VERY new to php - how is this done?

virtuall

I'm extremely green (EXTREMELY!) when it comes to PHP/MySQL but I'm wanting to do a bit of background research into the way a particular website works

Is anyone able to point me in the right direction of how this site (http://www.jeannevalli.com.au/registry/) was created (ie the workings of the online registry) - from looking at the code, I'm guessing it's PHP, but I can't tell if it was created by a specific program/software, or if it's custom designed.

Is there any way to tell? Or to replicate and understand this?

You'll have to forgive me... I don't even know if this is the right place to ask this so feel free to send me on my merry way if it's not! 🙂

justsomeone

a Wedding List is a basic enough database app. It could be written in PHP or any of a host of other languages.

Do you already have a products catalogue / shopping cart which a wedding list would need to "plug into"? Or are you starting from scratch?

TE2Consulter

That is a simple question but the answer could be huge.....!

I agree that this site is probably PHP driven and may well be hand-built. However, it is basically a database backed web application with a load of forms used to enter and retreive data from the back-end database.

There are several OPEN SOURCE products that can do this task for you, whereby all you do is install the website on your server and 'tune' all the variable information to your specifics. You would need to host your site on a server that uses PHP and MySQL (the database system). Have a look at www.osCommerce.com .

Alternatively, you can build a fairly professional looking website and database yourself, using any one of thousands of examples such as those available on other forums here. How are your database building skills? Coz that is where you need to start, by building your product and client database structure.....is this getting too far forward already?

chris_davies

I suggest you look at www.thesitewizard.com for tutorials on php and mysql. Also do a search for webmonkey, there a load of php/mysql tutes on there too. Another alternative is pop down to your local college and enrol on a course. If you are technically minded though, go get a SAMS Apache,mySQL PHP all in one book. Very useful book that, I have it myself. You could most probably get a second hand book at amazon.com too, if funds are tight.

TE2Consulter

Database design is not easy for the 'newbie' but a book I found helpful is Larry Ullman's 'PHP and MySQL for dynamic web sites'. an excellent step-by-step guide (ISBN 0-321-18648-6).

If you want to talk building the database contact me on private message.

jaypounder

yeh i got that larry ullman book, thats wat got me into php, but having php5 in easy steps is also quite good if u only have a 10er spare 😉

virtuall

Thanks everyone for your help!! I really really appreciate all of the replies 🙂 Some of it has gone over my head, but I'm determined to learn!

I guess what I'm wanting to know is how easy would it be to maintain a site like this, not knowing how it was developed and put together? Is there an easy way of knowing?

Or, for example, if I was to simply take the code and replace the products with my own, what would I need to look for in the coding to also change ?

Matt_Kindig

One of the problems with your proposed solution is that PHP, as a server-side language, is used to generate HTML pages that are then sent to your browser. So simply copying code from "Edit Source" in your browser will only let you see HTML, and won't give you any of the PHP functionality.

virtuall

Ahh I see - so I would need FTP access or something to be able to see all of the files there and how the site has been put together?

Matt_Kindig

Yeah, if they made the files publicly available, you could retrieve them via FTP.