What do I need to have a database style website?

New to server side capabilities.

[willcode4food]

Hello,

I have have exceptional XHTML and CSS authoring skills, but when it comes to server side applications I lack the knowledge for utilizing the resources that my web server offers. Here is the basic rundown of what my web host offers:

Apache web server
cgi-bin
perl5
php4

I have worked with php for hanlding emails, but I used a basic script. It seems easy enough to learn, and I believe that if I can just get my new site started in that direction, I can learn "on the fly" the info necesarry for me to become efficient at utilizing php.

My questions are, with the specifications I mentioned above, what do I need on my end to make a database style website a reality? I have read a bit about the subject, but just not sure what I am able to use based on my server capabilities.

Do I need to download and install a product like MySQL?

Also, I use Dreamweaver8, mainly just for utilizing the sitewide updating features that speed up my production. I do most all of the coding by hand because I choose to have a CSS based layout that is free of tables, and that also validates for the XHTML Transitional DocType.

So, with that said, can anyone tell me where I should begin? Any and all recomendations will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

WillCode4Food

[ogletree]

Your host will need to provide MySQL unless you have a dedicated server. Once they have it installed you then need to create a db then some tables. If they don't provide a way to do it in the cp you will need to install phpmyadmin. Your host should have some sample code to help you attach to the db. You should set up an include file that has your connection string and just include that in your webpages. Make sure you put this include in a place that can't be accessed publicly. One lvl above the public directory or put in a directory that is protected by htaccess.

Next you will need to write some php code that access the db. Your host should provide some examples. If your host does not I suggest getting another host.

[willcode4food]

Hello, and thanks for the quick response,

You have deffinitly given me a better understanding of some of the questions that I need to go over with my web host, but until tommorow when they are open, I have a few queries for you.

Your host will need to provide MySQL unless you have a dedicated server.

Im not exactly sure what a dedicated server is. Does it mean that the host has authorized full control of my space on their server?

Once they have it installed you then need to create a db then some tables.

I searched the topic, and of course the results are exhausting. Are there any links that you can recommend for a crash course in db and table creation?

Next you will need to write some php code that access the db. Your host should provide some examples. If your host does not I suggest getting another host.

If it is one thing I have learned about my host, they don't provide alot of info about their services. I have learned everything on my own. They don't exactly have the best customer service, or I have asked the wrong questions.

When I open Filzilla, and go to the site management panel, in the Remote site tree I see a group of folders; cgi-bin, htdocs, accessfiles, and a ReadMe file. Now I know what the htdocs and accessfiles folders are, as well as the ReadMe file, but have no idea what to do with the cgi-bin folder. Could this be where I store the db information? Also, there are no .htaccess files in the user cp, in fact, besides the included items above, there is no other documentation what so ever.

The ReadMe file has the most basic information about the management of my site, ie...strings to perl, sendmail, and my site root. I must admit that most of it I don't fully understand, but that is why I am asking you guys.

(I used Filezilla because Dreamweaver8 won't let me go above the htdocs folder, I'm not sure why yet)

I downloaded phpmyadmin and checked it out for a minute, but this looks like something I will need to study some before I start asking questions.

Thanks again,

WillCode4Food

[ogletree]

If you had a dedicated box you would know. You would also be paying around $100 a month for it. I would switch to a host that had better documentation and support. I don't mind helping but it sounds like you know nothing about this stuff and I really don't want to walk you through it.

[mcavill]

you could try some basics with php to understand the language a bit more, and then try connecting to a database and pulling data to display.

Theres some good tutorials at w3schools [w3schools.com]

[Beagle]

I'm a more-than-green beginner with this, and have found some of the tutorials here helpful: [webmonkey.com...] especially "Your First Database" and "Choosing the Right Database System". There's also a link on the same page that will jump you over to the PHP section for a PHP and MySQL tutorial. These tutorials are old, but as far as I can tell (which may not be far) these basics haven't really changed.