golebara

Thanks phpstuck for the useful comments. I have already got some help through another friend and I just got a hosting that supports PHP/MySQL, CGI-BIN, Perl and etc. I guess the next step is to design and implement the database and test it. After which, I will start doing the PHP coding. Any suggestions about the design of the database? I will need a customers table to track customer records (name, address, phone, credit card details?, and etc). I guess I also need some sort of tracking system to track down customer orders (cookie perhaps?) as they are browsing through the website and ticking "Add to shopping cart" buttons. I was adviced by another friend to create a table to temporarily store orders using an unique ID (IP address perhaps). But I'm not sure how to do this exactly. Any help would be great. P.S. To AndyB: I don't have the label "Superman" on my chest so I can't fly around and help everybody. Your complete solution is not gonna work with me. The payment system has already been setup through a bank and we don't want PayPal. I guess the secondary objective of doing this website is to advance my skills and of course by adapting a complete solution as so to speak would jeopardise the whole idea.

Hi guys, Thanks for the replies. I am a C++ programmer and I have done some simple PHP coding before. The client is in fact a friend of mine and the reason why I took this work experience is because it is challenging and it keeps me busy for the holiday. There aren't many courses you can take to practice setting up an online merchant website. So I want to have a go at it myself during my spare time and learn as I go (as most people do). I believe I have the skills to do the job but just don't know where to start exactly. As far as this project goes, there isn't a deadline. I know it will take fully experienced programmers a couple of good days to code this and I have no intention to do so. I just have the desire to do something challenging and advance my skills further. Thank you for your understanding. Regards, GB

Hi guys, I'm a newbie helping a client to create a website. The client is selling workbooks online in a PDF document. I have already arranged with a bank for the online payment system. But I'm not sure where to start. I need some sort of database where I can store the actual products (PDF files) and customer details, I guess. Once the customer fills out his/her credit card details, it is then processed through the bank's payment system and it will return some code to say whether it is successful. If it is successful, then the PDF files will become available for download. Any suggestions, advice will be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Regards, GB