Database Help Needed

[Anon]

Im a complete beginenr into PHP scripting, and database intercation with a web site.

I have every sources code for authentication etc. and i wish to make a login page within my web site, so that users can insert their Username and Password and it will then allow them to move on to the site, but if the information is incorrect, will decline them.

I need help on what software etc. i need and how i can go about doing this.

In replies, please remember that i am a complete beginner.

Can anyone help me

Nigel Jones

[Anon]

Hey I am also a begginer to php and I have contacted this forum every time I got really messed up. It took me 2 weeks to set up php and I will try to help you get to where I am with databases.

1. You must install mysql this can be downloaded for free at www.mysql.com
2. You must configure mysql in.....in......in...the word I have learned to hate DOS it almost killed me but you have to then configure it and then start includeing sql code into your php pages.
SQL is the database language that you will briefly need to learn. I am stuck at step 2 and if you figure it out please email me.

[e-mail]

[hotspur]

I apologise if this is too basic, but it's hard to know where to start.

You need three applications

1. A web server
2. PHP4
3. A relational database server

It very much depends on what OS you are using ie either Windows or Linux

If you are using Windows

If you have Windows 95/98 then a cut down version of the MS web server called PWS is available - I have heard that it is not avaiable for Windows ME - but I don't know
I used a server called Xitami (www.xitami.com) which installed very easily
Or you could use Apache but current support for Apache on Windows is patchy.

If you are using Linux - Apache is the best option - I found it installed from the Distro discs easily (Redhat)

PHP is available for both Windows or Linux and can be obtained from www.php.net
For windows there are two executables to download the CGI only version comes with an insatlller that automatically updates PWS or Xitami servers - I found this very easy, basically the installer did all the work and there is a pre-defined script that checks your installation.

PHP for Linux would probably be on your Linux Distro discs.

2 down 1 to go......

You will need a Relational Database Management system.
You mention a script - what database does this use?
If you can choose then mySQL is probably the easist choice its free and works on Windows or Linux. A download can be obtained from www.mysql.com - downloads are available for numerous Operating Systems

There are insatallation instructions that I found quite easy - the ite also has a detailed manual.

The main draw back with mySQL is the interface wich is VERY basic - you are stuck with a DOS/Unix command line interface. (I believe there is a Linux Graphical Interface for mySQl but I haven't used it.)

However there is an excellent tool phpmyadmin (www.phpmyadmin.com) which is a suite of PHP scripts that act as a frontend for your mySQL databases. simply change the config file (passwords etc) copy the files to an area accessable by your web server and access the first page (index.php) and you can create databases tables etc with ease.
(This obviously works for Windows or Linux)

Finally if you want an editor ww.zend.com have an integrated desktop environment that you can try for 30 days - but I found it a bit cunbersome. I prefer PHPed wich only works for Windows and is free - you can get it from http://soysal.free.fr/PHPEd/

Hope I've not gone on too much

Mark Reilly