need opensource advice

[Furr]

Ok, I need to get myself using MySQL, PHP, and CSS.

At the moment I use asp and for databasing access (eurgh) and fudged IIS onto my windows XP pro installation, i looked at the other databasing options from m$ and i don't want to spend that much money.

I user Dreamweaver 8 (lotsa money that cost) and have downloaded the MySQL stuff to and well on the way to being able to use it easily. I've also downloaded MyPHPadmin for modifying mysql databases later on and have downdloaded PHP5 which seems to need Apache installed?

Can people give my some online guides or tips so i can get my head round it faster, and also how to connect to a mySQL database hosted on my machine via dreamweaver.

Also I have a bloke who wants me to build a website, its for charity and he has secured webspace using mysql etc.

The person also has no sense of design, he wants the background colour to be "quink" blue and the text formating to be times new roman..... ouch.. also i need to learn CSS. Any info for that would be great as im sure using the tidbits in dreamweaver just isn't the way to go.

cheers.

 

[Padwah]

Why don't you just use MySQL rather than Access with ASP? Once you've installed MySQL just install the ODBC driver for MySQL and then use the following connection string:

driver={MySQL ODBC 3.51 Driver}; server=localhost; uid=xxx; pwd=xxx; database=xxx;

As for CSS [url="www.w3schools.com]W3 Schools[/url] has some good examples to get you started.

 

[Moo]

why use asp when you can stab yourself repetadly in the face instead?


the same ammount of pain/gain ratio.

 

[Padwah]

I tried stabbing myself repeatedly in the face but didn't find it that very enjoyable so went back to coding in ASP. I suggested that Furr simply uses MySQL with ASP rather than converting to LAMP is because he is obviously already familiar with that environment and it will only require a small change in his coding rather than learning a new OS, web server, database system and programming language.

 

[MaLk]

Apache server with PHP and MySQL ftw imo... If u go to http://www.apachefriends.org/en/ u can download XAMMP, which will install an Apache webserver with PHP and myPHPadmin alrdy installed and running very easy to use.

 

[Furr]

Hmmm Im going to need to learn OpenSource just so im more flexible on projects anyways, but thanks for the info padwah.

And thanks Malk for the info muchos helpos

 

[Whipped]

The php5 win32 installer will install PHP on your machine and setup IIS if you want it to. You don't have to use apache.

I've coded both asp and php and I have to say I'm a php convert. When the PHP-GTK project comes along a little bit more I'm going to be in hogs heaven

Also, if you're looking for css info, A List Apart is a nice design site.

 

[Furr]

Blimeys its not easy is it! time to get down to some serious studying...

 

[Padwah]

PHP is good, very good. But all of the companies that I have worked for have been looking for Windows based developers. I'd be happy to be proved wrong but most large companies won't be looking for LAMP developers more someone with a grasp of ASP, .Net, Access and MSSQL hence why I keep plugging away at it.

As for CSS is it just me that preferred the old Alistapart website? I just can't get on with the new design?

 

[Furr]

have to say i like the idea of CSS, but it seems to have compatibility issues with IE...

got Mysql working etc so ta very much.

You can have a look at a siteim currently building

http://www.sherrardcorp.co.uk/begin2.asp

But i don't know, i think i may have to refurbish because its looking cluttered, hardly any of the links work, because im still building it (slowly)

If you want you can log in with these details

email : joeblogs@hotmail.com
password: admin