help with database setup

lleighh

I just inherited a database driven (PHP/MYSQL) site from another person, my client's ex-web guy (they didn't part on good terms so I can't go to him with my questions).

All the code is already written so all I need to do is set up the database with the new host provider (I hope). But I don't know where to start. For instance, where do I find the name of the database and the recordset/fields I need to set?

The page is filled by one user (my client) who logs in and updates calendar dates, show events, etc. So somewhere there's a file that holds login/password info. Does that file end in .php or is it hidden?

Any help would be greatly apprec. I don't want to know how to build more code (sorry, you diehards out there); I just want to know how to find and use the code I've been given. Thanks.

PHP_apprentice

Do you have the root password or any admin passwords for the DB?

From there we can look at what you have.

lleighh

The database is not built yet. That's just it; sorry I wasn't very clear earlier. I need to re-construct the shell of the database on the new host's server before the php will work. Am I not thinking about this correctly? Correct me if I'm wrong but that's the way I see it.

So my challenge as I see it now is how to read the php to know what to name the database, data fields, etc. I'm assuming the code is set to call on/add to the database based on the name, etc. that I've given to it; that is, the names in the php have to match up with the names on the server. Right? If that's correct then where would they be in the code? I've posted some code below. I'm not a programmer, just a HTML coder who plans to not take another job that involves tweeking php and databases. HELP!

FROM shows.php:
<?php require_once('Connections/connBHarris.php'); ?>
<?php
mysql_select_db($database_connBHarris, $connBHarris);
$query_rsShows = "SELECT showDate, showDescription, sortDate FROM shows ORDER BY sortDate DESC";
$rsShows = mysql_query($query_rsShows, $connBHarris) or die(mysql_error());
$row_rsShows = mysql_fetch_assoc($rsShows);
$totalRows_rsShows = mysql_num_rows($rsShows);
?>

FROM connBHarris.php:
<?php

FileName="Connection_php_mysql.htm"

Type="MYSQL"

HTTP="true"

$hostname_connBHarris = "localhost";
$database_connBHarris = "bernardHarris";
$username_connBHarris = "fusion";
$password_connBHarris = "fusion";
$connBHarris = mysql_pconnect($hostname_connBHarris, $username_connBHarris, $password_connBHarris) or die(mysql_error());
?>

NOTE: there are two other rather long php files under a hidden directory for serverscripts.

PHP_apprentice

First thing is to build the DB that is correct. Have you found someone to host it?

If so then you need to find out how the want the DB to be built either from a CLI or from a web interface.

From the looks of the script you have atleast 3 fields which are in the shows DB.

The fields being:

showDate, showDescription, sortDate

The next thing you need is to determine or you may know what type of data is being collected for these fields.

When you gather this information we can go further.

PHP_apprentice

I am soory I did not read your post close enough. i will explain some of the code to you my comments are at the end of the line denoted by //

<?php require_once('Connections/connBHarris.php'); ?> //including the connection file
<?php 
mysql_select_db($database_connBHarris, $connBHarris);

$query_rsShows = "SELECT showDate, showDescription, sortDate FROM shows ORDER BY sortDate DESC"; 
//above query string stating SELECT what fields FROM what_DB to be sorted by sortDate

$rsShows = mysql_query($query_rsShows, $connBHarris) or die(mysql_error()); 
$row_rsShows = mysql_fetch_assoc($rsShows); 
$totalRows_rsShows = mysql_num_rows($rsShows);//Shows the number of rows in the DB according to the query defined by $rsShows 
?> 

FROM connBHarris.php: 
<?php // this file is somply the connection information to the DB mainly to keep it global and private.
# FileName="Connection_php_mysql.htm" 
# Type="MYSQL" 
# HTTP="true" 
$hostname_connBHarris = "localhost"; 
$database_connBHarris = "bernardHarris"; 
$username_connBHarris = "fusion"; 
$password_connBHarris = "fusion"; 
$connBHarris = mysql_pconnect($hostname_connBHarris, $username_connBHarris, $password_connBHarris) or die(mysql_error()); 
?>

lleighh

My client selected a provider that supports PHP/MYSQL so we're good there. Databases can be built through a web interface (lucky for me, I guess). Three fields ... mmm. Okay. When you say what type of data do you mean numeric versus textual?

Originally posted by PHP_apprentice
First thing is to build the DB that is correct. Have you found someone to host it?

If so then you need to find out how the want the DB to be built either from a CLI or from a web interface.

From the looks of the script you have atleast 3 fields which are in the shows DB.

The fields being:
showDate, showDescription, sortDate
The next thing you need is to determine or you may know what type of data is being collected for these fields.

When you gather this information we can go further. [/B]

PHP_apprentice

Yes exactly but there is a little more to it.

for instance sortDate is probably some type of Date stamp

Mysql defines 2 data types that would work here

datetime

and

timestamp

How are the fields in the DB updated? THe page or script you should me is only a SELECT statement to view data. There is no data being placed in the DB from what I can see.

A web interface will be very nice for building the database and extremely easy to use.

here is a page where you can look at all the data types that MySQL offers.

data types