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Online Database Creating. (School Me Related)

Mr_Lee_PHDMr_Lee_PHD 2,042 Posts
edited September 2008 in Strut Central
Any web design strutters out there who know anything about databases ??b,121b,121Here's the deal: I already know html and have a fair grasp of web design, but now I want to step up my shit and create just a basic searchable online database, to which users can add new entries.b,121b,121How easy is that to do?b,121b,121I know how to use Excel and Access to create tidy little tables of data - but from what I gather, you don't even use any of that shit when it comes to websites. You instead need to use something called MySQL and some other jibba jabba called ASP or PHP. Here's where I'm tooootally fecking b,121img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/game02vy9.gif" alt="" /1b,121b,121As far as I can see, there are no basic free step-by-step newbie tutorials on creating a basic simple-ass database (like they do those basic html tutorials) which you can throw up and get running in 5 minutes.b,121b,121Surely busting out a basic one yourself can't be that complex can it ? b,121b,121b,121Can someone break this shit down into a few essential starting steps for a dude at square one plaese ? b,121b,121If anyone could poast a few links or basic info to set me off in the right direction, it'd be much appreciated dudes.b,121b,121Paece. Lee.

  Comments

  • SnagglepusSnagglepus 1,756 Posts
    PHP and MySQL are a good combination. MySQL is a database language. PHP is a server side scripting language. By "server side" it means the processing of the database is done by the server rather than the user's browser. Browsers cannot read PHP code. The PHP essentially feeds the1requests from the user to the database, gets the1results, and spits them back out in HTML format so they1can be read by a browser.b,121b,121So, first, there is a bit of a learning curve. Getting1a handle on simple input/output of a MySQL database takes a bit of time. And PHP takes some time to learn as well if you haven't done any programming. And getting the1knack of working with PHP, MySQL and HTML (with CSS, JavaScript, etc) together takes time. So I don't know of a five minute solution other than installing pre-written software onto your server.b,121b,121Now, unlike HTML, you can't just write the code1and open the files in your browser. I'm used to OS X which has Apache Webserver and MySQL built in. PHP was relatively painless to install. I've heard using a href="http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp.html"1XAMPP (for PC), or a href="http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp-macosx.html"1MAMPP (for OS X) simplifies this process. b,121b,121I suggest grabbing1a book dealing with the PHP/MySQL combo. There are tons out there. Hit up Border's and check them out. I usually have good luck with O'Reilly books, so maybe try a href="http://www.amazon.com/Learning-MySQL-Step-Step-Database-Driven/dp/0596514018/ref=pd_bbs_sr_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222527736&sr=8-4"1this one.b,121b,121Work through a few examples in the book. Then check out tutorials online. There are tons of tutorials for making blogs, message boards, etc.b,121b,121It takes time to get to a point of basic understanding (and just to get everything set up). It took me a couple of months (while juggling grad school, band, work, etc) to teach myself enough to build a simple digital library with search/browse functionality. It's pretty cool once you get those first things working, but it does take time.b,121b,121I'm no expert, but feel free to PM questions.
  • dark0dark0 61 Posts
    Look over the MySQL documentsb,121b,121a href="http://dev.mysql.com/doc/" target="_blank"1http://dev.mysql.com/doc/b,121b,121Basically look how you do SELECT statements and INSERT statements to get a basic understanding on how to retrieve and insert data into the database. The CREATE command to create tables. Look into the different data types, primary keys, on how to JOIN tables.b,121b,121Having a tool like1TOAD helps out a lotb,121a href="http://www.toadsoft.com/toadmysql/Overview.htm" target="_blank"1http://www.toadsoft.com/toadmysql/Overview.htmb,121b,121You might also want to start looking into stored procedures once you're familiar with retrieving, inserting, updating, and deleting from the database.b,121b,121On the1PHP side here's a tutorial on how to connect and execute a query in MySQLb,121a href="http://www.php-mysql-tutorial.com/" target="_blank"1http://www.php-mysql-tutorial.com/b,121b,121It's been a while since I used MySQL since i'm usually working with sql server and oracle now a days. But if you have any questions feel free to ask.
  • ariel_calmerariel_calmer 3,762 Posts
    If you're looking at creating a searchable online database that's part of a larger website, please do yourself a favor and investigate A HREF="http://www.drupal.org"1Drupal and Joomla. These are CMSs - content management systems. Basically they eliminate the coding and allow the easy configuration and deployment of database-driven websites. You no longer have to mess with retrieving rows and columns, plus you can deploy faster and more reliably. b,121b,121I've created a content-driven websites in 2 days that previously would have taken me at least 2 weeks to build from the ground up with PHP/CSS/Javascript.
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