Hello,

I desperately need to learn more about PHP and MySQL to develop interactive (database driven) websites.
At the moment I have to rely on scripts I get off the Internet, some are great, some are rubbish. but no matter how good they are, they are never 100% the way you'd like them to be.
And then, if you don't know enough PHP to adjust them to your own needs, you're obviously stuck.

Is there anyone who can advise me of a good starting point?
I have tried some online tutorials, but some of them are very confusing or even contradict one another.
I have got "PHP & MySQL for DUMMIES" by Janet Valade, but if that is for dummies, then I gues these days you need a PhD in dumminess to be really called a dummy.
I also have"Build your own database driven website using PHP ans MySQL" by Kevin Yank, that is lots easier to understand, but starts with the basics, and then all of a sudden goes in feet first.
So, is there any one who could advise me regarding step by step help for the absolute beginner?

Any help will be very much appreciated.

 

 

 

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Question: what level of knowledge do you have now?
Can you at least read and interpret a php script?
Before you jump into MySQL, I suggest you have a decent understanding of the workings of PHP. And that means being able to look at scripts and see what they do and how, even if you don't know exactly what each function does.

The php.net site is a great reference for that. You need to be able to find things there to discover new functions, and match them to what you are attempting to do.

Best way I know of to learn a new language is to write a script or two. If you have done any previous coding, re-write the script in php, for instance. If you are new to coding, start simple.

One good source might be the Learn in 24-hours series of books. Learn php first, then add the mysql stuff.
I learned buckets full of stuff from Larry Ullman's books. I have several of them, and once you know some php, they are great books to learn mysql and how to write php code for web sites using mysql.

Download and check out some scripts from hot scripts dot com and see if you can understand them by reading the source code. Same with the scripts in the Trap17 Tutorial section. Look at a script and figure out what is going on, understand the logic flow and the functions the author uses and why that particular one is being used.

Do you have a copy of php and/or mysql on your local machine? I suggest Xampp or Easyphp. Download and install one of those. Xampp includes the mysql server, not sure if easyphp does.

This should keep you busy for a few days...

 

 

 

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Hello,
Thanks for your advice.
This is what I have at the moment:
PHP Version 5.2.2

System Windows NT SERVER 5.1 build 2600
Build Date May 2 2007 19:17:46
Configure Command cscript /nologo configure.js "--enable-snapshot-build" "--with-gd=shared"
Server API CGI/FastCGI
Virtual Directory Support enabled
Configuration File (php.ini) Path C:\WINDOWS
Loaded Configuration File C:\Program Files\PHP\php.ini
PHP API 20041225
PHP Extension 20060613
Zend Extension 220060519
Debug Build no
Thread Safety enabled
Zend Memory Manager enabled
IPv6 Support enabled
Registered PHP Streams php, file, data, http, ftp, compress.zlib
Registered Stream Socket Transports tcp, udp
Registered Stream Filters convert.iconv.*, string.rot13, string.toupper, string.tolower, string.strip_tags, convert.*, consumed, zlib.*

Zend logo This program makes use of the Zend Scripting Language Engine:
Zend Engine v2.2.0, Copyright © 1998-2007 Zend Technologies

Is that any good?

Thanks.

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yup, looks like it will work.
Have you figured out how to view a script in your browser be using localhost? and do you have a mysql server with that?

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Yes, I know how to do that.
http://localhost/whatever folder/whatever script.
As well as on my web server I have MySQL 5 on my local PC.
Thanks.

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If you wanna learn PHP, I could recommend you http://w3schools.org/, there are AJAX, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, PHP, and bunch more beginner tutorials

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Thanks, but when I went there, it looked suspicously much like one of those domain squatter sites.
All they do is try to sell you stuff of which the quality yet has to be proven.
I have heard of the w3schools before, but are you sure you have sent me to the right site?

Adjustment:
After having a look, I found it should most probably be .com rather than .org, this took me to the site I have come across before.

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