Need some explaining.

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TASTE Publications
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Need some explaining.

Post by TASTE Publications »

Long story short, been a web designer now for several years, crossed over into graphic design and photo retouching, now back into web design and running a very cool site based on modeling and photography and I need help.

Dont know much about PHP in fact dont even know what it stands for but when I go into Google and type in "User sign up script" PHP scripts seem to dominate the search results. I have heard that it is very powerful yet very flexible, requires very little re-editing of scripts like CGI/Perl requires and can be used to do many things. Well count me in.

Basically here are my questions and I hope you guys can answer cuz that is what forums are for right? To test your knowledge and help out someone interested in what you are.

Question 1.

Where do I download PHP or is it just like HTML? and can I edit it in Dreamweaver 4 or MX?

Question 2.

Once I get the script and can edit it, can it be mixed in with HTML or does the whole page have to be rewritten in PHP?

Question 3.

Once the script has been edited and the page created or implemented using PHP, where does it reside on my server. Its a linux server.

Question 4.

Can anyone recommend a very basic user sign up script. All I want them to do is log in and it takes them to a certian part of the site. When they log out, they go back to the basic side of the site. Also I want it time limited. If they remain idle for a certain period, it requires another log in.


Well thats all I can think of right now. I have been reading some of the post and man this stuff sounds pretty f'in cool. See ya soon and Happy New Year!!!!!

TASTE
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JAM
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Post by JAM »

A1:
PHP is textbased, but not like HTML. PHP is run on the server hosting it, and displays a result (generally).

Code: Select all

<?php
 echo 'Hi!';
?>
Result in browser:

Code: Select all

Hi!
So, you cannot download a index.php and start rearranging code 'to fit your needs' so to speak. You need either the source of a page or write the code yourself. It should work in MX and Dreamweaver (4? Not sure) but search this forum for PHP editors for some threads that users he like and dislike...

A2:
You can mix PHP and HTML in various ways.

Code: Select all

<table><tr><td><?php echo 'Hi!'; ?></td></tr></table>
<?php
 for ($i = 0; $i < 5; $i++) {
   echo '<hr />';
 }
?>
is just one simple example... You'll bump into alot more during your learning period.

A3:
As any page... /html/, /www/ or whatever depending on server setup. However, make sure the server supports PHP, as there are some editing needed in some cases. (Actually installing PHP perhaps)

A4:
http://www.evilwalrus.com/
http://use.devnetwork.net/

Do some searches for it. There are various out there, so recommending one is not that easy.

Happy New Year yourself, and Happy Coding...
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m3mn0n
PHP Evangelist
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Joined: Tue Aug 13, 2002 3:35 pm
Location: Calgary, Canada

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