On my way to Coding?

Kenneth_C

Okay so I tested out PHP, but in a book I bought it says I have to:
Install Personal Web folder
Change Window FIle and permissions
Download personal webserver

Must I do all this? Or can I just start typing? A person told me I didn't have to.

planetsim

You will need some kinda server if you are gonna test on your site.. I suggest Apache Server.. Its good with PHP

Kenneth_C

I have that server, so I don't need the personal one right? What about the other things. I was testing the PHP thing to see if I installed it right. I typed in what was told but when it said save to document root directory of web server, I don't know what that means. So when I typed in into my browser and pressed enter, an error happened. I saved it with the .php. Can anyone tell me what I did wrong? 😕 I just saved the test from notepad into My Documents.

planetsim

Well you must have all files for web in htdocs.. thats in your C:/ under apache.. You dont need The Personal Web Server at all.

Kenneth_C

I don't have HTDocs...I checked...odd.

Do I need personal web folder, and to change the windows files and permissions?

planetsim

If you have Apache As your server look in the C:\ then look for apache..

if you dont have that its either not installed or you dont have it. Then you should download it..

PWS is good, but Apache is better for PHP

Kenneth_C

I found APACHE there. But I still can't see the HT Doc. Does that mean I installed wrong ? 🙁

rIkLuNd

At my installation Apache is installed under C:\Apache\, and al my documents are under C:\Apache\htdocs

Kenneth_C

I found Apache under the Firedev folder. I can't find HTDOCS. I think it could also be because i'm unsure of my IP #. where Can i find it?

dalecosp

Originally posted by Kenneth C
I found Apache under the Firedev folder. I can't find HTDOCS. I think it could also be because i'm unsure of my IP #. where Can i find it?

Apache has also been known to place the DocRoot in a folder called "data".

HTH,

dalecosp

Kenneth_C

THis is odd, I don't think I even have data. SHould I just uninstall this whole thing and install again? 🙁 I've searched most of the things related to what I installed, and i still can't find HTDOCS.

swjohnson

AND you selected the default settings, you should have a path something like this...

C:/program files/apache group/apache/htdocs/

Then you add your test directory to the htdocs subdirectory and load your php programs in there.

Kenneth_C

I'm an idiot, so I don't really remember setting any settings. I just did this:

1.My Computer
2. C
3.PHPDev
4.Apache
5.looks for HTDoc
6.No HTDoc
7.Comes here for help again.

dalecosp

OK....

How about this:

open your browser

type "http://localhost/" in the address window

see what's on the page, and what it is called....

do a "find" for the name of the page, or for some text from said page.....?

dalecosp

Kenneth_C

I see PHPDev5 after the localhost thing, and a bunch of files that I can't access. This is harder than I thought. I know HTML well, so I thought PHP would be a good language to learn 🙁

Kenneth_C

I think I might of found my problem. I'm not exactly using PHP from php.org. I'm using a download from FIREDEV. So could this be why I don't have HT DOCS? Also, when I run Firedev 423 (a php bundle) and I type in http://localhost/ I get a picture of FIredev5 and a bunch of files. Does this mean PHP works ? 😃

pelleas

perhaps you should try just learning the languade first and learning actual server installation, etc. later. there are plenty of free hosts out there that offer php (and often mysql too) support. when developing a site, i often prefer to use something free that has the support i need, but has bandwidth caps or ad banners. my personal choice is www.portland.co.uk - they offer php/mysql/30 megs for free with no banners or popups or anything. i'm not saying it's a bad idea to set up the server on your own, i just think that sometimes it's quite the chunk to bite off when you go for setting up the server AND learning all the languages too. one step at a time...

-pel

dalecosp

Originally posted by Kenneth C
I think I might of found my problem. I'm not exactly using PHP from php.org. I'm using a download from FIREDEV. So could this be why I don't have HT DOCS? Also, when I run Firedev 423 (a php bundle) and I type in http://localhost/ I get a picture of FIredev5 and a bunch of files. Does this mean PHP works ? 😃

Sounds like you're on your way, maybe.

If Firedev 423 is a 'php bundle', maybe PHP is working. I have little info on it.

If it's anything like a standard server, and you open the URL in a standard browser, you should be able to discern both a filename and the name of the 'picture.'

With those names and a little time, or a search tool, you should be able to locate the 'document root' in which the html/php files should be located.

dalecosp

planetsim

Other directories that can be for the server is wwwpublic

wwroot

or you could try and make apaceh/htdocs

one question though do you have phpmyadmin installed from this bundle. if yes.. find where the phpmyadmin folder is placed and there you go you found your web folder.

If not find where those files that show up from the http://localhost
Try using the Search on your computer. Thats what i did when i couldnt find where and what folder to put it in.

Kenneth_C

Yes, I do have the phpmyadmin file, inside there are a whole bunch of programs. As for what happens when I type in localhost, it's just a logo of the company that gave me PHP and Apache, with a bunch of files with that I can't access.

Pellaeus has a pretty good idea. Is it kind of like tripod.com, where you can type the language on the site, save it, and it'll appear on the internet without needing FTP, and all that other stuff? :rolleyes: