Step One... The Install

Hello Reader

I am brand new at PHP and in order to get started I need to install the program (so I've been told.)

I did that. I went over to www.php.net, downloaded the Windows auto install version of 5.0.4.

During the install I selected IIS4 or higher b/c I can't figure out how to use apache and IIS5 was already running on my desktop.

And after that... I made up some simple php code.

<?php
echo ( "<p>Hello World</p>" );

I saved the file as main.php, went over to IE6.0, opened up //localhost/main.php

and... nothing.

I keep getting syntax errors for unexpected '<' at line whatever (the line number changes every time I adjust the code)

I've tried everything to make it work to no avail.

Finally, I get rid of the < and the > all together and I end up with

?php echo ( "<p>Hello World</P>" ) on my explorer page ><.

Am I missing something in the install.

can someone give me a hand here

Sincerely,
In-way-over-his-head

try

<?php
  echo "hello world!";
?>

Originally posted by thorpe
try
<?php
  echo "hello world!";
?>
[/B]

YOU ROCK!!!!!

Thanks a Billion!

Gonna try to link up to my MYSQL dbase now.

Keep an eye out for my Step Two... MYSQL post.