Where should I start?

[Gojira999]

I have been designing websites on a freelance basis for a few years using html & flash on a self taught basis.

However, I am now required to design a site which contains a searchable database, allowing users to search using a variety of criteria returning links to pages matching their criteria.

Whilst not afraid of raising the bar, I appreciate that there will be a steep learning curve here. Please could more experienced DB designers give me some pointers on what would be a good starting point on this project and subsequently my knowledge base? Is it a mysql solution or asp?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

(I have a fair bit of DB experience on MS Access but understand this will be a different kettle of fish!)

 

[cLFlaVA]

ASP is not comparable to MySQL.

There are many options to explore. What type of webserver will the site be run on? What type of database are you utilizing? MySQL database or MS SQL Server database? What scripting language would you like to use? ASP and PHP are two very popular ones.

My favorite mix is PHP running on Apache communicating with a MySQL database.

PHP and ASP are scripting languages that have functionality to communicate WITH databases, which is why I said earlier that ASP and MySQL are not comparable, after you asked, mysql or ASP.

*cLFlaVA
----------------------------
A pirate walks into a bar with a huge ship's steering wheel down his pants.
The bartender asks, "Are you aware that you have a steering wheel down your pants?"
The pirate replies, "Arrrrr! It's driving me nuts!

 

[Gojira999]

Thanks for the repsonse.

The server is Linux powered and claims to support mysql databases. It is likely that I would utilise mysql.

I understand that to build & test a mysql/php site, you have to install an apache server on your home machine together with php & mysql and configure them to interact. Is this right? Is there a good manual to do this in easy to understand muppet terms that I can follow?

 

[darrync]

check out forum434 faq --

then go to --

http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/

to get mysql set up

then make a simple table and a simple connect script for php

$hostname_connName = "localhost";
$database_connName = "table name";
$username_connName = "username";
$password_connName = "password";
$connName = mysql_pconnect($hostname_connName, $username_connName, $password_connName) or die(mysql_error());

then you need to have a select statement and go from there

 

[manarth]

Gojira999 - It will do your career a world of good to learn about LAMP (Linux / Apache / MySql / PHP).

Do not underestimate what you're about to undertake! Make sure you allow plenty of time for the learning process.

In many ways, you do not need to understand the whole package - as a web developer, the key bit will be PHP (and the PHP syntax for interacting with MySQL).

As an aside, it's not required for the database server to be on the same server as the web server.

<marc> i wonder what will happen if i press this...[ul][li]please tell us if our suggestion has helped[/li][li]need some help? faq581-3339[/li][/ul]

 

[Foamcow]

There are some easy installers available to install LAMP and variants on a windows machine. They install and configure all the stuff you need with minimal input from yourself!

http://sourceforge.net/projects/apache2triad/

try that one.

However as with all things like this, it is much better to know how to do it yourself, or at least understand the relationships between each part.
The link above just makes things easier if you want to get started quickly!

http://www.foamcow.com

 

[Dweezel]

I'm also a php/mysql fan. If you're looking for resources for learning then you may need to be careful, especialy with books. Are you familiar with all the basic concepts of programming (functions, loops, arrays etc.)? If your web designing involved javascript or your flash work involved a lot of actionscripting then you may well be, but if not then many very good php and mysql books will just confuse you.

Many PHP books assume a basic programming knowledge, If you're not yet familiar with programming then you need a book which teaches you programming from the ground up using PHP. I don't know of a particular book but I'm sure there are many. Maybe someone else could suggest one.

If you already have a basic knowledge of programming then this is first class:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos...90854/sr=2-2/ref=sr_2_3_2/202-9291044-9423065

There's a section in it on building a search feature (really quite an easy task with PHP), as well as forums, content management systems and loads of other cool stuff.

 

[Gojira999]

Thanks for your help everyone.

Have picked up a copy of Mysql&PHP For Dummies and will take it from there.......