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Working on new site... need advice.

Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2005 11:20 pm
by rbottner1
I am new to the forums and I am hoping that I can get some really good advice here - it certainly appears like the people here know their stuff!

I am starting to develop a website now geared toward weight loss based on my experiences losing over 120 pounds.

There are two sides to the website... one is the "free" side which anyone can access, and the other is the "premium" side which only people who sign up can access. Of course, there will be enticing reasons for people to sign up for the premium stuff - but thats another story.

Every page on the "free" side will have the "user name / password" fields along with the "submit" and "register" buttons.

Registered users would input their login info to be transferred into the premium stuff, and new users could register by clicking on the register button. Once the user logs in, I want them to also be automatically logged into the message board which will be a part of the premium section. (There login name would be their posting name and their profile on the message board would be built by information they entered during the registration process. I will probably be using VBulletin.) And, I want to be able to track where each user goes, and how much time they spend where they are going. Also, while premium content will be free for now, I want to be able to add a payment system down the road.

Is this easier said than done?

I have HTML and CSS background - but nothing on PHP. Am I in over my head?

Thanks!

Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2005 11:22 pm
by feyd
Moved to Theory.

Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 7:41 am
by d3ad1ysp0rk
Integration between a web site and a forum software can be a real pain unless you or the person working on it has had previous experience with that software. For the register part, I'd probably just modify the existing register script that VB has to work with your site (ie. redirecting them back to your homepage after registering/logging in, etc).

If you've never used PHP, this might take you a little while, but hiring someone to do this for you could cost a couple hundred dollars, so it's really up to you.

Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 9:37 am
by rbottner1
Hmmmm - thats the most intriguing idea I have heard yet.

So, i can make the login / password fields on the "free" side of things the login for the message board, but have them redirected to the premium content, and be logged in automatically to the message board?

How difficult is this to accomplish?

How do I keep the premium content secure so that people can't get it unless they register?

Thanks!

Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 10:52 am
by pilau
You'd have to secure everything, as well.
I'd suggest learning about sessions, and sessoin data security.
Make sure you also cover the points of validating usr inputs... Bah, I got into too much of security.
Well, since I'm there already... G to the tutorials forum on our community and there you will find a new tutorial all about secure conections and logons.