building an XML admin page

siege

I have the following XML file that I would love to be able to setup a PHP interface that could:
1. manipulate the data
2. add or delete a 'menu' element
3. switch which node comes first

I'm so new at PHP that I don't even know where to start. The only two things I know how to do is prepare the HTML file for the layout and ready it for PHP insertion and obviously write my own XML manually (i know thats really easy). Could someone point me in the direction on how i could get started on this? Important I have PHP Version 4.4.1.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1" ?>
<navigation name="mensShirts">
<menu itemName="YO!" itemNumber = "SU06M-001" itemAmount = "22.00"/>
<menu itemName="Dunkaholic" itemNumber = "SU06M-002" itemAmount = "27.00"/>
</navigation>

NogDog

The approach I would take would be to use a database to store the data, if that is an option. This makes it relatively simple to update the data, plus it gives you a lot of flexibility when it comes to choosing and organizing the data to be output. It is then a fairly simple matter to select records from the database and output the information as a XML file.

It can certainly all be done without a DB and just using a XML file as your "database", but it can be a bit cumbersome, and quite likely it will be slower, too (especially as you add more and more data to it).

siege

honestly I up against the same thing either way, a steep learning curve. although i have played around with both php and MySQL 4.0.27 I wouldnt say i know it. I need a place to start, a tutorial using my versions and not 5.

NogDog

If you're not on PHP 5 yet, then I'd definitely recommend the database approach, as the SimpleXML Functions will not be available to you (and it's much easier to work with them than the older XML Parser Functions available in PHP 4).

siege

unfortunately my provider cannot update to that as all their 'includes' will not work with it, or so they say. the 5 method obviously looks a lot cleaner/easier. Being a novice (emphasis on that). I have MySQL 4.0.27 as a database option, how do I get started? What site might have a good tutorial. I come from a strong CSS, HTML & Actionscript background, if that helps at all. Thanks for the recommendations.