Making an online database - please help!?

[AdamUK]

Hi,

I need to produce an online database (for the sake of this example lets say its a database of track times) in which users can submit their (again for sake of example) name, attributes and time. and also search the database. The other requirement ive been told is that it needs to be "PHP" to work on the site.

The actual model is going to be a list of insurance quotes, against age and car type. I guess it could just be in the form of a large table but would need to be able to be sorted somehow. Im doing a degree in IT and im fairly competent on the web but this has got me stuck and any guidelines/starters would be VERY appreciated!! Can anyone lend a hand? What software do i need etc? pleeeease

Thanks in Advance,

[DrZaius]

Hi AdamUK,

Sounds like a good application for MySQL and PHP. I recommend a book titled "PHP and MySQL Web Development" to get started, it goes through all the steps for writing PHP and accessing/writing the database. Hope this helps.

[AdamUK]

could you refer me to what software I will need, from that I can learn. I had previously needed SQL for something but having downloaded "Microsoft SQL Server 2000" of about 450mb i was left with officeXP but with a folder also called "MSDE2000" and when i run setup all I gain is a small server icon in my systray, running it does very little but show status. Where can I get the tools I need...?

[mairving]

Who is hosting your site? Most will have PHP/MySQL installed on their servers. You can get versions of MySQL, PHP and Apache and install them on your Windows or Linux machine if you wanted a development machine. I develop everything on my local machine and upload it to the web. Generally I just have to change a config file.

[MrAustin]

Not sure whether or not it is still out there somewhere, but check out PHPTriad -- one installer that will put Apache, PHP and MySQL on your local machine, and you can just access it at http://localhost/ and upload the stuff to the online server when it's done. I used to do some PHP/MySQL stuff, but not anymore, so I'm a little fuzzy.

[VetteRestorer]

Adam,

Here are two good tutorials on this very subject. They both cover some of the same material, but there are things in each that complement the other. I just set up a database with MySql and PHP on a my website. Linux/Apache box with everything I needed installed.

http://hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey/databases/tutorials/tutorial4.html

http://www.linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/tutorials/1046/1/