Re: [PHP] NEWBIE- Is this possible? How?!

2002-06-07 Thread Erik Price


On Thursday, June 6, 2002, at 11:07  PM, Kevin J wrote:

> I am sure this isn't the best way to learn PhP, but I am running out of
> ideas for making this website work. Static content just seems boring 
> these
> days, so I would liek to "spice" up the site by having the band members
> themselves contribute to the site, instead of me always doing it.
>
> It might bring people to the site more often, and make it more 
> interesting
> for the band members.
>
> I just have to figure out whwre to start, thats all.

Everything you want to do is covered in "Beginning PHP" (Wrox), which is 
tutorial in nature.  This is for someone who is new to PHP, and new to 
coding in general.  PHP is an excellent first language because it is 
easy to learn, and you can see immediate results in your new dynamic web 
pages.

On the other hand if you already know how to program, you would probably 
be better served by an introduction to the language that is aimed at 
programmers, such as O'Reilly's new offering "Programming PHP" by Keven 
Tatroe and Rasmus Lerdorf (who started the PHP project).

Managing the database will take another level of skill, so pick up Paul 
DuBois' "MySQL" (New Riders) which IMO is unmatched by any other 
reference on the topic.

But don't expect to become an overnight wizard.  There are a lot of 
security issues with which you will have to familiarize yourself, 
ranging from system/server security to the security of your code 
itself.  If your site will be low-traffic, then I wouldn't worry too 
much, but if it is like N-Sync or something like that then I imagine 
there are tons of annoyed crackers out there who would happily try to 
break into the site to wreak damage.  The one great thing about a 
totally static web site is that (at the coding level), there is no fear 
of security issues -- its simply a glorified text file.  (The reason I 
say "at the coding level" is because server security is still an issue.)

But don't get scared off with this warning... just go get started with 
programming in PHP, and you will eventually learn what you need to as 
you go.  Just don't put it on the real site until you're sure it's done, 
so all your development locally or something.


Erik


PS: don't overwrite old stuff, you might want that someday.  If a band 
member wants to post a commment, just let them insert a new record into 
the database and only return the most recent record for each band 
member.  Archive the old data, perhaps when you are feeling adventurous 
you can offer a "read the archives" section of the site.





Erik Price
Web Developer Temp
Media Lab, H.H. Brown
[EMAIL PROTECTED]


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Re: [PHP] NEWBIE- Is this possible? How?!

2002-06-06 Thread Kevin J

Yup, you just hit the nail on the head with that one Justin.

I am sure this isn't the best way to learn PhP, but I am running out of
ideas for making this website work. Static content just seems boring these
days, so I would liek to "spice" up the site by having the band members
themselves contribute to the site, instead of me always doing it.

It might bring people to the site more often, and make it more interesting
for the band members.

I just have to figure out whwre to start, thats all.

Thanks,

Kevin J

"Justin French" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
[EMAIL PROTECTED]">news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]...
> Translation:
>
> You want a password-protected form, which the band members can access,
which
> overwrites (updates) a central (or individual) chunk of text.
>
> This text is placed inside a HTML page (dynamic, whatever, doesn't matter)
> at run time, and is visible each time the page is hit, until someone else
in
> the band overwrites it.
>
> This can be achieved quite easily, but may not be an ideal "first go" at
> PHP.
>
> In simple terms, you want:
>
> - a form
> - validation of that form (user, password, content validity, minor
security
> checks)
> - overwrite a text file or MySQL database field with the new text
> - include that text in your home page (or whatever).
>
>
> Justin French
> 
> Creative Director
> http://Indent.com.au
> 
>
>
>
> on 07/06/02 11:50 AM, Kevin J ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) wrote:
>
> >
> > Hello All Helpers!  :)
> >
> > I was wondering if it is possible to mix Dynamic Content with Layers?
> >
> > If not I was wondering if someone can help me with my idea:
> >
> > I have designed a website for a band (see below name) and I would like
to
> > add a feature where the band members can log in and write something, and
> > have it displayed on the page...i guess kinda like a guestbook, but I
would
> > like to have the content to be overwritable. I guess if the band
members
> > had their own page, they could add their own content whenever they
wanted
> > to, and it would update accordingly.
> >
> > Be warned I have no background in PhP.
> >
> > I would basically like to know what it is I am looking for to creating
this.
> > I have bought Beginning PhP 4 by Wrox, and I am slowly getting into it.
I
> > just need some direction please.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Kevin
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Kevin J
> >
> > --
> > http://www.wishpocket.com
> >
> >
> >
>



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Re: [PHP] NEWBIE- Is this possible? How?!

2002-06-06 Thread Justin French

Translation:

You want a password-protected form, which the band members can access, which
overwrites (updates) a central (or individual) chunk of text.

This text is placed inside a HTML page (dynamic, whatever, doesn't matter)
at run time, and is visible each time the page is hit, until someone else in
the band overwrites it.

This can be achieved quite easily, but may not be an ideal "first go" at
PHP.

In simple terms, you want:

- a form
- validation of that form (user, password, content validity, minor security
checks)
- overwrite a text file or MySQL database field with the new text
- include that text in your home page (or whatever).


Justin French

Creative Director
http://Indent.com.au




on 07/06/02 11:50 AM, Kevin J ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) wrote:

> 
> Hello All Helpers!  :)
> 
> I was wondering if it is possible to mix Dynamic Content with Layers?
> 
> If not I was wondering if someone can help me with my idea:
> 
> I have designed a website for a band (see below name) and I would like to
> add a feature where the band members can log in and write something, and
> have it displayed on the page...i guess kinda like a guestbook, but I would
> like to have the content to be overwritable. I guess if the band members
> had their own page, they could add their own content whenever they wanted
> to, and it would update accordingly.
> 
> Be warned I have no background in PhP.
> 
> I would basically like to know what it is I am looking for to creating this.
> I have bought Beginning PhP 4 by Wrox, and I am slowly getting into it. I
> just need some direction please.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Kevin
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Kevin J
> 
> --
> http://www.wishpocket.com
> 
> 
> 


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RE: [PHP] NEWBIE- Is this possible? How?!

2002-06-06 Thread Peter

 have a look at something like http://phpnuke.org   or the like ... maybe
this is what ur after ...



-Original Message-
From: Kevin J [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Friday, 7 June 2002 11:50 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: [PHP] NEWBIE- Is this possible? How?!



Hello All Helpers!  :)

I was wondering if it is possible to mix Dynamic Content with Layers?

If not I was wondering if someone can help me with my idea:

I have designed a website for a band (see below name) and I would like to
add a feature where the band members can log in and write something, and
have it displayed on the page...i guess kinda like a guestbook, but I would
like to have the content to be overwritable. I guess if the band members
had their own page, they could add their own content whenever they wanted
to, and it would update accordingly.

Be warned I have no background in PhP.

I would basically like to know what it is I am looking for to creating this.
I have bought Beginning PhP 4 by Wrox, and I am slowly getting into it. I
just need some direction please.

Thanks,

Kevin

Thanks,

Kevin J

--
http://www.wishpocket.com




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[PHP] NEWBIE- Is this possible? How?!

2002-06-06 Thread Kevin J


Hello All Helpers!  :)

I was wondering if it is possible to mix Dynamic Content with Layers?

If not I was wondering if someone can help me with my idea:

I have designed a website for a band (see below name) and I would like to
add a feature where the band members can log in and write something, and
have it displayed on the page...i guess kinda like a guestbook, but I would
like to have the content to be overwritable. I guess if the band members
had their own page, they could add their own content whenever they wanted
to, and it would update accordingly.

Be warned I have no background in PhP.

I would basically like to know what it is I am looking for to creating this.
I have bought Beginning PhP 4 by Wrox, and I am slowly getting into it. I
just need some direction please.

Thanks,

Kevin

Thanks,

Kevin J

--
http://www.wishpocket.com




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