Right from the start

[keepingbusy]

Hi

I have been trawling through the Tek-Tips forum looking for the right place to post this question so please accept my apology if this isn't the right place.

After much searching and googling I cannot really find the answers I'm looking for so I'm hoping someone here can help or at least point me in the right direction.

I am a Frontpage 2000/2003 user (Good knowledge of HTML)
User of Access 2003 / Visual FoxPro 6 & 9 (Good knowledge of the latter two, enough knowledge to create a table/database in Access)
My webhosting company allows Frontpage extensions, ASP etc
I have a copy of MySQL (not yet installed)
I have many website domain names available
I do not want anyone to "Do the job for me"

1. I want to set up a website that allows visitors to search by different categories from a music catalogue database (search example

http://www.play.com)

2. When they make thier choice or choices I need a shopping cart
3. Not sure about the payment method, could be PayPal at the moment
4. I need notification of orders by email if possible but as we are walking and not running, the notification can come later
5. Is a "Are you a returning customer" method difficult to set up?


Q. Where do I look guys?
Q. Has anyone seen or read the book "PHP and MySQL For Dummies, 2nd Edition"? (

http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesTitle/productCd-0764555898.html)

Q. Is PHP and MySQL the way forward for this type of project?

Many thanks in anticipation of any replies

Lee (Keepingbusy)

 

[TonyGroves]

PHP and MySQL are very popular and suitable choices for that type of site. You would need to check that your hoster provides those.

PHP and MYSQL are different topics, and with a site like what you are proposing, you would really want a good reference text for each of those, more than a "Dummies" book could provide.

The "returning customer" feature could be implemented by way of cookie, or by login, or both.

Best of luck with your site.

 

[keepingbusy]

Tony

Thanks for the response. I will check on whether my host supports PHP and MySQL

Lee