IP Logging, Date Stamps, Unique Data Field Checking

[devolutionary]

Hey, I'm new here, and I'll admit I joined up because I need some help.

I've been learning PHP and MySQL for the past few weeks. I know, not long, but it seems fairly simple to learn what I require. However, I am having a few issues.

The first is that this database requires unique profile names. Now I have the database set-up correctly, but I am unsure of how to do error checking on the uniqueness of a name. Currently if you attmept to enter a profile name already used it will NOT overwrite the previous data, but it will also fail to return any sort of indication that there is an error with entering the data in to the database. Is this an extension/modification on the same code used to error check the characters used in a profile name?

Also I am trying to find a way to log an IP Address to a profile each time that profile is logged in, and a way to date stamp a profile when it is created and modified.

Any tutorial direction, hints, etc... ould be greatly appreciated. Feel free to contact me on ICQ (UIN: 302898772 ) if you would prefer, or email at [e-mail]

[bastien]

1. unique names

   --run a function or script that checks the name and compares it to the names in the DB

      $sql="select count(id) from tableUsers where username='$username'";
   
      $results=mysql_query($sql);
   
      if (mysql_num_rows($results)>0){
   
         //show error message and have the user re-submit the form with another username
   
      }
   

2. $ip=$_SERVER['remote_addr']; to get the IP

3. Have a column for date, then when the user logs in, update the column with either date() or use the unix timestamp (see the docs for [man] mktime[/man])

[ziah75]

Just an important note, the server vars are case sensitive, so $SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR'] will work... while $SERVER['remote_addr'] returns nothing.