Just starting to learn.

jreach72

Hello all:

I am about 3 weeks into my PHP education, still have lots to learn.

I am working on a project where I have taken a fairly simple Access database and converted it to MySQL (That was the easy part).

Now I am on the tough part. I have to now create forms which will input and download data from the database.

My question is what is the easiest way for a newbie to create a form? I have read where some people create a form using a WySIWYG Editor such as FP or DreamWeaver and then they edit the HTML and input the "SQL" commands into the code using PHP.

Others recommend drafting one from scratch, though I must admit I starred at my screen for 2 hours trying to figure out where to start on that idea.

Anyhow just looking for some general tips before I dive in.

bad76

Originally posted by jreach72
Others recommend drafting one from scratch, though I must admit I starred at my screen for 2 hours trying to figure out where to start on that idea.

Hello!
You can start with
<?php
?>
<html>
<head>
<title></title>
</head>
<body>
</body>
</html>
This is a blank page. You can also insert some <meta>, smiling to w3c request.

Else, use your favourite editor, one of DW & co, to make a page. Then put at the beginning a <?php ?> tag and insert there your query.

It's the same.

And you can try to start with a php page to show the data without any form. It's easiest.

good work.

kellog

I would stay away from WYSIWYG, because it'll just cripple your learning experience. Check out some tutorials on makeing forms, using mysql with php, etc. There are a million of them around, and they'll give you a really good idea of how to do this stuff. I know there's several tutorials on this site.

TheIceman5

Originally posted by kellog
I would stay away from WYSIWYG, because it'll just cripple your learning experience. Check out some tutorials on makeing forms, using mysql with php, etc. There are a million of them around, and they'll give you a really good idea of how to do this stuff. I know there's several tutorials on this site.

will also cripple you in the process as it would take forever to code tables etc... i had no probs learning using dreamweaver, im always manually modifying the code afterwards. u learn lot quicker doing so.

Merve

If you have Dreamweaver, use it. If not, no biggie.
//Me feels the LART coming my way...
Always comment your code properly, use indents, try to make your code as universal as possible so you can reuse parts of it for other projects.

kellog

I'm a big fan of homesite. Has some cool functionality if you choose to use it, but for the most part, it all just gets out of your way and let's you code.