Absolute Beginner (Setup Questions)

[See_Red_Run]

Hi,
I am trying to figure out how to get started with PHP/MySQL.
Everything I've read so far says to start with PHP first. I was
expecting something like Visual Basic Express or some other type of
free IDE. So I discovered that I needed to download a virtual server,
so I downloaded OmniSecure and followed the set up instructions as far
as I could figure them out.

So here is where I'm stuck.
1) While trying to set up and configure everything it tells me to move/
rename a certain .ini file. I can't find this file.

2) Even if I did get set up correctly I'm not sure what program/IDE to
use to begin entering code?

I am obviously a beginner, but have made several Access databases and
basic applications using Visual Basic Express and SQL Server Express
but all of those programs have had various set up wizards that made
everything idiot proof.

Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you.

[denis]

<Se*********@Yahoo.comwrote in message
news:11**********************@q2g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...

Hi,
I am trying to figure out how to get started with PHP/MySQL.
Everything I've read so far says to start with PHP first. I was
expecting something like Visual Basic Express or some other type of
free IDE. So I discovered that I needed to download a virtual server,
so I downloaded OmniSecure and followed the set up instructions as far
as I could figure them out.

So here is where I'm stuck.
1) While trying to set up and configure everything it tells me to move/
rename a certain .ini file. I can't find this file.

2) Even if I did get set up correctly I'm not sure what program/IDE to
use to begin entering code?

I am obviously a beginner, but have made several Access databases and
basic applications using Visual Basic Express and SQL Server Express
but all of those programs have had various set up wizards that made
everything idiot proof.

Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you.

As far as the setup itself is concerned, if you want an operational
Apache/PHP/MySQL stack I would recommend downloading and installing xampp.
It installs and configures everything by itself and all you have to do is
click Next alot. :)

This is really a good way for a beginner to get everything operational.
Possible limitation - I don't know if there's a version for Linux, but
Windows version works great for me.

If you insist on setting up everything individually, be prepared for some
manual work. I would suggest going to www.php.net as they have alot of info
on how to do that. If you'd like I could send you a small powerpoint file
with instructions on how to get IIS/Apache+PHP+MySQL up and running on
Windows.

As far as coding is concerned, you can start with Notepad if you don't have
anything else. There are some editors and IDEs that could help you out. I
remember liking Bluefish on Linux, and as far as Win32 is concerned, I
usually go with Notepad (pure lazyness) but it shouldn't be a problem to
find some tools. I'm told that these days Macromedia Dreamweaver supports
PHP developement including code-completion, so if you already have a license
for that, you might like using the same tool for web design and PHP coding.
Denis Gerina

[See_Red_Run]

On Feb 13, 9:39 am, "denis" <[e-mail]:

<[e-mail] in message

news:11**********************@q2g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...

Hi,
I am trying to figure out how to get started with PHP/MySQL.
Everything I've read so far says to start with PHP first. I was
expecting something like Visual Basic Express or some other type of
free IDE. So I discovered that I needed to download a virtual server,
so I downloaded OmniSecure and followed the set up instructions as far
as I could figure them out.

So here is where I'm stuck.
1) While trying to set up and configure everything it tells me to move/
rename a certain .ini file. I can't find this file.

2) Even if I did get set up correctly I'm not sure what program/IDE to
use to begin entering code?

I am obviously a beginner, but have made several Access databases and
basic applications using Visual Basic Express and SQL Server Express
but all of those programs have had various set up wizards that made
everything idiot proof.

Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you.

As far as the setup itself is concerned, if you want an operational
Apache/PHP/MySQL stack I would recommend downloading and installing xampp.
It installs and configures everything by itself and all you have to do is
click Next alot. :)

This is really a good way for a beginner to get everything operational.
Possible limitation - I don't know if there's a version for Linux, but
Windows version works great for me.

If you insist on setting up everything individually, be prepared for some
manual work. I would suggest going towww.php.netas they have alot of info
on how to do that. If you'd like I could send you a small powerpoint file
with instructions on how to get IIS/Apache+PHP+MySQL up and running on
Windows.

As far as coding is concerned, you can start with Notepad if you don't have
anything else. There are some editors and IDEs that could help you out. I
remember liking Bluefish on Linux, and as far as Win32 is concerned, I
usually go with Notepad (pure lazyness) but it shouldn't be a problem to
find some tools. I'm told that these days Macromedia Dreamweaver supports
PHP developement including code-completion, so if you already have a license
for that, you might like using the same tool for web design and PHP coding.

Denis Gerina- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Ok, thanks for the info. I like the idea of clicking next a lot lol.
I'm still use to Microsoft holding my hand for everything. To be
honest though I have no idea what Apache is, but I like the idea of it
being packaged together.

I'm ok with using notepad, but do I need to save with a special
extension like .html or similiar?

I wouldn't mind a copy of that powerpoint lesson if you would e-mail
it to me that would be great.
See_Red_Run (At) Yahoo (dot) com . I don't normally check that
address since it's for trash collection mostly but if you send it
there I'll be looking for it.

[=?UTF-8?B?SXbDoW4gU8OhbmNoZXogT3J0ZWdh?=]

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

Se*********@Yahoo.com wrote:

1) While trying to set up and configure everything it tells me to move/
rename a certain .ini file. I can't find this file.

Hint: When asking for help, provide every bit of useful information. We
might have experience moving foobar.ini.distrib to foobar.ini, or we may
know that xyz123.ini gives some problems

2) Even if I did get set up correctly I'm not sure what program/IDE to
use to begin entering code?

Whatever.

And by "whatever", I mean "any plain text editor you like". Notepad if you
haven't got anything better, visual studio if you know how to set it up. I
currently work with Kate/Kdevelop in Linux, but if you use windoze, you
might like Ultraedit or Textpad.

I am obviously a beginner, but have made several Access databases and
basic applications using Visual Basic Express and SQL Server Express
but all of those programs have had various set up wizards that made
everything idiot proof.

Welcome to the real world.
As denis already said, you can use xammp to set "everything" up, with a
neat-o idiot-proof installer. I also know about people who like WAMP to do
the job.

Anyway, setting up and testing every component separately will give you a
taste of how the different parts (webserver, database, PHP) work with each
other. Do not think that WAMP/XAMMP is a magical bunhc of software that
works magically; Apache is one thing, MySQL is another thing, and PHP is
another thing, so they are administered separately.
Hope that helps,
- --
- ----------------------------------
Iván Sánchez Ortega -ivansanchez-algarroba-escomposlinux-punto-org-

El crimen no se paga... Entonces mi trabajo es un crimen?
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Se*********@Yahoo.com wrote:

Ok, thanks for the info. I like the idea of clicking next a lot lol.
I'm still use to Microsoft holding my hand for everything. To be
honest though I have no idea what Apache is, but I like the idea of it
being packaged together.

"Apache" refers to the Apache HTTP Daemon, and is the web server sed by
aprox. 70% of the world. Have a look at http://apache.org/httpd .

I'm ok with using notepad, but do I need to save with a special
extension like .html or similiar?

Yep: .php . And don't forget to have a look at http://php.net/tutorial .

--
----------------------------------
Iván Sánchez Ortega -ivansanchez-algarroba-escomposlinux-punto-org-

"Harmonia est discordia concors"
"La harmonÃ*a es la discordia concordante"
-- Franchino Gaffurio, 1518

[denis]

<Se*********@Yahoo.comwrote in message
news:11**********************@m58g2000cwm.googlegr oups.com...

On Feb 13, 9:39 am, "denis" <[e-mail]:

><[e-mail] in message

news:11**********************@q2g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...

Hi,
I am trying to figure out how to get started with PHP/MySQL.
Everything I've read so far says to start with PHP first. I was
expecting something like Visual Basic Express or some other type of
free IDE. So I discovered that I needed to download a virtual server,
so I downloaded OmniSecure and followed the set up instructions as far
as I could figure them out.

So here is where I'm stuck.
1) While trying to set up and configure everything it tells me to move/
rename a certain .ini file. I can't find this file.

2) Even if I did get set up correctly I'm not sure what program/IDE to
use to begin entering code?

I am obviously a beginner, but have made several Access databases and
basic applications using Visual Basic Express and SQL Server Express
but all of those programs have had various set up wizards that made
everything idiot proof.

Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you.

As far as the setup itself is concerned, if you want an operational
Apache/PHP/MySQL stack I would recommend downloading and installing
xampp.
It installs and configures everything by itself and all you have to do is
click Next alot. :)

This is really a good way for a beginner to get everything operational.
Possible limitation - I don't know if there's a version for Linux, but
Windows version works great for me.

If you insist on setting up everything individually, be prepared for some
manual work. I would suggest going towww.php.netas they have alot of info
on how to do that. If you'd like I could send you a small powerpoint file
with instructions on how to get IIS/Apache+PHP+MySQL up and running on
Windows.

As far as coding is concerned, you can start with Notepad if you don't
have
anything else. There are some editors and IDEs that could help you out. I
remember liking Bluefish on Linux, and as far as Win32 is concerned, I
usually go with Notepad (pure lazyness) but it shouldn't be a problem to
find some tools. I'm told that these days Macromedia Dreamweaver supports
PHP developement including code-completion, so if you already have a
license
for that, you might like using the same tool for web design and PHP
coding.

Denis Gerina- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Ok, thanks for the info. I like the idea of clicking next a lot lol.
I'm still use to Microsoft holding my hand for everything. To be
honest though I have no idea what Apache is, but I like the idea of it
being packaged together.

I'm ok with using notepad, but do I need to save with a special
extension like .html or similiar?

I wouldn't mind a copy of that powerpoint lesson if you would e-mail
it to me that would be great.
See_Red_Run (At) Yahoo (dot) com . I don't normally check that
address since it's for trash collection mostly but if you send it
there I'll be looking for it.

Apache is a web-server which you can install freely on your machine.
Web-apps usually work on a request-response model, where the client (using a
web-browser like IE or Mozilla) sends a request for a particular web page (a
file stored on a web-server) and the web-server responds by returning the
requested content. This is in basic terms how the web works and how you make
your static web pages accessible to others. With dynamic web-pages, or in
your case PHP scripts, your web-server receives a request for a PHP script
from the client, then it basically forwards this to a PHP engine (kinda like
a black box :) ) with the input received from the client, the PHP engine
processes it (executes the script) and returns some output (HTML) which then
the web-server send to the client. I recommend finding a book on PHP
development before you start so you could get a basic understand on how
web-apps work, what goes where and how to deploy and test your scripts.

PHP scripts are usually saved with a .php extension (this can be changed).
You do however have to save it into a folder accesible to the web server.
With Apache, that is by default the htdocs folder and it's subfolders (if
you install via xampp, it should be C:\Program Files\xampp\htdocs by
default). Once saved, you can test the script using a web browser and
entering the url. For example, entering

http://127.0.0.1/myfolder/test1.php

would execute a script called test1.php saved in C:\Program
Files\xampp\htdocs\myfolder, if you use the default installation of xampp.

I'll send the ppt as soon as possible, just let me translate it from Bosnian
into English. :)
Denis Gerina

[See_Red_Run]

On Feb 13, 10:16 am, "denis" <[e-mail]:

<[e-mail] in message

news:11**********************@m58g2000cwm.googlegr oups.com...

On Feb 13, 9:39 am, "denis" <[e-mail]:

<[e-mail] in message

>news:11**********************@q2g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...

Hi,
I am trying to figure out how to get started with PHP/MySQL.
Everything I've read so far says to start with PHP first. I was
expecting something like Visual Basic Express or some other type of
free IDE. So I discovered that I needed to download a virtual server,
so I downloaded OmniSecure and followed the set up instructions as far
as I could figure them out.

So here is where I'm stuck.
1) While trying to set up and configure everything it tells me to move/
rename a certain .ini file. I can't find this file.

2) Even if I did get set up correctly I'm not sure what program/IDE to
use to begin entering code?

I am obviously a beginner, but have made several Access databases and
basic applications using Visual Basic Express and SQL Server Express
but all of those programs have had various set up wizards that made
everything idiot proof.

Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you.

As far as the setup itself is concerned, if you want an operational
Apache/PHP/MySQL stack I would recommend downloading and installing
xampp.
It installs and configures everything by itself and all you have to do is
click Next alot. :)

This is really a good way for a beginner to get everything operational.
Possible limitation - I don't know if there's a version for Linux, but
Windows version works great for me.

If you insist on setting up everything individually, be prepared for some
manual work. I would suggest going towww.php.netasthey have alot of info
on how to do that. If you'd like I could send you a small powerpoint file
with instructions on how to get IIS/Apache+PHP+MySQL up and running on
Windows.

As far as coding is concerned, you can start with Notepad if you don't
have
anything else. There are some editors and IDEs that could help you out. I
remember liking Bluefish on Linux, and as far as Win32 is concerned, I
usually go with Notepad (pure lazyness) but it shouldn't be a problem to
find some tools. I'm told that these days Macromedia Dreamweaver supports
PHP developement including code-completion, so if you already have a
license
for that, you might like using the same tool for web design and PHP
coding.

Denis Gerina- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Ok, thanks for the info. I like the idea of clicking next a lot lol.
I'm still use to Microsoft holding my hand for everything. To be
honest though I have no idea what Apache is, but I like the idea of it
being packaged together.

I'm ok with using notepad, but do I need to save with a special
extension like .html or similiar?

I wouldn't mind a copy of that powerpoint lesson if you would e-mail
it to me that would be great.
See_Red_Run (At) Yahoo (dot) com . I don't normally check that
address since it's for trash collection mostly but if you send it
there I'll be looking for it.

Apache is a web-server which you can install freely on your machine.
Web-apps usually work on a request-response model, where the client (using a
web-browser like IE or Mozilla) sends a request for a particular web page (a
file stored on a web-server) and the web-server responds by returning the
requested content. This is in basic terms how the web works and how you make
your static web pages accessible to others. With dynamic web-pages, or in
your case PHP scripts, your web-server receives a request for a PHP script
from the client, then it basically forwards this to a PHP engine (kinda like
a black box :) ) with the input received from the client, the PHP engine
processes it (executes the script) and returns some output (HTML) which then
the web-server send to the client. I recommend finding a book on PHP
development before you start so you could get a basic understand on how
web-apps work, what goes where and how to deploy and test your scripts.

PHP scripts are usually saved with a .php extension (this can be changed).
You do however have to save it into a folder accesible to the web server.
With Apache, that is by default the htdocs folder and it's subfolders (if
you install via xampp, it should be C:\Program Files\xampp\htdocs by
default). Once saved, you can test the script using a web browser and
entering the url. For example, entering

http://127.0.0.1/myfolder/test1.php

would execute a script called test1.php saved in C:\Program
Files\xampp\htdocs\myfolder, if you use the default installation of xampp.

I'll send the ppt as soon as possible, just let me translate it from Bosnian
into English. :)

Denis Gerina- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Ok, thanks again. I planned on buying a book this weekend lol, but
thought I might be able to download it and sort of play with it a
little bit to get the feel for it.

[denis]

>
Welcome to the real world.
As denis already said, you can use xammp to set "everything" up, with a
neat-o idiot-proof installer. I also know about people who like WAMP to do
the job.

I probably should have known better than to say everything. :)) Maybe
"everything as it relates to a beginner and his development on a
non-production machine" might have been better. :)

>
Anyway, setting up and testing every component separately will give you a
taste of how the different parts (webserver, database, PHP) work with each
other. Do not think that WAMP/XAMMP is a magical bunhc of software that
works magically; Apache is one thing, MySQL is another thing, and PHP is
another thing, so they are administered separately.

Definitely true.

[jussij]

On Feb 14, 4:39 am, "denis" <[e-mail]:

and as far as Win32 is concerned, I usually go with Notepad

The Zeus IDE has PHP support:

http://www.zeusedit.com/php.html

Zeus is shareware.

It also has a few more programmer specific features than Notepad
including things like syntax highlighting, code folding, integrated
version control, project/workspace, class browsing etc.

Jussi Jumppanen
Author: Zeus for Windows IDE

[jussij]

On Feb 14, 9:19 am, "[e-mail]" <[e-mail]:

>and as far as Win32 is concerned, I usually go with Notepad

FWIW Zeus also integrates with the PHP SDK API reference:

http://www.zeusedit.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9

Jussi Jumppanen
Author: Zeus for Windows IDE

[william.clarke]

On Feb 14, 3:39 am, "denis" <[e-mail]:

<[e-mail] in message

news:11**********************@q2g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...

Hi,
I am trying to figure out how to get started with PHP/MySQL.
Everything I've read so far says to start with PHP first. I was
expecting something like Visual Basic Express or some other type of
free IDE. So I discovered that I needed to download a virtual server,
so I downloaded OmniSecure and followed the set up instructions as far
as I could figure them out.

So here is where I'm stuck.
1) While trying to set up and configure everything it tells me to move/
rename a certain .ini file. I can't find this file.

2) Even if I did get set up correctly I'm not sure what program/IDE to
use to begin entering code?

I am obviously a beginner, but have made several Access databases and
basic applications using Visual Basic Express and SQL Server Express
but all of those programs have had various set up wizards that made
everything idiot proof.

Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you.

As far as the setup itself is concerned, if you want an operational
Apache/PHP/MySQL stack I would recommend downloading and installing xampp.
It installs and configures everything by itself and all you have to do is
click Next alot. :)

This is really a good way for a beginner to get everything operational.
Possible limitation - I don't know if there's a version for Linux, but
Windows version works great for me.

If you insist on setting up everything individually, be prepared for some
manual work. I would suggest going towww.php.netas they have alot of info
on how to do that. If you'd like I could send you a small powerpoint file
with instructions on how to get IIS/Apache+PHP+MySQL up and running on
Windows.

As far as coding is concerned, you can start with Notepad if you don't have
anything else. There are some editors and IDEs that could help you out. I
remember liking Bluefish on Linux, and as far as Win32 is concerned, I
usually go with Notepad (pure lazyness) but it shouldn't be a problem to
find some tools. I'm told that these days Macromedia Dreamweaver supports
PHP developement including code-completion, so if you already have a license
for that, you might like using the same tool for web design and PHP coding.

Denis Gerina

Personally in Windows land, I'd recommend winLAMP (not as pretty but
cleaner) over XAMPP, both packages do all the setup for you, but
XAMPPs setup and placement of things is a little more quirky (and the
control panel for stopping/starting Apache and MySQL is not too good,
winLAMPs start/stop shortcuts in the Start Menu are to the point and
clean).

XAMPP: http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp.html
winLAMP: http://sourceforge.net/projects/winlamp/

Check out both packages and decide for yourself, neither of these
include an IDE. I usually just use Notepad2, but if I was going to pay
for something I'd used the Zend Studio. A few people I know use
Eclipse with the PHP add-in.