NOOB ?

[Greaser9780]

Must I start a db connection in order to get a session to start?

[spfoonnewb]

no. you may need session_start()

[Joe Haley]

Not if you havnt implemented custom session save handlers.
Read the PHP manual for more information on sessions.

[Caesar]

[quote author=Greaser9780 link=topic=106005.msg423670#msg423670 date=1156806858]
Must I start a db connection in order to get a session to start?
[/quote]

No. You do not need to utilize a database to make use of sessions or session variables.

[Greaser9780]

OK then I have a welcome message set to come up when my page loads. It is supposed to echo Welcome! and then display the username that was used to login. It only displays Welcome! and appears that the username is not being called. Here is the PHP part of the page:
<?
session_start();

echo "Welcome ". $_SESSION['username'] ." 
    <br /><br />";

?>

[spfoonnewb]

How was the username defined?

[Greaser9780]

<?
session_start();
echo "Welcome ". $_SESSION['username'] ."
    <br /><br />";

?>
I'm not sure what you mean. I have a very limited background in PHP and up till recently most was copy and paste then edit where I had to.  This script worked before when it was called by an include message and this script was labeled welcome.php

[spfoonnewb]

You have to define the username with a login script or something somehow, or it will be blank..

Maybe I can throw something together.

[AndyB]

[quote author=spfoonnewb link=topic=106005.msg423678#msg423678 date=1156807303]
How was the username defined?
[/quote]

Put another way, HOW did $_SESSION['username'] get given any value in the login process?

[Greaser9780]

Another noob ? How do I define it then. I understand what you are saying but I have about 3-4 comands memerised.

[spfoonnewb]

Here is a way to define it by typing your username in the box hitting submit:
(I said I was putting it together - )

[code]<?php
session_start();
$_SESSION["username"] = $_POST["username"];
{
echo "Welcome ". $_SESSION['username'] ." ";
}
?>

<form action="" method="POST">
<input type="text" name="username">
<input type="submit">
</form>[/code]

[AndyB]

[quote author=Greaser9780 link=topic=106005.msg423685#msg423685 date=1156807921]
Another noob ? How do I define it then. I understand what you are saying but I have about 3-4 comands memerised.
[/quote]

Well, 'somewhere' in your login script the username is obtained.  Suppose it was known as the variable $wombat.  Then .... drum roll:

[code]$_SESSION['username'] = $wombat;// save the username in a session variable[/code]

[Greaser9780]

Thank you andyB. Finally it worked I couldn't use $_POST['username'] because the form was already handled in my checkuser.php file. I looked up how it was defined in there and VOILA!! SUCCESS!!!
Gosh you people are smart.  Only my first week. Hard to learn it and build the site at the same time. Thank you for your cooperation. :) :) :)