Starting to use databases...

ph8edsicness

Okay, I'm going to start using databases for storing user information... What I want to know is, when I create_db in a php file, will the file recreate that database everytime the page is loaded? Or will I be fine and not have to worry about it and be able to simply "insert into" after it's created?

I hope that made sense.

toddmarx

Honestly? The easiest thing to do would be go ahead and create the database and tables and all that. Then have php use the "insert" command to add to the database. That would work best if you were trying to set up a members area or something like that. But, if it is a predefined amount of users and it wont change that much, then just create the database, enter info manually and go from there.

But...

You can have it create the db if it does not exsist. I dont remember it right off hand, but check in the manuals for something like " if not exsist" or something like that. But in my opinion, it would be easier to create it, then use the "insert" command.

Hope that helps,
Todd

ph8edsicness

Cool thanks, I think I'll just go ahead and create it like you suggested and simply use the insert into functions.

toddmarx

cool, let me know if you need any help with it. 😉

ph8edsicness

Okay, i'm in phpMyAdmin... I'm creating a table called Members with columns "Username" "Password" "Email" . However, I'm lost after that.

For type I set it to VARCHAR but what do I put for the following:

Attributes: Binary/unsigned/unsigned zero?
Null: not null/ null?
Extra: auto_increment?

and for table type: MyISAM, Heap, Merge, or ISAM

Sorry, I'm really new to it. Thanks for all your help though!

Norman_Graham

You need a book about PHP and MySQL. You're never going to be able to get enough questions answered at this forum to get started with MySQL. With a good book, you could learn enough to get started in one evening.

Best o luck

Norm

toddmarx

Norman is right,

You can find all kinds of tutorials and stuff to get started. If you cant find anything let me know via email marx_jt@hotmail.com and I will send you couple of good ebooks that will get you going really fast.

As for the answer to your question, that is hard to say. The fieldsets to choose depend on how you plan to use them and stuff. It would take a while for us to explain what each one of them does.

Sorry could not be much more help. But if you need those books, just let me know and I will email them to you or something.

Happy Hunting,
Todd