Please help

[hagen202]

I'm not extremely versed in web design. I have made a few websites using Front Page, Publisher, and just the basic web builder in tripod. I would like to design a website for medical students to share study guides and information. I would like this to be in a forum format w/ the ability to upload word documents. If anyone could let me know where to start I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks

[Albert_chu]

well having some experience is always better than no experience. i guess if your starting, first you should simply draw up a plan on how your website is going to look, for example drawing the interface of the website with pen on paper then after start making the layout thro frontpage or something your familiar with..then you can start adding the content.

[caligames]

Hello,

I will suggest you MySQL and PHP codding. You will start from PHP script coding. It will take only 1 or 2 weeks for you if you are familiar with C.

Than you will need a little practise on MySQL. You will only learn Database management but you will need poor information.

To manage mysql database you will use phpmyadmin script which can be easly installed.

If you buy a hosting account from a company, you can manage all these automaticly (php will be installed, phpmyadmin is installed and also MySQL will be working fine.)
Actually, if you like, you can buy a hosting from a company which is offering cPanel and you can install some scripts from cPanel by using fantastico delux frontpage.

Any guestions? :-)

[hagen202]

Do you have any suggestions where to purchase a hosting account at?

[caligames]

I worked with powweb.com ! They were great on hosting and services. But we quit them because of their payment policy. I didn't like it.

Until last month, we had a domain at bizimweb.net , but we forget to renew it and it is not working now. They are cool and helpfull. try their new mosnter linux plans.

Now I have a site located at theplanet.com .. but I am sharing with my friends. this is not a hosting company. sorry.

Oh. one more... you can buy from godaddy.. hmm I am not sure the cPanel plans for the company.

Did you check www.awbs.com site. There are some companies as their resellers. They are offering some good cPanel plans.

I can help you if you like...

[Loridan]

I would like to say a couple of things here. First, Im not sure you really want what your asking for. What I mean is, the tone of your inquiry indicates to me that you want to learn just enough web app development to get your application up. That is very dangerous indeed. So you set up your site using php and blah, to where your bubbies can upload word documents. Well, now you need account management dont you? You cant just have any bubby come along and upload files to your site. You also need to be able to verify the type of document being uploaded. I smell nast javascripts lining up waiting for your launch.
Well now, things are more complicated than first anticipated, we have content management and account management. That will be hard to pull off in plain old php. No your going to need a framework built on top of php and your learning curve is going to be much steeper than what people are letting on.
Im going to make the humble suggestion that you learn sql, and choose a web app framework. Not php per say, but whatever floats your boat. I personally use ruby on rails and I host with site5.
Be very cautious in allowing uploads, anything that you overlook will quickly be exploited.

[hagen202]

I would like to say a couple of things here. First, Im not sure you really want what your asking for. What I mean is, the tone of your inquiry indicates to me that you want to learn just enough web app development to get your application up. That is very dangerous indeed. So you set up your site using php and blah, to where your bubbies can upload word documents. Well, now you need account management dont you? You cant just have any bubby come along and upload files to your site. You also need to be able to verify the type of document being uploaded. I smell nast javascripts lining up waiting for your launch.
Well now, things are more complicated than first anticipated, we have content management and account management. That will be hard to pull off in plain old php. No your going to need a framework built on top of php and your learning curve is going to be much steeper than what people are letting on.
Im going to make the humble suggestion that you learn sql, and choose a web app framework. Not php per say, but whatever floats your boat. I personally use ruby on rails and I host with site5.
Be very cautious in allowing uploads, anything that you overlook will quickly be exploited.

I agree completely. That is why I was looking for a company/site that could help me with this. I do appreciate all of the help you are offering.

Thanks

[jimberry]

If your host supports PHP and MySQL, and if you are willing to invest some time in learning to use these, you can download the phpBB bulletin board system from
http://www.phpbb.com/downloads.php
This includes an administration section that allows you to set up sub-forums and control access to forums to specific users or groups of users. You can allow or disallow the ability to upload files and apply several security mods.
There are other similar forums which you can find with a little Googling.
I have used phpBB for some time. I had some issues for a while with spamming, but with judicious use of security techniques, have not seen any spam posts or spam user registrations for some time now. The support forum community is quite helpful.

[Jack O'Connell]

Drop me a line.

Jack@southriverdesign.com