[CLOSED] Exited beginner

[Lodovikus]

So far I understand the concept of sending a form to email using PHP, In this case as I understood it, using two separate pages of code, one html form and the other one php code page, combined them with <form method="post" action="phpPage.php">. Thanks to the comunity for sharing the knowledge...my form to email is working.

Next step is .... I need help to understand the concept of database, if I was wanting to gather the emails from my form and put it somewhere safe. What is the concept involved. I read so many articles already but I'm not sharp (dumb).

Is it like PHP + MYSQL + the page to store the data? can anyone explain it specially for my smaller brain the concept of this mighty database thing?.

I have access to my folders on my host
I'm comfortable with html and css
I still don't understand the logic of javascript but I can use the free scripts here and there on my pages.
The last few lines of information hopefully can help you to help me.

As alwayas thanks
Lodovikus

[ronverdonk]

I understand that you want to store the email (you sent out), to an MySql database. To make it easier, to save the email data you can store it in the database with PHP code that in the same script that sends the email out.
Basically, you script would show something like (pseudocode)

acquire email data from $_POST array;
construct all email message items;
build email message;
send out email message;
if (email not sent successfully) {
  issue error message;
  exit or something else;
}
if (email sent successfully) {
  connect to the database server;
  connect to the database;
  construct the variables holding the email text, the subject and the email To: address;  
  insert above variable contents into db table;
  close the db connection;
}

I could send you code to acomplish this but, since you stated that you don't know much about MySql yet, please take some time (again) to read the PHP-MySql tutorial at http://www.php-mysql-tutorial.com/ and ask your questions here.

Ronald :cool:

[Lodovikus]

Thank you Ronald,
I promise to follow through the MYSQL tutorials, but before I continue digging into the codes how can I accomplish MYSQL when my server is remote. Should I just type the codes and upload them to server? if so, what extension would be to use for MYSQL.

Also when I write MySQL codes using DOS, how can I upload this black screen DOS using FTP to my remote server?
thank you for your time

regards
Lodovikus

[ronverdonk]

I see that you are somewhat familiar with PHP. Now, all code to access MySql can be written in PHP. There are approx. 40 such mysql_ functions available for programmers in PHP of which you will normally not use more then 7 to 10. (see PHP functions ).

Usually, code is written in text format using an editor. This can be a simple one, such as Notepad in Windows or a highly sophisticated one, like Dreamweaver. Basically, you can use the simplest one if you only want to enter your code without any make-up.

About DOS, I don't really see how you can use your DOS screen as an editor. Or do you mean that you enter your mysql commands from the DOS screen and want to mark/copy them into a text editor? But then you'll still need PHP commands to send the MySql statements to the MySql database.

Hope this answers your questions on this.

Ronald :cool:

[Lodovikus]

About DOS, I don't really see how you can use your DOS screen as an editor. Or do you mean that you enter your mysql commands from the DOS screen and want to mark/copy them into a text editor? But then you'll still need PHP commands to send the MySql statements to the MySql database.

Hope this answers your questions on this.

Ronald :cool:

yes sir... this is exactly what my confussion is where to write the MYSQL codes or to be exact where to write the data. Most articles I found on the internet are talking about writing codes via command prompt....How do I copy the codes from command prompt to a text editor and what extension I should save the MYSQL files under? I think I started to understand how to call MYSQL from PHP but still confuse how the data ( the MYSQL part) gets there in the first place.
I'm prepared to type every peace of MYSQL codes by hand in to text editor if that what it takes....yes I have and can use Dreamweaver but so far I only use it to edit html and css and never database.

as always thank you for your help
Regards
Lodovikus

[ronverdonk]

Let me give you a VERY OVERSIMPLIFIED overview of MySql commands in DOS command line and in PHP code line.

[php]Logging on to the server:
When you use MySql from the (DOS) command line, you start with something like:
mysql -u root -h localhost -p password
when you want to do the same in a PHP program, you do that in a textline with php code:
mysql_connect("localhost", "root", "password");

Connecting to the database:
DOS: use dbname;
PHP: mysql_select_db("dbname");

Issuing a SELECT:
DOS: select * from MyTable;
PHP: $Result=mysql_query("select * from MyTable");
mysql_fetch_row($Result);

Doing an INSERT:
DOS: insert into MyTable (id, name, address) VALUES ('01', 'John Doe', 'Fleet Street 10');
PHP: $id='01'; $name='John Doe'; $address='Fleet Street 10';
mysql_query("insert into MyTable (id, name, address) VALUES ('$id', '$name', '$address')");

Doing an UPDATE:
DOS: update MyTable set name='Joe Doe' where id='01';
PHP: $id='01'; $newname='Joe Doe';
mysql_query("update MyTable set name='$newname' where id='$id'");
[/php]
I hope you now can better see the difference between doing MySql via the command line and via a PHP program.
But I still insist that you learn some more MySql via the link I gave you.

Ronald :cool:

[Lodovikus]

Hi Ronald,
I can't thank you enaugh for you time and effort,
I will apply those methods to my learning, I will let you know my progress
Regards
Lodovikus