some general questions

skinsey

I am new to php but it seems like the way to go for bulding dynamic sites. i have just set up an apache webserver and a mysql database on a mac running OSX.

i am looking for a reality check on what i am proposing to build and some suggestions on approaching this type of project. please pardon me if these questions seem obvious to some of you. i am trying to get a handle on php and its capabilities.

here is some background on what i am trying to build and if anyone has any suggestions on how to approach this project please pass them on. i am a designer not a programmer however i have a good ammount of unix experience and i have done lots of html so i feel fairly competent in my abilities in creating this site. it may take me a while but i am pretty sure i can do this.

the site i would like to build is basically an on line portfolio of design work. i would like to divide the site into two sections, design and photography. with in each section i would have different catagories. for example in the design section the sub catagories would be identity, print, motion, and web design work.

each sub catagory would have a collection of design work. the individual design record would include the following, ID#, sub catagory(ie print, web, id, motion), title, an image, item description, a url(if applicable), and a timestamp

my page design consist of a global nav that will incorporate use of some javascript rollovers. this seems to be working but i would like to know if there is anything i need to look out for in using javascript and php? a bread crumb nab will also be present. the dynamic content section will display a specific design and the supporting info re: the design. the content will also support a sub navigation within the sub catagory records. what i am hoping to accomplish in building the site this way is an easy way to add content in the future and have a more dynamic user experience.

i am building the pages using include files for things like the header (including the global nav) and footer. i am also linking to a ccs file. this seems fairly straight forward. however i ran into something odd. when i have my include file named like (include.php) i get an error see below>>>

Warning: Failed opening 'gf_headerphp' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php') in /Users/skinsey/Sites/gf_site/workindex2.php on line 1

if i just use (include) with out the (.php), the file loads fine with out an error. i am guessing that this is a .conf file issue.

the include file is currently sitting in my doc root dir. do i need to chance the include path calue in the php.ini file?

additionally when you use includes do i need to have any type of header in the file? ie...

<?php echo "<?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"iso-8859-1\"?".">"; ?>
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

planetsim

Your last bit yes..

This is some project for a beginner..
Dont try and do that all in one go..

Before you start.. Write everything down of what you want done.. Then split that into steps.. From there you'll need a design so before any php or html etc gets started draw a design. Make it..

Do a html template of it so you have the basics.

Then make all the pages in php format.. and place this html in it.. no php tags just yet..

Then from there start at step 1..

Everything you want done is very much possible.. It just depends on how you want it down.. You may need a Database in this.. But it would be very small..

I hope i gave you some tips

skinsey

thanks for the reply. i have already got the design of the page templates together and i am in the process of creating the html. so far so go. i have also tried to drop a few bits and pieces of php code in and it seems to be working for the most part.

i know it is a pretty big project but if i follow your suggestion i should be ok.

after i get the html templates together i am going to put the database together.

after the dbase is in place i will start to add the php. do you have any suggestions in adding the php and how i might want to define what to use as an include file or part of the main template?

i will probably use something like dreamweaver mx to do the php code.

anyway thanks again for the reply. it is nice to know that i am on the right track.

scott