Help! new to php

Anon

I have a sql database and was told I can use php to write to it via my webserver. Thing is HOW? ok my dbase is users, I have two tables. a General and Personl table for general and personal info. how do I connect, and then how will I be able to input into my tables fields. i.e. name, date hired, info, phone, extension etc....

Anon

Depends on your database software. Generally you connect to the database, create and execute an SQL statement, handle the output, and disconnect from the database.

http://www.php.net/quickref.php

and scroll to the database commands appropriate to your database software or

http://www.php.net/docs.php

and read/print the section(s) that apply to your database software.

But you probably need to install PHP, too. Go to the docs. They're there for a reason.

Hank

Anon

ok I'm running apache 1.3.22, php4, and activeperl 5.6. afaik php works at least the test script does. going to check out the site now. Thank you for such a quick response.

Linny

theslug

First off create an include file for your username, password and db to connect to.
That way you don't have to information in your php files for others to view.
I'm using /var/phpincludes as the directory for this example

So in /var/phpincludes create a file called info.inc

-- info.inc --
<?php
$hostname = "hostname";
$username = "username";
$password = "password";

$db = "database';

Now in your web directory (say /var/www/html)
create a file called index.php

--- index.php --
<?php
include("/var/phpincludes/info.inc");
$global_dbh = mysql_connect($hostname, $username, $password);

  // if can't connect to db print error
  if (!$global_dbh)
    die("Cannot Connect to Database");

  mysql_select_db($db, $global_dbh);

  // now do a basic query
  $select = "SELECT * from General";
  $query = mysql_query($select) or die(mysql_error());

?>

THis does a basic select. Make sure you read http://www.php.net/manual for more information (they have a section for databases)
The SELECT query can be replaced with UPDATE, DELETE, INSERT etc...

That should give you a general idea on getting started.

BTW my example is based on MySQL