Newbie, needs help

[Tarkus16]

Hey, im completely new to PHP and i need to know what to get to start, i went to php.net and downloaded PHP 5 for windows. And i dont know what editor i should get and how to start, if someone can link me to a good editor and a tutorial it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[blueday54555]

if you want code php on your local pc than you need
1. a web server on your local pc (as web server I would recommend apache from www.apache.org)
2. php from www.php.net

first install apache on your pc !
than unpack php.zip (e.g. c:\php\)

than you have to modifie the httpd.conf file from apache
like

#LoadModule ssl_module modules/mod_ssl.so
LoadModule php4_module C:/php/sapi/php4apache2.dll
...........
...........
AddType application/x-gzip .gz .tgz
AddType application/x-httpd-php .php

save the changes and restart apache !
now if you enter 127.0.0.1 into your browser you will see
a welcome message from apache so you know the server works.

to test if php works create a php file index.php and save it in the
document root (the standard document root of apache is
......../Apache2/htdocs you can change this in httpd.conf)

index.php
<?
echo phpinfo();
?>

if you enter 127.0.0.1/index.php now, you will see a lot of
informations about your php settings.

This means your system is ready.

There are many free php editor, you should try them yourself and
use that one you liked http://www.php-editors.com/

A good starting point for tutorials are
http://www.phpbuilder.com/
http://www.zend.com/zend/tut/
aso. use google "+php +tutorial" and you will have enought tutorials
for the rest of your life :)


And if you have questions which no board no google search can
answer than post them here :)

[Tarkus16]

Thanks soo much!

[hspc]

Hi
w3schools (http://www.w3schools.com/php/default.asp) tutorual is a good introduction to PHP.

[Tarkus16]

Thanks hspc, Thats a great tutorial, its verry easy to understand and explaines everything verry well, i just would like to know "if i set up php to work, and i put up a site, will my computer need to be turned on or host some kinda of server in order for others to view it?? or is it possible to run a website with php comepletely on the internet without my computer turned on??
Thanks in advance..

[Tarkus16]

if you want code php on your local pc than you need
1. a web server on your local pc (as web server I would recommend apache from www.apache.org)
2. php from www.php.net

first install apache on your pc !
than unpack php.zip (e.g. c:\php\)

than you have to modifie the httpd.conf file from apache
like

#LoadModule ssl_module modules/mod_ssl.so
LoadModule php4_module C:/php/sapi/php4apache2.dll
...........
...........
AddType application/x-gzip .gz .tgz
AddType application/x-httpd-php .php

umm.. i looked everywhere and i couldnt find the file httpd.conf (i even searched my whole Hard Drive for it and it couldnt find it) maybe i downloaded the wrong thing from http://www.apache.org. I downloaded this: "Apache WSIF version 2.0 all.zip". If that is the wrong thing to get, then please let me know what i should get instead. Thanks again.

[hspc]

... or is it possible to run a website with php comepletely on the internet without my computer turned on??


Hi
In most cases you publish your website on the internet by reserving a web hosting plan...
you can visit www.findmyhosting.com and search for hosting companies and hosting plans that fit your requirements...Some linux hosting plans are realy for low cost.
just make sure that the hosting service you choose supports PHP (most of them do).

If you just want to make some pages for personal use .. you can register a free hosting (search google for free php hosting) but don't depend on free hosting for business sites.

Welcome to the PHP world :)

[Tarkus16]

Ok, Thanks. but do u know how i can get it working on my computer?? i still dont really know how to install apache..

[blueday54555]

get apache from here:

http://archive.apache.org/dist/httpd/binaries/win32/apache_2.0.52-win32-x86-no_ssl.msi

start the installer and that was it.
the httpd.conf file is in the conf directory of apache

c:\Programme\Apache Group\Apache2\conf\httpd.conf

[hspc]

Ok, Thanks. but do u know how i can get it working on my computer?? i still dont really know how to install apache..
What operating system do you use ?
If you use Win2000 or XP Pro so you have IIS on it.
PHP can run on IIS so you can avoid any problems with apache.
Just download the windows installer package for PHP and it will configure IIS to work with PHP.