members only section

[shellyb]

I look after a site for a flying club and they want a members only section. I have never done this before and want to know if there is a simple way. Can you have certain pages password protected (allowing one password to be used by all paying members) or would you have to create a username & password for each member. I would prefer the 1st option if possible. They also want a forum for members only so could this be incorporated in to the members only section of the site or would I have to do this seperately. I am not up on php or MySql yet, still getting my head around Xhtml, css, DHTML and javascript (so much to learn !!) so nay help is appreciated and/or direction to helpful sites/books. Thank you

[Stephen Philbin]

By the sounds of it, you want something your http server would be best for handling. If your http server is apache then have a look around http://httpd.apache.org/ for something called "basic auth". If you're not on apache then I haven't got a clue.

Oh and whatever you do, unless you're using a properly encrypted connection, DO NOT trust it to protect sensitive data like credit card/banking details.

[webgovernor]

Well, if you're not using apache.

Then why not try some SIMPLE PHP?
(I know you're still learning, but this is only a few commands)..

Here's a sample:

<?php
$password = "donkey"; //Your password

$formPass = $_POST['pass']; //'pass' is the name of the password text box

if ($formPass == $password) { //If the password match
?>
<!-- Authorize HTML goes here -->
<h3>You're Authorized! Yippee!</h3>
<? } else { ?>
<!-- Unauthorized HTML goes here -->
<h3>Hah! Wrong Password!!!</h3>
<? } ?>


That isn't the best way to do things, but it works,
and I'd use it as a last resort, if you would like
to know a mySql way to do it, just PM me,
I'll send the code to you, and a brief description of
setting up a mySQL db.

Good Luck!

[Nedals]

If you are using Apache, try .htaccess. This can be used to protect a 'member' directory which could contain your member pages.

[shellyb]

thanks for the replies. I think I can get away with something quite basic. The members pay by cheque so I don need to set up an online payment, just need to make the paying members feel a bit special by giving them access to a password protected part of the site. I guess if someone really wanted to they could find the password it its pasted in the html but there won't be anything of a sensitive. Not sure at present whether it is an apache server so would like to know more about possible coding options