Please Help

DrSchubert

Perhaps I am trying to accomplish something which cannot be. If anyone with experience would let me know, I would sincerely appreciate hearing from you.

Situation.......

I have been using FrontPage 2002 to develop my new web site, (I just purchased GoLive 6.0 as many reviews say it is much better and produces better code, but I have not used it yet because I am still trying to solve this problem). I have learned through researching that PHP is "THE BEST WAY" to make my site exciting. I have been trying to figure out how to view my site with the same PHP functionality (as is available on the server which hosts my site) on my home system before I publish it to the web. I am tired of trying to make something work, uploading, changing it, uploading again, etc. I have read and tried a gazillion ideas, but nothing works. Some of the ideas came from this forum, some came from Webmonkey, and some came from the readme files (PHP 4.2.3, Apache 2.0.43, and mysql 3.23.53).

I am using a P4 with 768Mb RAM, Win XP Pro, MS IIS 5.1 is installed, Apache 2.0.43 is installed, PHP 4.2.3 is installed, MySQL 3.23.53 is installed.

First: Can I accomplish viewing PHP functionality on my computer?

Second: If so, HOW DO I SET IT UP? Do I use IIS 5.1 or Apache? I have spent more time trying to figure this out than any one thing in the last ten years.

Please excuse the attitude and urgency in my words, as I am NOT a programmer (I wish I was). This has been a very frustrating situation. I would appreciate ANY help, advice, suggestions, words of encouragement, etc., etc., etc..

Shadeless

if i understand correct u want to see ur php pages on ur own computer right..

there are very easy packages wich requires very litle to install and get it to work. I use for example phptriad, and there are some others listed in the forum to. dunno exact url for phptriad but a search in google, will get u there.

basicly u install the package, after that u put ur files u wanna see in the httdocs directory from apache.

After that u just type http://localhost/(filename) in ur browser and u can watch the files on ur own computer.

phptriad package installs apache/php/mysql

hope this will help u

DrSchubert

I tracked down phptriad...it is now called Sokkit, available at:

http://www.sokkit.net

The program works wonderful!!!!!!!

It installs smoothly, it works like a dream. I did not have to configure one thing, it did it all for me.

If anyone is having problems with their installations like I did, go purchase sokkit, it is worth $20.00 and more.

Thank you for suggesting it.