Hi,

I'm attempting to produce a site where users can register and a private page is created for them. When they Login they are taken to the private page where they can enter information in a form that will be stored in a database but also displayed on screen in a table. You can also run queries on the database to view data anyway users wishes.

 

Thats the idea anyway but i just don't know where to start or the best approach.

 

Any help or suggestions would be greatfully recieved.

 

Many thanks

 

Tony

Hi Tony,

 

Have you done anything like this before? What program do you use for your web design? and have you got a PHP/MYSQL server?

 

I can give you some pointers, but it's a long and complicated subject you would likely need to trawl the web for several tutorials. Still, give me your level of experience and I can maybe pont you in the right direction....

 

 

Paul.

Hi Paul,

 

I've been building sites for about a year using Dreamweaver but have never used php or mysql but doing a little research i think the site in question is going to need these but i just don't know where to start but i want to crack it as it is quite a challenge.

 

Regards

 

Tony

Hi Tony,

 

Are you planning to use PHP/MYSQL for this on your hosting server? or where you planning on using something like Apache on your local machine?

 

The reason I ask is that I have only ever set dreamweaver up dynamically on my server. Although, you can set dreamweaver up to run on a hosting server on your local machine for dynamic sites.

 

Dreamweaver can be a bit tricky to set up - so if you let me know if it's a remote server, I can help you get things up and running if you wish. The first step would be to set up a 'testing server' in dreamweaver. When you choose this, you have an opportunity to choose the server scripting language you are planning to use. This is either: ASP, PHP, .NET etc. etc.

 

I always use PHP and MYSQL, and it's quite easy to get started quickly using dreamweavers pre-built server behaviors. From experience the most tricky thing as a beginner is setting up properly and creating and connecting to your database. Once you have this - you should be able to make a start!

 

I remember when I started in your shoes doing this. It took me 4 months to get set up. I had no hair left!

 

Anyway. I'm happy to help and guide you if your using your server to host etc. If your using something-like apache - maybe find someone more knowledgeable as I wouldn't have a clue.

 

When you get to creating databases thats an art for to. Which host do you use? Check they give you a MYSQL database and that they run PHP on your hosting server (should do).

 

If you need help planning a database - let me know what information you want to keep and ill help.

 

Paul.

Why does DW need to be connected to the server? Surely you could just get the PHP / MySQL set up, do the (X)HTML part in DW, upload it all and be done with it?

Why does DW need to be connected to the server? Surely you could just get the PHP / MySQL set up, do the (X)HTML part in DW, upload it all and be done with it?

 

If you know what your doing and are confident in your PHP coding skills, yes. Generally thats not the way people do it though.

 

You need to set up a testing server on your local machine or on your hosting server so you can preview your work and text that the dynamic elements work properly. Dreamweaver will not let you preview and test your work if you don't specify a testing server.

 

Paul.

Generally thats not the way people do it though.

 

Really? I'm shocked.

 

Dreamweaver will not let you preview and test your work if you don't specify a testing server.

 

Yes, that's because you don't normally run PHP on your local machine. You could always use XAMPP though, which will be more like the final result...

Really? I'm shocked.

 

Shocked why? Unless your a seasoned scripter - how do you know your code works if you aren't live testing it? Would have thought it was logical...

 

Yes, that's because you don't normally run PHP on your local machine. You could always use XAMPP though, which will be more like the final result...

 

Well if running PHP on your local machine is the same as installing Apache web server - then what your suggesting by using XAMPP is installing PHP within a program on your machine. Whats the difference between installing Apache and PHP on your machine to installing XAMPP which is just the same but easier to set up! That's like saying - why would you want to eat fruit when you could have some grapes!

 

Honestly.....

XAMPP can run on a USB stick... can't really get much simpler than that.

XAMPP can run on a USB stick... can't really get much simpler than that.

 

Thanks, I might try it! Is it mac compatible?

Well, I only have the windows version, but I would assume a mac version would be available somewhere. There's a full version for OSX which you might want to take a look at.

I don't know about Rachael, but I have absolutely no experience using dreamweaver.

 

I always use texteditor + FTP program, for everything.

 

Maybe it is a bit slow to test by uploading PHP, but it doesn't bother me. Have been meaning to try out something like XAMPP for a while now though - maybe it'll increase my productivity

I don't know about Rachael, but I have absolutely no experience using dreamweaver.

 

I had the "pleasure" of using it once and it made me want to hurl myself off a cliff.

 

I always use texteditor + FTP program, for everything.

 

I'm more of a notepad / cpanel kind of person.

 

Maybe it is a bit slow to test by uploading PHP, but it doesn't bother me. Have been meaning to try out something like XAMPP for a while now though - maybe it'll increase my productivity

 

It's good because it lets you keep everything on your computer. It's just a case of saving the files in the right place "xampp/htdocs/" or something, and then opening http://localhost/ in your browser!