Help...Starting out a database driven website

[nubie_gurl]

I wanted to learn how to make a Database Driven Website, I successfully installed PHPDEV4 package. (I am newbie in PHP too). How can I create my very first Database Driven Website??? Please help. Thanks,
Nubie_gurl
😕 😕

[minds_gifts]

which database, do you want to use??

Anyways, I would suggest you to look up the manual to learn all about sql

Manual

First create a database, add some tables into it and test few examples.

HTH

[jpmoriarty]

maybe obvoius, but you're also going to need a web server that can parse PHP files... like apache

[nubie_gurl]

Actually the package I got, installed everything for me. It has MySql, MySQL front, PHP4, phpMyAdmin and yes, John it also have Apache as my web server. But I don't know where to start. I actually don't know if i configured it right . 😕

Thanks minds_gifts and John, i appreciate your replies. (Sorry guys, if my English sucks, it's not my primary language)

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CGR

[Norman_Graham]

Hey, Nubie_gurl, you need to test Apache to see if it's configured properly to interpret PHP. Make a txt file with following:

<?php php_info() ?>

Save the file as test.php and open it in your standard browser using http://localhost/test.php. If you get a huge table of details about PHP settings, you're in business. Otherwise not.

As to your website, it would help to know what you want to put in your website. Dynamic websites are ... content and function driven. The technology doesn't create the content nor does it dictate what you want visitors to be able to do at your website.

If you provide some of this info, there are loads of extremely clever and competent people in this forum who will be able to help, as I have discovered myself (thanx to all of you).

Norman

[nubie_gurl]

ei! Norman it's working. Thanks.

I actually wanted to put a seat reservation in my website, (I am selling tickets) anyone have an easy to install script that I could try?

Thaks in advance.

CGR

[Norman_Graham]

I'm sure there are several contributors to this forum who already run ticketing web sites. One option would be to look for sites on the net that do what you want to do using php (just look for a PHP component in the URLs) and then get in touch with the webmaster to see if s/he would be willing to help. You could offer to place advertising and links to the other site on your own site as an incentive.

Bearing in mind that I'm also a newbie, I'd suggest you need a database (MySQL), some HTML forms which update the database (protected against mailicious code using some simple PHP functions), a checking system so that the same ticket is not sold twice (MySQL routine plus session tracking or thread protection to avoid simultaneous double purchase of the same ticket), either a credit-card payment system or a billing system (if you do paper billing, you could do it through PHP-generated PDFs, you then need some automated way of finding out whether someone has paid before you mail out the tickets), a system for informing visitors which tickets are still available etc., etc. If you require addresses, credit-card details etc, you'll need to look into SSL (Apache with SSL) as well since no-one in their right minds will enter address and/or credit-card details without some security guarantees. You can probably keep it all very simple, but make sure you protect your finances, your database and your website, since money-making enterprises often attract the attention of bored script-kiddies and crackers.

You can do all this yourself using open-source software, but get ready for some concentrated study and testing phases. You need a solid PHP/MySQL primer (Wrox, SAMS, New Riders, O'Reilly ...) and, if you're planning to host the site on your own computer as opposed to at a commercial hoster, you'd better read up about Apache (with SSL) as well.

If you want a complete script and file system ready made for your own website, you'll probably have to pay. There are a lot of very generous people in this forum, but a custom-built script and database system for your website is something you would have to pay for (possibly quite cheap, though).

Right, I'm now handing this thread over to the experienced and competent people at this forum and wishing you the best of luck.

Norman

[rtown]

I bought this book to help me with a shopping cart project, it has complete shopping capabilities...but (hopefully) fortunately enough for you, it is a music/event example they use. So there is a whole entire section on a ticket based aspect. The source code is on their site http://www.glasshaus.com/code.asp?bookId=68&token=0 they have ASP and SQL versions or PHP and MySQL so quite flexible. There is no documentation in the code though, kinda how they get you to buy the book, but not to expensive though $25US. So take a peak at the code, just comes in a zip file, check out I think it is the events page, and then there are cart codes that would do your processing and such.

Hope this may help, the book is good for NOOB's, cause trust me I am definitely one.

[nubie_gurl]

Norman, what I am doing right now is to accept online reservation via form mail, everything is in HTML, (that's all I know as of this time) and the next step is done manually like confirmation of the order, and payment is done upon delivery or upon pick-up, and I wanted to improve my site, and PHP+MySQL is my choice. Thanks for trying to help me asking some of the contributors to help me out, that's so sweet. 😉

And i hope it's not that ambitious, bec. I wanted to try to develop this by myself, since I aim to improve the website as well as improve my skills in web development. I know this forum will help me a lot. 🙂 🙂

Rtown, thanks for the link, i am going to download it and try it for sure. I'll cross my finger to make that application to work....:rolleyes: :rolleyes: For sure, expect me posting some questions again 🙂

Anyone who wanted to give some suggestions and scripts, please do. Thanks a lot guys...:o :o