Some Questions from a Newbie

[raven566]

Hello, I have been using HTML and Java for a long time and I have decided to start using PHP in my work and I have a few quick questions:

How do you create PHP documents? I have tried using Frontpage 2002 but it won't read PHP script. Whenever I view a .PHP file in IE using File->Open, nothing happens at all. Do I need to first upload the PHP files to my server and then view them or can I just view them locally? Can anyone recommend any good PHP editors? The reason I want to learn and use PHP is so I can make my own guestbook and/or forum and not have to rely on other external sources.

Thanks for any help anyone has to offer.

[Flamerule]

To view the source of the page you *musn't* have it on a server.

To view how the page works you *must* have it on a server.

You don't need any special programs to code in php. Notepad does fine.
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I suggest you find tutorials to learn php. The best thing would be to buy a book on php but tutorials can do fine.
I suggest you go to http://www.php.net and take the introductory tutorial. Then you could always find other tutorials on sites suchs as http://www.webmonkey.com or http://www.hotscripts.com

[Jeewhizz]

go to www.firepages.com.au and download phpdev You can then run all these pages offline

Jee

[raven566]

Thanks guys for your help, but I'm still having problems.

I went to http://www.php.net and looked a few of the tutorials, so now I at least know some things about PHP.

I've uploaded all my PHP files to my server, but when I type in the address of them, IE wants to download them and a window pops up and asks if I want to open or save it. I have .PHP files associated with Windows Write and if I choose open, that's what I see. But then it gives me errors about a temporary file not existing or something like that.

I also tried downloaded phpdev4, but when I run it, I get lots of errors about missing libraries.

These are probably really easy questions for experienced PHP users so I probably sound really dumb right now.

[Spookster]

When you say you uploaded your php file to your server are you talking about a web host? If so does your web host support PHP?

[Jeewhizz]

when you unzipped phpdev did you unzip it to c:\ or c:\phpdev?

You need to do it to c:\ and it will auto create the phpdev folder. Delete it and try again!

Jee