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Just starting to learn PHP and MySQL...any suggestions?

Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2003 3:52 pm
by Lunabean
Hello there,

I'm new to this whole PHP deal. I know HTML really well, and I've made a few CGI scripts to handle a mailform and a recommend a friend form, but, I am by no means proficient at programming.

I started to look at PHP the other day because I want my site to have an Xbox LIVE section where Xbox LIVE members can find other gamers who are a similar age, share similar interests, are the same type of gamer, etc. I also want users to be able to rate each other, so, if you're a 35 yr old mom you know to avoid the 16 year old swearing kid.

Anyway, I've done a lot of looking around the web for good tutorials. I've hit php.net, webmonkey.com, this site, etc. I have a good feel for how it all works and have gotten a script to run and show "Hello World!," (yes, thank you very much *pats self on back*).

In addition, I've tried to get a grasp on MySQL. I have no experience in any type of database, even excel, so this is all new to me. My hosting company allows me to make MySQL databases through the admin area and allows me to assign a password for it. I'm confused as to how I actually get data into that database? I know that's probably a very open ended question, but, any steering in the right direction would be great.

Also, can any of you recommend good sites/tutorials/books, etc?

Thanks in advance for your time and help!

Jeremy

Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2003 5:01 pm
by patrikG
The books I bought regarding PHP were:

MySQL/PHP Database Application (good introduction to get a feel for the whole thing)
Developer's Cookbook (nice practical solutions for questions you will have)

Mostly I use php.net/manual (it just has most of the answers I am looking for), other than that phpclasses.org by Manuel Lemos is great to see how other people have done it and get some great inspirations. And this board, of course :)

Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2003 7:02 pm
by McGruff
See mysql.com for the mysql manual (can download a chm version). Also have a database manager here Mysql Control Centre, although http://www.phpmyadmin.net is maybe easier to use.

You can get data into a mysql database from a csv file with LOAD DATA .. etc - see manual, by running a batch query from a .sql file, or with php:

Code: Select all

$mysql = "INSERT INTO database_table_name SET column_name1='$value1',  column_name2='$value2', ... etc";
$query = mysql_query($mysql) or die("Cannot query the database.<br>" . mysql_error());
You probably want to set up a local server to develop scripts: I use http://www.easyphp.org - easy to install php/mysql/apache on Windows.

EditPlus is a good editor used by many php'ers (sorry no link) - another option is http://syn.sourceforge.net/.

The most important "book" is the php manual: the downloadable chm version is handy to refer to while your working, but the online version has some useful user comments which are usually worth reading.

Php is a nice language, fairly easy to learn. People on this forum are very helpful if you've got a problem. Good luck!

Some links:

http://use.devnetwork.net/
http://www.codingclick.com/article.php/aid/18
http://www.devshed.com/Server_Side/PHP/ ... page1.html
http://www.faqts.com/knowledge_base/vie ... 836/fid/51
http://www.gimpster.com/php/tutorial/variables.php
http://www.devnetwork.net/
http://www.php.net/
http://www.devshed.com/Server_Side/PHP/ ... teTime.pdf
http://www.codebox.8m.com/php.htm
http://www.zend.com
http://www.php-accelerator.co.uk/

Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2003 7:34 pm
by Lunabean
Thanks for the info!

Does anybody have an opinion on http://www.phpmyadmin.net/ ?

Jeremy

Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2003 8:33 pm
by m3mn0n
phpMyAdmin is the best DB management i've ever seen. It beats the heck out of command lines and the whole dos setting. =P

It's a must if you are a windows junkie or if you prefer GUIs to command lines.

also...

Image
Click To Buy it @ Amazon


&

Image
Click To Buy it @ Amazon



It's the only two books you need. :wink:

Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2003 1:16 am
by bionicdonkey
all i used to learn was the php manual and a couple of web pages here and there. i also use mysql-front in windows and shell stuff in linux for db management

Im a newbe too

Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2003 5:35 pm
by hi_guy45
Yah I just started out last night (so far I can take some thing out of a database and display it in a table) and I found http://hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey/pro ... rial4.html to be realy helpful :D I looked around the php site and couldent find any thing for begeners so that didnt help but Google is probobly the best way to find php toutorials. Also I recamend the entire line of Dummys books so check out PHP 4 for Dummys.

Good luck! and wish me luck too.

Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2003 5:42 pm
by hi_guy45
one last thing I love your site! it helped me beat Splinter Cell


I tryed to make a game site once but it was impossible for me cuse i couldent ever get the games (I couldent afford them) how do you do it?