PHP and MySQL 24–Hour Trainer

Take static pages and turn them into a dynamic website!

Perhaps you know how to create a static website using HTML/CSS, but now you want to learn how to create dynamic, data–driven websites. If you′re new to PHP and MySQL, this book–and–DVD package is an ideal introduction to working with website pages that contain a mixture of HTML and PHP/MySQL. Author Andrea Tarr starts with what you know an HTML/CSS website and step by step she teaches you how to replace and enhance the site using PHP to create and manipulate your HTML pages and MySQL to bring in your data. You learn how to design, create, and use databases with MySQL, both within PHP programs and using the popular phpMyAdmin program. Explaining the programming principles as you go along, this book–and–DVD combination provides you with a solid understanding of the fundamentals of PHP and the basics of object–oriented programming.

PHP and MySQL 24–Hour Trainer:

Escorts you through preparing your computer to run PHP and MySQL by downloading and installing free software

Explains what variables are, how to work with them, and how to debug your programs

Zeros in on how databases work and how to design them

Shares tips for working with MySQL in a PHP program

Details ways to create tables, enter data, select data, change data, and delete data

The 24–Hour Trainer is a unique book–and–DVD package that delivers step–by–step lessons for handling real–world scenarios. Each lesson in the book is accompanied by an instructional video that reinforces the content while providing additional explanations and tips.

On the DVD

Don′t just learn do!

The lessons within the book are each accompanied by an instructional demonstration on the DVD.

You′ll learn to:

Manipulate your website using PHP

Use object–oriented programming

Handle errors and write secure code

Design a database

Integrate MySQL with PHP

Process HTML forms

Create user logins, a mini content management system, and a data–driven menu

Please see the DVD appendix for details and complete system requirements.

INTRODUCTION xvii

SECTION I: GETTING STARTED WITH PHP

LESSON 1: SETTING UP YOUR WORKSPACE 3

LESSON 2: ADDING PHP TO A WEB PAGE 23

LESSON 3: LEARNING PHP SYNTAX 33

LESSON 4: WORKING WITH VARIABLES 45

LESSON 5: DEBUGGING CODE 57

LESSON 6: WORKING WITH COMPLEX DATA 71

SECTION II: WORKING WITH PHP CONTROLS, FUNCTIONS, AND FORMS

LESSON 7: MAKING DECISIONS 91

LESSON 8: REPEATING PROGRAM STEPS 107

LESSON 9: LEARNING ABOUT SCOPE 119

LESSON 10: REUSING CODE WITH FUNCTIONS 125

LESSON 11: CREATING FORMS 141

SECTION III: OBJECTS AND CLASSES

LESSON 12: INTRODUCING OBJECT–ORIENTED PROGRAMMING 161

LESSON 13: DEFINING CLASSES 167

LESSON 14: USING CLASSES 177

LESSON 15: USING ADVANCED TECHNIQUES 187

SECTION IV: PREVENTING PROBLEMS

LESSON 16: HANDLING ERRORS 205

LESSON 17: WRITING SECURE CODE 217

SECTION V: USING A DATABASE

LESSON 18: INTRODUCING DATABASES 227

LESSON 19: INTRODUCING MYSQL 239

LESSON 20: CREATING AND CONNECTING TO THE DATABASE 263

LESSON 21: CREATING TABLES 275

LESSON 22: ENTERING DATA 295

LESSON 23: SELECTING DATA 313

LESSON 24: USING MULTIPLE TABLES 331

LESSON 25: CHANGING DATA 343

LESSON 26: DELETING DATA 361

LESSON 27: PREVENTING DATABASE SECURITY ISSUES 387

SECTION VI: PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

LESSON 28: CREATING USER LOGINS 399

LESSON 29: TURN THE CASE STUDY INTO A CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM 419

LESSON 30: CREATING A DYNAMIC MENU 443

LESSON 31: NEXT STEPS 461

APPENDIX : WHAT S ON THE DVD? 463

INDEX 467

Andrea Tarr has been a programmer and IT manager for 30 years and now spends her time programming websites using PHP/MySQL. She is a member of the Production Leadership Team for Joomla!, a popular PHP/MySQL–based content management system.