help me get started

creating a VERY basic dynamic page

[casey133]

Hi all, i want to start out using php but i know almost nothing about it... here is what i want to do/learn:

when people say "dynamic content" what do they mean? like whats the difference in me updating a page by hand and using dynamic content?

i want to make a one page file on my server just to test out and learn how to use and update using php, i want to see if its all what people are saying it is.

i use dreamweaver mx 2004 and my web host supports just about everything but cold fusion.

so in basic terms, where do i start to learn and to build a very simple learning page if you will so i can learn for myself what and how to use dynamic content...

thanks

[jamie]

hi casey,

check the library link (near top left of page) which contains some of the best posts of the last years:
[webmasterworld.com...]

in particular this will help:
e.g. [webmasterworld.com...]

good luck

[casey133]

ok i checked out the link [webmasterworld.com...]

good example, and it kinda worked for me... only my header, body and my footer are all in one line. what ami doing wrong here? i didnt it just as it read.

[jamie]

casey,

which example did you try - kinda low on details here ;-)

[casey133]

i did this by the book

<?php
include 'includes/header.php';
?>

add all of your body text, tables, pictures, etc. here (just regular html. cut and paste from your old page if you like)
<?php
include 'includes/footer.php';
?>

ok here is what i did

1. made a folder on my desktop called "test".

2. made a new folder in test called "includes".

3. using dreamweaver, saved a blank page as "index.php" with about one line of content in it, just something to test by and saved it in the text folder.

4. then created header.php and footer.php and saved them in the includes folder.

5. uploaded the text folder to my web server.

6. went to www.mysite.com/test/index.php.

7. i see the index, header and the footer but its all in just one line.

the only thing i can think of is where i dont have enough content in body.php to space out the header and footer. ill try to make the index page a little longer than a few words and see if that helps.

[casey133]

thats what it was! works good... thanks all :)
this will make a project i am getting read to do MUCH easier now.

thanks again!