php

[metal5]

Ah. PHP is a scripting language. I didn't know this. I knew about sql and cgi, but not php. I found a good website on php at

http://www.php.net

There tutorial on php is probably good.

metal5

[ray326]

Of course SQL and CGI aren't scripting languages, though.

[metal5]

I just found this out after I bounced to a couple websites on these topics. I don't much about this part of web design yet. I found some websites that have tutorials on them for sql and cgi. I'm a beginner. I'm just learning only javascript at this point, and I really would like to learn later about other things such sql and cgi. Thanks for alarming me of this. I would have continued to think they were scripting languages. I'll read up on things to find-out for myself.

metal5

[chrisranjana]

A good way to learn php would be to download php and apache and install it in your computer and start working on it..

[buntine]

I would suggest you purchase some books if you are serious about learning these technologies.

Both SQL and CGI will take quite a while to learn correctly, and the wrong source will only prelong this.

Buying some books will also prove handy as a reference in the future.

Regards.

[metal5]

I decided to take a cgi course online last night. Its the first 6 chapters of the book free, however,after I downloaded and installed the apache server correctly, and configured it right as shown by the directions in the class, when I finally waited for the perl download to complete which took a long time, I went through with the installation for the perl program next. What happened after the perl program completed installing, is it didn't bring up the perl program at all and now I can't find it in my C: drive even if I follow the paths to the file.

Does perl act in the background of things somewhere, because the apache server was successful and said I was now ready to begin the class. I just don't know where the program perl is. Most of its folders are in my C: drive though. I see the data modules and some other folders about perl, but I dont' see the main perl folder where I can open the program and it will appear saying "Perl" or something on my desktop.

Does perl work invisibly in the background.

I do have php script, but I can't save programs at all in the php script box because theres no 'file', 'edit', or any of the options on a bar ontop to work with. All I can do is type or paste code but theres no way to save it or run it?

So, I have the apache server installed fine, the perl I don't where it is, and the php script writing box confuses me as to how I can work with files in it.

Any suggestions?
metal5

[ray326]

Of course I have no idea which Perl you're using or how things are set up. What I do is install Perl in \usr on the same drive as Apache so the result where perl.exe is in \usr\bin rather than \perl\bin or \Program Files\perl\bin or whatever. The reason I do that is so the line in the script (the she-bang line) that tells where to find perl will generally work the same on my Windows setup as it will on the average Unix/Linux setup. That line looks something like

#!/usr/bin/perl

Anyway your tutorial *may* have installed things in a similar way.

[MstrBob]

First off, did you install the PHP core? You need to do that. Personally, I use and recommend Xampp (http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp.html) since it is apache with perl, PHP, mysql, ftp server (filezilla), and mercury mail already configured. But, however you do it, to run files off your server, open up your current code editor, create your file, and place it in your htdocs folder. PHP scripts, of course, saved as .php Then you open up your browser and type in the address of http://localhost/file.php

[Jupac]

How do you put the password for the mysql in Xampp

[metal5]

Now, I'm reading about databases and programming before I even learn Perl,cgi and Sql. Not all of this is easy and quick to learn. I'm a beginner so first things first. I was really trying to jump the gun af first.

I did manage to place a password on mysql, but then I placed a different password from my MySql password for the host/localhost on MySql out of ignorance about not knowing anything at all about SQL or servers even, then when I went to go back into mysql, I couldn't get in and had to uninstall the program because I had the two different passwords--one not acknowledged. I tried to change the password at the cmd window as the instructions showed me how, but my system was not acknowleding My SQL, so then the uninstallation. Now I can't get another download to start over again on the xammp website. I really like xammp. How can I get another download after uninstalling my previous one where I put two different passwords on the MySql? First of all, before I learn these programs in apachefriends downloads, I'm now reading about databases and programming. I'm taking a short programming class also. Just general programming.

metal5

[MstrBob]

Ahkay, let's sort things out first. I would say, that really, if your learning PHP, there's no real reason to learn Perl. Perl is not (to my knowledge at least) near as powerful as PHP. PHP has perl-like functions (such as preg_replace(), preg_split(), preg_match() ) They are really powerful and helpful, but you could porbably wait to get the basics down first.

Databases are invaluable, really, but there's no need to jump the gun on it right away. I recommended Xampp because as you progress through PHP you will come to the point where you need a database to work with, which a lot of the time its MySQL. If you go to http://localhost/xampp/ you can get access to the database via phpMyAdmin (if you haven't removed the directory) You get direct access to it (you should, at least) and you can get to the table that stores all MySQL users, under the MySQL database. But basically, when connecting to it, you should be able to use the username: 'root' and it has no password.

[metal5]

Hi Mstr Bob;

I did uninstall the whole directory thinking I could re-install again at its defaults when I couldn't get through the password problem. What to do now? Do you know?

metal5

[MstrBob]

I'd suggest that you just unistall it all and once its deleted, run the xampp installer again to start from scratch.