How can I make a PHP website?

which software for PHP

[Digger]

I have a website in which I collect humorous/weird links. I want to put the links in a database format, separating them by a category. Right now I have the links on Frontpage HTML pages. It has become HUGE! Over 600 pages and even more graphics. Too much to handle.

All I want to do is list the link and a review of it on the pages. If a user wants to search, he can use a keyword and the page gives the links (with reviews together).

I understand php is for use in database-driven websites. Should I change from FrontPage to Dreamweaver MX to recreate my site? I hear it is for Php sites. I am on an Apache server which has PHP access.

Right now my site is a mess of pages. It is [edit]
I want to make it like [edit] or similar where the links appear to be in some sort of database.

[edited by: rcjordan at 9:46 pm (utc) on May 23, 2003]
[edit reason] no references to specific sites, please [/edit]

[jatar_k]

Well Digger, it may be quite an undertaking. I am a firm believer in hand coding for php and not much on the fancy tools. Though, if you must, you must.

DW MX will definitely be better than frontpage (though a text editor would be that much better again). MX has the ability to work with php but I have not haven't assessed its abilities myself.

maybe try these links to start looking at what it all entails, try not to be overwhelmed, we're here to help
>> Perl and PHP CGI Scripting [webmasterworld.com]

PHP [php.net]
MYSQL Functions [php.net]
Function Reference [php.net] When looking through the function reference just think of what data you are working with and you can probably find a page full of functions
working with files - Filesystem Functions [php.net]
working with strings - String Functions [php.net]

I'm sure you get my drift. Some other useful ones
Getting Started [php.net]
Predefined Variables [php.net]
Language reference [php.net]

MySQL [mysql.com]
Documentation [mysql.com]
Tutorial Introduction [mysql.com]
Language Reference [mysql.com]

Some Basic/Essential Commands
CREATE, DROP, ALTER [mysql.com]
SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE [mysql.com]
Functions for use with GROUP BY [mysql.com]