends' XAMPP program very easy to install.
However, it took me a little longer to learn how to configure a few
files and deal with "services."

Learning how to use PHP is fairly simple, though very time consuming. It
took me quite a while to learn how to set up virtual servers, which are
really cool.

I found mysql databases far more difficult to work with. Dealing with
root names, usernames and passwords and making connections alone can be
pretty confusing. Getting data into your database can be a lot of work.
Getting your databases publishe online had me pulling my hair out.

I think I could have accomplished in one day what it took several months
to do if I simply had a qualified professional sitting next to me. If I
could do it over, I'd pay someone to help me configure my new software,
set up virtual servers, create some simple database tables, then publish
them online.

The latest phpMyAdmin upgrade is a big improvement and will probably
make it a little easier for newcomers. Then again, they've added those
darn... I can't even think of the name of it ...the Latin references,
which can be a major pain in the butt if your host hasn't upgraded to
the most recent MySQL.

There are still a couple PHP functions I'd pay someone to design for me
if I had the money. Some scripts can take days to work out.

--
http://www.geobop.org/ (Geobop) | http://www.geoworld.org/ (GeoWorld) |
http://www.geozoo.org (GeoZoo) |
http://www.geosymbols.org (GeoSymbols) | http://www.politix.us/ (Kids'
Politix) |
http://geowebworks.geobop.org/ (Ethical Web Design) |
http://www.freedomware.us/ (Open Source Activism)

Ken Davis

2005-03-08, 7:20 am

"mike rawlinson" <mike@mikerawlinson.fsnet.co.uk> wrote in message
news:d0ing0$q13$1@forums.macromedia.com...
> Thanks for that David .think its really over my head ..........All I want
> is for the client to be able to update photos and info without messing the
> site up ..........not sure which way to go ....
>
> Mike

[snip Q's&A's about PHP/MySQL]

Perhaps you can accomplish this by providing the with Macromedia Contribute.

Kim

2005-03-08, 7:24 am

Hi Mike,

I don't know what your time limit is but I would say don't do it... on
your own. Find someone with the php/mysql skills and let him/her do the
coding. You do the layout etc...

I did this myself not that long ago (and I do know some php) but it was
a nightmare. Way over my head and I did end up with a working site but
I'm not sure how effective the coding is and since everything I did was
a struggle I learned nothing from it... except from the first paragraph.

Learn PHP/MySQL little by little... that way you might learn something.

Just my 2 cents
Kim

mike rawlinson wrote:
> I have been asked to try and set up a site that uses a data base........I
> need advice or a tutorial .......am I right in thinking I need
> PHP...........are there any free things to set up a Data base using PHP for
> a estate agent type of business so they can up load without messing the web
> site up .......think it might be over my head but hey if you dont ask I wont
> know .
>
> Thanks
>
> Mike
>
>

mike rawlinson

2005-03-08, 6:41 pm

Thanks Kim I think i will give it a miss .............its not something that
i have to do, so theres no pressure..just thought it might have been
something new ....I will go into it a bit more before I put myself up for
something i will regret.........thanks for all your replies

Mike

"Kim" <not@this.com> wrote in message
news:d0jss9$el2$1@forums.macromedia.com...[color=darkred]
> Hi Mike,
>
> I don't know what your time limit is but I would say don't do it... on
> your own. Find someone with the php/mysql skills and let him/her do the
> coding. You do the layout etc...
>
> I did this myself not that long ago (and I do know some php) but it was a
> nightmare. Way over my head and I did end up with a working site but I'm
> not sure how effective the coding is and since everything I did was a
> struggle I learned nothing from it... except from the first paragraph.
>
> Learn PHP/MySQL little by little... that way you might learn something.
>
> Just my 2 cents
> Kim
>
> mike rawlinson wrote:

Kim

2005-03-08, 6:42 pm

You're welcome

Kim

mike rawlinson wrote:
> Thanks Kim I think i will give it a miss .............its not something that
> i have to do, so theres no pressure..just thought it might have been
> something new ....I will go into it a bit more before I put myself up for
> something i will regret.........thanks for all your replies
>
> Mike
>
>
> "Kim" <not@this.com> wrote in message
> news:d0jss9$el2$1@forums.macromedia.com...
>
>
>
>

David B

2005-03-14, 6:25 pm