Which version of PHP to use?

tar333

Hello everyone, I have a question about the best version of PHP I should use? I am almost done building a site with Dreamweaver 2004 and I found out I have to change it to PHP, which version do you suggest and should I use a Html to PHP converter? If so which converter would be a good choice? The site will be a blend of cold fusion and PHP.

Thanks again for all your help.

thorpe

version 4.3.10 is the latest stable release, though if your just learning php i would shoot for 5.0.3.

as for your html to php converter question. if the site is just html now, i dont see the point in changing it to php. html is not a programming language, so nothing will change.

why MUST this site be php?

tar333

Thanks a lot for your help thorpe.

I'm building the site for someone else and they need it PHP because it has to display dynamic content and it has to work with a database.
I'm not really sure what i have to do to the site I have build so far and really need to figure out what is the best way to go , as site needs to be finished by next week.

Thanks for all the help

thorpe

well, you should download the php manual and start reading about the mysql functions. these relate to database interaction.

tar333

Thanks thorpe, I'll take a look at the manual.

Sorry I don't mean to be a pest, but can someone give me like a list of the first 5 or 10 things i should do to get this site php ready?

Thank you everyone for all your help.

thorpe

honsetly, if you dont know php yet, your not going to get this site done in a week.

php is a complex scripting language, and your not gonna learn it over night.

you could just change all the .html extensions to .php, then aslong as your server supports php, your site is done, in php and all.

if however you want php functionality written into these pages, your going to need to learn php.

start with the manual. there is also a good online php book here

tar333

Ok, well i better get studying, thought maybe there were short cuts to learning php, but I guess not.

Thanks a lot thorpe, I really appreciate all your help and time.

thorpe

well, i meen there are and there aren't. if its just database stuff your going to need you should study up on that first.

but, for instance, just to insert data into a database you need to know how to validate that data. strip out any unwanted data (scripts for instance), open a database connection, then insert.

you will find, that if you concentrate on the areas required for your site, you will get it done it just might not be very efficient or reliable.

learning a programming language is more than just memorising the syntax and functions. its a way of thinking.

tar333

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction thorpe. I think i will focus on the things i need for the site right now because of time constraints and just learn as i go.
If i get stuck over the next couple of days, i'm sure i'll be back for advice.

Thanks again, your help has given me some direction