Not sure where to start

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Sean_J
Forum Newbie
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed May 28, 2008 12:23 pm

Not sure where to start

Post by Sean_J »

Hi every one, im Sean and im new to the forum.

Ive been web designing now for a few years, Ive tought myself HTML and CSS using various tutorials on the web.

I am now trying to design an online directory, Id like the advertisers to be able to register for a fee, log in and alter there advert as and when they like.

Can anyone please tell me what I'd need to learn to be able to do this? Or how you think I should go about it.

Many thanks
Regards
Sean
matthijs
DevNet Master
Posts: 3360
Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2005 3:57 pm

Re: Not sure where to start

Post by matthijs »

You'll have to learn PHP and MySql. Or another server side language and database language (but since you're asking on a php forum our advise is to use PHP of course)

So get a few books, start reading tutorials, get a webserver installed locally to write and test your code and visit devnet a lot to ask and read questions.
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califdon
Jack of Zircons
Posts: 4484
Joined: Thu Nov 09, 2006 8:30 pm
Location: California, USA

Re: Not sure where to start

Post by califdon »

Sean_J wrote:Hi every one, im Sean and im new to the forum.

Ive been web designing now for a few years, Ive tought myself HTML and CSS using various tutorials on the web.

I am now trying to design an online directory, Id like the advertisers to be able to register for a fee, log in and alter there advert as and when they like.

Can anyone please tell me what I'd need to learn to be able to do this? Or how you think I should go about it.

Many thanks
Regards
Sean
Welcome to the forum, Sean. You've asked a broad and open-ended question, but I'll try to offer some ideas.

I'd say that you need to decide which of the following is your goal:
  • Get a specific site up and running, with the capabilities you mentioned. -or-
  • Learn to develop interactive web sites that interact with databases and financial payment systems.
If it's the former, I'd suggest you check for existing off-the-shelf solutions, tested and proved reliable. There are commercial solutions, I'm sure, and I think you might find some free, open source scripts, too, if you search for them.

If it's the latter, you're in for a somewhat time consuming learning process. Be sure you're willing to stick with it and that you can wait a few months before you have a site up and running. If this is the path you choose, I recommend studying PHP and, later, MySQL. A great place to begin with PHP is http://w3schools.com. Since you are self-taught in HTML/CSS, you will probably not have difficulty with PHP. Using MySQL requires more than just language skills, it requires an understanding of relational databases, so don't neglect some reading on that topic before even starting with MySQL.

I hope you find that useful to you.
Sean_J
Forum Newbie
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed May 28, 2008 12:23 pm

Re: Not sure where to start

Post by Sean_J »

Thank you for the quick replies,

I've gone and bought myself "PHP and MySQL for dynamic web sites" by Larry Ullman. So hopefuly i'll get cracking on with that soon.

For now I think i'll concentrate on building a site which allows users to register and log in etc.

Thank you both for your help

Regards
Sean.
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