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Databases:
How do you store and retreive information?
I will soon have a zipped download available of a complete application for all main functions of a PHP/MySQL data processor application. I will also post the code online for all of the applications. Check back frequently.
View the Database Application Here. You will be required to log in to access this application. This way you can also see the login application at work at the same time.
A host is a server (computer with it's own software) different from your own (the client). You will also set up a server on your own computer to test things out before you FTP (upload) them to the server. There is client-side code (HTML/CSS, JavaScript) and server side-code (PHP for Linux servers and ASP for Windows servers), depending on which computer runs it. Server-side scripts run the same no matter what operating system the client is using because they don't execute on the client machine.
You can set up PHP/MySQL on an upgraded pay website on Yahoo/Geocities. I would suggest at this point to switch to HostMonster. It is easy to set up and there is no setup or monthly additional fee. You can even do it on the shared server. They use the Apache Server so it is identical to what you will use on your local machine.
You will need 5 major free items installed to run PHP/MySQL:
1. A local server Apache is included in the package XAMPP,
2. A database language MySQL is included in the package XAMPP and
3. PHP is the language used to access MySQL and is included in XAMPP also.
4. A MySQL editor phpMyAdmin (separate download) and additionally
5. DreamCoder for MySQL (free edition) for easy MySQL editing is suggested.
There are 3 different free downloads. If you install XAMPP, there is no need to download and install separate versions of PHP or MySQL.
All links and instructions are included below.
Text only XAMPP and phpMyAdmin installation instructions available...Here
DreamCoder for MySQL free edition: Download the free version here
If you want to try PHP programs right away: Download Rapid PHP Editor Now
Rapid PHP 2010 Personal License - $39.85 (Special Offer)
For personal non-commercial use by students and other individuals. Install and use the software 1) at home and 2) on a laptop. This will do the job while learning.
If you decide to go professional then you will need to upgrade to Adobe DreamWeaver CS4 for $399 and probably WebAssist SuperSuite for $499 or some other database package. Adobe offers substantiial discounts for students and teachers, but it must be verified.
If you want to try MySQL/PHP programs on HostMonster now: You will need to request the setup of your MySQL database. It will include up to 99 databases for free with no size limit. Log in to your account. On the CPanel page you will see your username. Every database name and MySQL user will begin with this prefix "username_". Do not enter it when naming your databases or users. It will be appended automatically. It will save you time if you use the same convention on your local server so you don't need to change any code when you upload your PHP files. Never have any user enter a username or database name with the prefix. Use PHP concantenation to append it after it is entered. Towards the bottom of the CPanel you will see the Datbases panel:
You will use the phpMyAdmin application exactly the same way as your local machine. The exception is when you create a new database and users with permissions. That happens at the MySQL Databases application. The easiest way to transfer your MySQL local files to your server or vise versa is to dump your database to a .sql file and copy and run the script in the SQl window of phpMyAdmin on either server or DreamCoder for MySQL on your local machine.
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The universal local Unix server type to use: Apache is the only choice!
It is available as a packaged download from XAMPP. You will need to follow some very specific instructions to set it up.
 Apache Friends is a non-profit project to promote the Apache web server. It was founded in the spring of 2002 by Kai 'Oswald' Seidler and Kay Vogelgesang. The following activities are our contribution towards promoting the web server and related technologies:
- Easy to use software (see our Apache distribution XAMPP below).
- Easy to read documentation (Sorry, all texts apart from the FAQ are only available in German, our »Apache für Dummies« book for example).
- The creation of an online community for helping each other out should any questions or problems arise (see our Forums or Chats for further resources).
If you want to know more about Apache Friends please take a look at our Apache Friends FAQ page.
 Many people know from their own experience that it's not easy to install an Apache web server and it gets harder if you want to add MySQL, PHP and Perl. XAMPP is an easy to install Apache distribution containing MySQL, PHP and Perl. XAMPP is really very easy to install and to use - just download, extract and start. At the moment there are four XAMPP versions:
- a version for Linux systems (tested for Ubuntu, SuSE, RedHat, Mandrake and Debian),
- a version for Windows 98, NT, 2000, 2003, XP and Vista,
- a beta version for Solaris SPARC (developed and tested under Solaris 8),
- and a beta version for Mac OS X.
These Mac OS X and Solaris versions of XAMPP are still in the first steps of development. Use at you own risk!
Resource Books
The best book resources for PHP and MySQl are the Sams Teach Yourself PHP in 10 Minutes and Sams Teach Yourself MySQL in 10 Minutes series by Chris Newman. They are inexpensive (less than $20) short and consice. They are available almost anywhere books are sold including Amazon and Barnes & Noble online.
Chris Newman is a consultant programmer specializing in database development with an Internet twist. He has extensive commercial experience of using PHP to integrate various database systems and has produced a wide range of applications for an international client base. He runs Lightwood Consultancy Ltd, the company he founded in 1999 to further his interest in online database development. Newman has served as a technical editor on several books from Sams, including PHP and MySQL Web Development, Teach Yourself PHP, MySQL & Apache All in One, and Red Hat Linux Unleashed.
Detailed instructions for XAMPP setup are available on page 33 in the book by O'Reilly: Learning PHP & MySQL. Instructions for setting up phpMyAdmin are found on page 126. It is worth it for this alone.
Learning PHP & MySQL, Second Edition
Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Database-Driven Web Sites
Description
PHP and MySQL are quickly becoming the de facto standard for rapid development of dynamic, database-driven web sites. With concepts explained in plain English, the new edition starts with the basics of the PHP language, and explains how to work with MySQL, the popular open source database. You then learn how to put the two together to generate dynamic content.
| It is included in the XAMPP download. |
MySQL Community Server |
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Download the free version here» |
| List Price (US) |
No cost, freely available |
| Special Offers |
Not Applicable |
| Audience |
For users or organizations looking to maintain their own solutions. |
| System Updates |
I have my own method of keeping my systems up to date and am comfortable configuring MySQL. |
| Performance |
I've got time to monitor and adjust the MySQL settings that will tune, scale and maintain performance. |
| Security |
I'm comfortable with database security so that I know when a security breach has occurred. |
| Monitoring |
I'm comfortable designing, setting-up and monitoring the status of MySQL replication. |
| Support |
I've got time to identify and resolve technical issues for myself and others. |
| Maintenance |
I'm comfortable designing and tuning application code, database schemas and queries for optimal performance. |
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MySQL
Why MySQL?
The MySQL® database has become the world's most popular open source database because of its consistent fast performance, high reliability and ease of use. It's used on every continent -- Yes, even Antarctica! -- by individual Web developers as well as many of the world's largest and fastest-growing organizations to save time and money powering their high-volume Web sites, business-critical systems and packaged software -- including industry leaders such as Yahoo!, Alcatel-Lucent, Google, Nokia, YouTube, and Zappos.com.
Not only is MySQL the world's most popular open source database, it's also become the database of choice for a new generation of applications built on the LAMP stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP / Perl / Python.) MySQL runs on more than 20 platforms including Linux, Windows, OS/X, HP-UX, AIX, Netware, giving you the kind of flexibility that puts you in control.
Whether you're new to database technology or an experienced developer or DBA, MySQL offers a comprehensive range of certified software, support, training and consulting to make you successful.
MySQL is the database language. MySQL code has a free, open source version available for download here
You can easily manage and edit your MySQL code through phpMyAdmin which comes packaged with your XAMPP download.
About phpMyAdmin
phpMyAdmin is a free software tool written in PHP intended to handle the administration of MySQL over the World Wide Web. phpMyAdmin supports a wide range of operations with MySQL. The most frequently used operations are supported by the user interface (managing databases, tables, fields, relations, indexes, users, permissions, etc), while you still have the ability to directly execute any SQL statement.
phpMyAdmin comes with a wide range of documentation and users are welcome to update our wiki pages to share ideas and howtos for various operations. The phpMyAdmin team will try to help you if you face any problem, you can use variety of support channels to get help
Features
- Intuitive web interface
- Support for most MySQL features:
- browse and drop databases, tables, views, fields and indexes
- create, copy, drop, rename and alter databases, tables, fields and indexes
- maintenance server, databases and tables, with proposals on server configuration
- execute, edit and bookmark any SQL-statement, even batch-queries
- manage MySQL users and privileges
- manage stored procedures and triggers
- Import data from CSV and SQL
- Export data to various formats: CSV, SQL, XML, PDF, ISO/IEC 26300 - OpenDocument Text and Spreadsheet, Word, Excel, LATEX and others
- Administering multiple servers
- Creating PDF graphics of your database layout
- Creating complex queries using Query-by-example (QBE)
- Searching globally in a database or a subset of it
- Transforming stored data into any format using a set of predefined functions, like displaying BLOB-data as image or download-link
- And much more...
DreamCoder for MySQL
From Mentat Technologies:
DreamCoder for MySQL Free Edition is a free graphical tool for database development and administration. DreamCoder for MySQL Free Edition enhances productivity and simplifies your database development and administration process with a functionality and friendly GUI. DreamCoder for MySQL works with all MySQL versions from 3.23 to 6.0 and supports all MySQL features including tables, views, procedures, functions, triggers, schedule events, InnoDB Tables, foreign keys , UDFS, BLOB Types. It also includes the most advanced options for data manipulation, execute queries, script execution and script exporting. Version 4.6 enhanced data grid menu options, enhanced user manager, enhanced query builder, enhanced SQL editor, support different host for MySQL server and SSH server, fix the problem with the SSH passaword encryption, improved SSH connections stability, minor improvements and bugfixes.
Download the free version here
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PHP
PHP is the server side scripting language used to manipulate MySQL code on the internet. It has many other functions as well. It is included in the XAMPP download. PHP.net is the ultimate source of all things PHP.
What is PHP
What is PHP, and what can you do with it? This gentle PHP introduction explains the basics of PHP and looks at how you can use it to build feature-rich Web pages and applications.
PHP is a programming language that you can use to write Web applications. A Web application can be anything from a simple "contact us" form through to a fully-fledged blogging system, online store, or forum system.
PHP is a server-side language
PHP is known as a server-side programming language. This means that it runs on the Web server. Most Web programming languages are server-side, but some, such as JavaScript, are client-side, which means they run on the Web browser.
Server-side languages give you more flexibility as they can do many things that are hard to do with JavaScript — for example, working with files and databases, or manipulating images. That said, JavaScript is coming along in leaps and bounds these days (as these examples show).
Server-side code is also potentially more secure than JavaScript code. Since JavaScript code is sent to the Web browser it's easy for a visitor to view and edit the code. Server-side code, on the other hand, remains on the Web server and isn't accessible to visitors to the site.
PHP is open source
The PHP engine — that is, the code that sits on the Web server and runs PHP scripts — is open source, which means anyone can access and work on the engine's source code. This helps to ensure that PHP will be around for a long time to come.
PHP is free to download and use, which is one reason why it is so popular among Web hosting companies. You'll find that the vast majority of Web hosting accounts support PHP.
PHP is geared towards the Web
While many programming languages can be used to build Web applications, PHP is one of the few languages specifically designed for the Web. To this end, it includes a lot of useful Web-related features out of the box, such as:
- Easy ways to read and handle Web forms and cookies
- Functions for creating and manipulating graphics
- The ability to talk to popular databases such as MySQL, and
- Functions for working with HTML.
You can mix PHP code with HTML code
One nice feature of PHP is that you can insert chunks of PHP code into an HTML page. You surround the PHP chunks with special symbols. When the Web server retrieves the page, any PHP chunks are run by the PHP engine, while the other parts of the page are sent as they are to the browser.
This feature makes it easy to add interactivity to otherwise plain Web pages — great for contact forms and the like.
Uses of PHP
You can use PHP to write practically any type of Web application or script. Common PHP applications include:
In addition, many popular websites, including Yahoo!, Wikipedia, Facebook, and Digg, use PHP code extensively.
Learn more about PHP
To get started with writing PHP scripts, try the Writing your first PHP script tutorial.The PHP website is a great place to learn more about PHP. You'll find an introductory tutorial and a complete online manual.
Happy coding!
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