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Where do I need to start

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By: Pauli
Date: 2005-07-06
Time: 13:39

Where do I need to start

Hello,

I'd like some advice on where to start learning.  Also, if someone has some examples of something similar to share.

I am a PHP beginner.  I am, however, and experienced C/Perl/SQL programmer, and am somewhat familiar with html.  For my own purposes, I wish to build a database driven set of pages for a site I wish to build.  I expect to have a set of several queries define the content of a page such as:

Query1 = introduction to topic A
Query2 = advanced info re: topic A
Query3 = links related to: topic A
Query4 = list of images related to: topic A (click a list item and it pops-up the indicated image)
Query5 = list of projects related to: topic A (click a project and it pops-up a page providing extensive project detail, including images and text.)

There would, of course, be a header and a footer, I'd like each query results to be separated by an identifying sub-header text.

The idea here, is that content items may be multiply tagged, so may be included in several "Topics," yet the page format is consistant.

I know how to build the database side, and I've seen PHP database code tutorials - very perl-like.    However, the languate here in the forum is confusing to me.  I'm not at all clear about how 'sub-frames' or 'sub-templates' or CSS work.  I gather that I can use this tool TBS, to create my idea.  But it would really help if I had some suggestions on how to move from a 'hello world' type test application, to building the pages I envision.

Thank you in advance for any pointers you can provide.

Pauli
By: Pirjo Posio
Date: 2005-07-06
Time: 17:53

Re: Where do I need to start

Hi Pauli,

Nice that you have found TBS :)
This answer is partly off-topic, as is your question:
You need to learn html and css. Some good links for learning:
http://www.w3.org/MarkUp/Guide/
http://www.w3schools.com/
http://css.maxdesign.com.au/
http://www.csszengarden.com/

On TBS:
Look at the Examples page here on this site. There you can see the PHP-code and the html-template and the result.
Select radio button Data and select MySQL (or Array). There you have a good example to start with, since you are a database oriented person.

A good example for the site page is behind radio button Sub-templates.
But all the examples are worth looking at, so is the manual!
- Pirjo
By: RwD
Date: 2005-07-08
Time: 10:26

Re: Where do I need to start

test.php:
<?php
// Include the class
include_once('tbs_class.php');

// Set a variable
$example = 'Hello'; // I hate 'hello world' as example :P

// create an instance of the class
$tbs = new clsTinyButStrong ;

// Load the template to display
$tbs->LoadTemplate('example.htm') ;

// Display all
$tbs->Show() ;

example.htm:
<html>
<head>
    <title>test</title>
</head>
<body>
[var.example]
</body>
</html>

I didn't test this, but I think this should work. You can expand on this from here ;)

Now since you are a c programmer I guess you are used to stick to certain programming standards. I advice you also do this with html as this will make your life easier. Do not use tables for display purposes like you see everybody do. Use div, span, ul, ol and so on. Look every element up the first time before use to see if it is actually in use or not. Websites display even when badly put together so seeing what you wanted does not mean you did it right.