How to set up user accounts on web site

[kentuckyslone]

Hello everyone,

I am in the planning stages on setting up a "paid to complete offers" program. I need for my visitors to be able to register for an account through the site and to automatically receeive a confirmation email with a verification link. Then when the user signs in to their account they will have access to the offers which will include a tracking identifier that will allow me to know which users signed up for what so that I will be able to pay them.

Can anyone tell me what script or? that I need to accomplish this? I already have a domain and an agreement with a major company for the paid offers.

Thanks
David

[electricocean]

How do u want to do users?

w/ mysql or a textfile

electricocean

[kentuckyslone]

Well, Im not sure about that. I am new to the 'php' thing. What would be the difference in MySql and text file? I just need them to be able to register without my having to set up their links and everything individually by hand. I am more than able and willing to purchase the right script. I have tried to look up and read information about this but there are so many different scripts that I dont know which way to go.

David

[electricocean]

I think mysql is more secure... and it's the only way I know how to do it!

electricocean

[kentuckyslone]

Well more and more lately I am feeling less "dumb" for not understanding how to do this. I have posted my question to several different forums over the past couple of weeks and no one can give me an answer as to what script I need for this. I can hardly believe it because there are tons and tons of websites that have users with ID's and passwords to access their accounts.

I havent even had anyone post a message just trying to sell me their particular 'pet' script - which is what I expected.

Is this information really that difficult to find?

I would really appreciate it a lot if someone could just give me some suggestions and point me to where I could purchase a script that will do what I need.

I have MySql, my server is Linux and supports php

Ky

[dmmh]

well my guess is because it involves a couple of things that do not always go together.

[edited by: jatar_k at 4:25 pm (utc) on May 16, 2005]

[jatar_k]

Welcome to WebmasterWorld kentuckyslone,

There is one primary reason that no one can really answer your question as is, user accounts are not a system to be installed, they are a component of other types of systems. You can install a system that has user accounts in it though but I don't think you'll ever find a set of scripts that all it does is maintain user accounts. A user account must have a purpose.

So, from the sounds of what you are doing it is more an affiliate tracking system than anything. I don't really get the whole thing to be honest as your explanation is not overly robust. Let me run you through basic requirements for what you will need.

1. a signup form - all basic data that you need to do business with your users
2. on signup, data verification and database insertion. Users will need to be inserted in a pending status until they click on the email link
3. send email with link to processing page - you must decide what you are going to pass in the link to uniquely identify these users
4. login form and user authentication, this thread may help there PHP User Authentication and Passwords [webmasterworld.com]
5. user tracking - a method to serve content for signed in users - I would use an ID field in your database to identify users. That ID can be what you look for in all transactions to see what user did what.
6. some type of reporting system to find out who you need to pay and how much
7. you will probably also need user management tools for them to change their information, retrieve/change passwords and any other data they may need to modify.

that should cover the primary concerns. As you go through with each of these I am sure you stumble upon many more specific requirements but that will get you started.