Would this be hard ??

[wap3]

Hi guys,

I built this site www.universaltools.co.uk (http://www.universaltools.co.uk). On this site there is an online version of their hire brochure which is over 200 pages worth of info. Now I was thinking whether it would be worth re-doing this using php and mysql. I know I should have done it to start with but I didn't know much about php then (well I still don't, but .. :p ).

Anyway besides it possibly being interesting, should I really consider doing it this way ?? What would be the advantage ??

How hard would it be for me to do, bearing in mind I have not touched php and mysql yet ??

Although the pages are of the basic same format, some do have slight differences (see these pages and notice the differences. click here (http://www.universaltools.co.uk/Catalogue/Acrow%20Props.htm) and here (http://www.universaltools.co.uk/Catalogue/Nifty%20Lift.htm) ) Would this cause problems ??

What do I need to build it ?? (php and mysql programs ??)

Sorry for the big question but I have no idea

Thanks

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[mordred]

That's really difficult to say how long you would need. Have you got any programming experience already with a different language, and have you worked RDBMS before? If you have neither and you have to meet a deadline next week and still want to switch to PHP, then it's a deathmarch for you. Prepare for sleep deprivation.

On the other hand, your site looked genuinely predestined for a database-driven catalog done by PHP in conjunction with MySQL... so if you have the time to delve into something new, do it! That would make your site much more maintainable, and also the initial development efforts should be reduced (well, not while you're still learning).

In order to do this you first have to check if your host does support both PHP and MySQL; if yes, then you can get ready developing. Read the introductory articles at http://www.php.net and http://www.mysql.com and grab some tutorials from the net to get in touch. Additionally, you might consider downloading phpdev, from which you read in the Must-read posts of this forum.

Welcome to PHP and happy coding.

[wap3]

Hi mordred,

Well I am kind of a beginner in most things except html and css. I have used javascript quite a bit and a tiny bit of cgi just for form processing. I have also used access alot before so I have a fair knowledge of database development but it is probably completely different right ??

I am not under a deadline. I just thought it would be a good idea to make the site easier to maintain as you said and to allow the possible addition of a booking type system in the future. Also to learn something new.

My host does support php and mysql.

I read that sticky post about firepages program after I posted :)
When you download that is it kinda like a normal program ??

:thumbsup:


P.S What is RDBMS ??

[mordred]

Originally posted by wap3
Well I am kind of a beginner in most things except html and css. I have used javascript quite a bit and a tiny bit of cgi just for form processing. I have also used access alot before so I have a fair knowledge of database development but it is probably completely different right ??


If you are familiar with general programming issues like variables, control structures, loops, string manipulation, objects etc. then PHP should be easy for you. If you aren't: Relax, the learning curve of PHP is quite low (IMHO even lower than JavaScript), and their is an abundance of first-step tutorials on the net. And for questions of course this forum is ready ;).


I am not under a deadline. I just thought it would be a good idea to make the site easier to maintain as you said and to allow the possible addition of a booking type system in the future. Also to learn something new.


Well, now you've got a new hobby. :D

Tip: There's a very good PHP manual in .chm format (the Windows help file format) availabe for download at php.net. It is tremendously useful, because the User submitted notes are contained within. Also, it has an index and search functionality, also very useful.


I read that sticky post about firepages program after I posted :)
When you download that is it kinda like a normal program ??


In a broader sense, yes. Judging from the user's experiences in this forum it's quite good and easy to use.


P.S What is RDBMS ??

Silly me, I forgot a "with" in that sentence. A RDBMS is a Relational DataBase Management System (see http://searchdatabase.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid13_gci214260,00.html). Many concepts common to other RDBMS can be applied to MySQL, though not all. But having experience with that would've given you a real advantage.

[wap3]

Ok,

well here I go !! :eek:

I have downloaded the php manual and phpdev from firepages site. I am going to try to eventually database that site and learn php and mysql at the same time.

I have a really dumb**s question to start with though. Ok so you create the database using the mysql langauge, right ??
Using phpmyadmin ?? or if you didn't have that what would you use ??

Then you use php to edit, add, delete etc etc .. the records in that database ?? that right ?? and use php to generate the page based on the results ??

im so dumb im sorry :o

well if you don't ask you don't find out

thanks :thumbsup:

[Nightfire]

I've always used phpMyAdmin, could say I've grown up with it :) There are many other programs that do the same thing, I've never used them though. phpMyAdmin is used to make your database more readable and easier to understand and change/add things into the database.

You've near enough got what to do in the last post you did :) Have a quick go through the tutorials at http://www.devshed.com and http://www.phpbuilder.com :)

[beetle]

Just a few thoughts from a PHP & MySql n00b....

First, a bit about me BEFORE PHP. I'm VERY fluent with javascript, and am familiar with most basic and intermediate programming concepts from my 2 highschool and 1 college computer science classes (Turbo Pascal and C++, repsectively)

Moving on, PHP is similar to javascript in that they are both C-based scripting languages. One is very easy to learn if you know the other, since they share alot of the same syntax (in fact, some algorithms can be ported in seconds). Other than PHP's much larger library of functions, each has something unique to it that the other doesn't, that in the most basic of terms can be versed so: PHP interacts with the server, Javascript interacts with the DOM.

What about MySQL? SQL is EASY (nay, facile). It's almost like writing english sentences (example: SELECT id FROM data WHERE id > 5). Now, as easy as SQL is, database concepts (indexing, normalization, etc) are the tricky part.

Where am I know? I picked up PHP and MySql so easily and quickly (~4 months ago) that I now work full-time developing in both :)