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interested in
Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 4:22 pm
by duffy
i am interested in programming/designing my OWN forum.
Does anyone know where i can learn to do so?
Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 4:42 pm
by superdezign
That's a great project to tackle, as you'll learn a lot in regards to databasing as well as PHP. The only bad thing is if it's an early project of yours (which it's sounds to me like it is), whatever you write now, you'll likely end up rewriting later. Just a heads up.
If you really want to learn how to program it, you'll have to learn hands-on. If you have any questions, we're more than willing to lend you a hand whenever you get stuck.
Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 6:58 pm
by iknownothing
http://www.w3schools.com has a lot of useful stuff to start with, from basic PHP, to working with the database. Only problem with w3schools is, because its tutorials etc, doesn't really go much into the issues of security, which you will have to do if you design a forum.
We're also here to help, so if you get stuck along the way, be sure to post your code and issues up, and no doubt someone will help you on your way.
Also, you might find it easier to get started if you write down your full forum structure on a piece of paper first, so you can go from one section to the next without sitting there for an hour thinking, whats next...?
Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 7:09 pm
by duffy
i know php, i just don't know how to format everything to create the forum itself, could you help me format it?
Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 7:10 pm
by duffy
also, for my forum structure, what do you mean by that?
Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 8:19 pm
by superdezign
duffy wrote:also, for my forum structure, what do you mean by that?
Start from the outside in. Make the design of all of the different pages from posting, to display, to profiles, etc. Then, start from there and work your way deeper into the application. You create the display, and then you create the code that would generate that display, then create hte code that generate the parts of that display, until you have a full application.
It's the most organized way (that I've found) to make an application, as you never get stuck on what else you need.
Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 8:45 pm
by duffy
i have that done, but alot of the stuff and mods, i dont even know how to code.
Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 9:01 pm
by s.dot
Just dig in

Pretty soon (so it seems) you'll have a very specific question on how to do a specific task.
Right now your terms for help are a bit too broad.
Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 9:13 pm
by duffy
okay, well i have a question now.
What kind of stuff would go in the index.php?
it would have to bind all the other files together would it not?
Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 9:40 pm
by superdezign
duffy wrote:okay, well i have a question now.
What kind of stuff would go in the index.php?
it would have to bind all the other files together would it not?
No. Look at this forum, for example. Is everything done through the index.php file?
Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2007 4:53 am
by s.dot
It would have to bind all of the files for the index page together. (header, footer, stylesheets, content.. all dependent on how you set up your site)
What do you want on your index page?
That will help you start getting more narrowed down to more specific questions.

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2007 4:57 am
by s.dot
Here, I'll give you a specific task to start with, since you seem to be confused on where to start.
Member registration.
A sign up form.
A script to validate the information.
Insert it to a database.
Once you get started on that, you should get rolling

Then make the login/logout functions.

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2007 6:00 am
by duffy
so i do i just script a register.php? and make a register form? or does it have to be specially positioned for where eventually, i will want it on the forum?
Should the validation script be a separate script to the register.php?
Should a login/logout script be a separate script to the register.php?
Do i need a validation csript for the login/logout script?
Also, How do you insert these files into a database?
Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2007 6:15 am
by superdezign
Why so many questions...? The more you ask now, the less you'll find out for yourself. This SHOULD be a learning experience...
duffy wrote:so i do i just script a register.php? and make a register form? or does it have to be specially positioned for where eventually, i will want it on the forum?
Again, look at examples. Having one php specifically for registration is very common.
duffy wrote:Should the validation script be a separate script to the register.php?
How separate? It's validating the form IN register.php.
duffy wrote:Should a login/logout script be a separate script to the register.php?
Most certainly. Users should only need to see the registration screen once: when they sign up.
duffy wrote:Do i need a validation csript for the login/logout script?
Validating username / password combinations, yes.
duffy wrote:Also, How do you insert these files into a database?
What? Why?
Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2007 3:00 pm
by duffy
i don't know, scot said i needed to put em in a db.
And yes, i agree this IS a learning experience, but i need to know what is involved. The scripting itself is what i figure out alone.