PHP Solutions: Dynamic Web Design Made Easy

by David Powers

In this book you'll learn how to: Create dynamic websites with design and usability in mind, as well as functionality Understand how PHP scripts work, giving you confidence to adapt them to your own needs Bring online forms to life, check required fields, and ensure user input is safe to process Upload files and automatically create thumbnails from larger images Manage website content with a searchable database You want to make your websites more dynamic by adding a feedback form, creating a private area where members can upload images that are automatically resized, or perhaps storing all your content in a database. The problem is, you're not a programmer and the thought of writing code sends a chill up your spine. Or maybe you've dabbled a bit in PHP and MySQL, but you can't get past baby steps. If this describes you, then you've just found the right book. PHP and the MySQL database are deservedly the most popular combination for creating dynamic websites. They're free, easy to use, and provided by many web hosting companies in their standard packages. Unfortunately, most PHP books either expect you to be an expert already or force you to go through endless exercises of little practical value. In contrast, this book gives you real value right away through a series of practical examples that you can incorporate directly into your sites, optimizing performance and adding functionality such as file uploading, email feedback forms, image galleries, content management systems, and much more. Each solution is created with not only functionality in mind, but also visual design. But this book doesn't just provide a collection of ready-made scripts: each PHP Solution builds on what's gone before, teaching you the basics of PHP and database design quickly and painlessly. By the end of the book, you'll have the confidence to start writing your own scripts or&8212;if you prefer to leave that task to othersto adapt existing scripts to your own requirements. Right from the start, you're shown how easy it is to protect your sites by adopting secure coding practices. The book has been written with an eye on forward and backward compatibilityrecommending the latest PHP 5 techniques, but providing alternative solutions for servers still running PHP 4.3. All database examples demonstrate how to use the original MySQL extension, MySQL Improved, or the PHP Data Objects (PDO) introduced in PHP 5.1, letting you choose the most suitable option for your setup. Summary of Contents: Chapter 1: What Is PHPAnd Why Should I Care? Chapter 2: Getting Ready to Work with PHP Chapter 3: How to Write PHP Scripts Chapter 4: Lightening Your Workload with Includes Chapter 5: Bringing Forms to Life Chapter 6: Uploading Files Chapter 7: Using PHP to Manage Files Chapter 8: Generating Thumbnail Images Chapter 9: Pages That Remember: Simple Login and Multipage Forms Chapter 10: Setting Up MySQL and phpMyAdmin Chapter 11: Getting Started with a Database Chapter 12: Creating a Dynamic Online Gallery Chapter 13: Managing Content Chapter 14: Solutions to Common PHP/MySQL Problems Chapter 15: Keeping Intruders at Bay

Genres: Programming, Computers, Reference, Nonfiction, Web

527 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[David Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote it!

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read HTML and CSS books before, but this is my first one on PHP/MySQL.

I spent a half-hour to an hour each night going through this book, working the exercises, and understand the more basic things like includes. Things like working with a database and having a form send an email are a little more challenging for me right now.

But it occurred to me that the best way to use this book is not to try to learn each lesson on its own, but to work on a PHP project and then come back to this as a guide when you need it.

So this book will be on my shelf while I work on my first PHP based site.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good book - real-world based (mainly) so that's nice. Some pretty important items to PHP programming are mentioned but more glossed over. I liked it.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have only read through three chapters of this book but it has already transformed my working methods and saved me acres of time in the process. Well worth buying.

[PD Storage · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall, a good text to learn the basics of PHP and MySQL. Just got frustrated working through all the typographic errors. Powers however does have corrections listed on his site. Just wish the book had been proofread better before publishing. I feel the examples and projects got me acquainted with the material though. Check it out if interested in learning some basics of PHP and MySQL. This book was used as a text in one of my college classes.

[Islam A. Mezied · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned new ideas from this book and improved some concepts in php as an intermediate programmer

[Rahmanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big help for my really first web project. Easy to understand.