nubby

Thanks a lot guys this should help me a lot more. This seems a lot easier than going back and editing 20+ files. But I did those when I was first learning xhtml and trying to get better web design techniques and style.

So for all your sites you have meta and head element information like title, keywords, description in a file called config.php? And then basically in the header do: <title><?php echo $sitename; ?></title> But then what do you do for keywords and all that? Sorry if I sound like the biggest beginner. :-X

So, I know xhtml/css/javascript pretty well and I just started learning php recently. I am going through all my current sites and fixing things so my code looks a lot better and I get better coding techniques. But I was wondering what is the best way to include title element on all pages without having to individually change each page? Would I just start the title string on the index page and call for $title string on all my other pages so when I want to edit it I only have to do that on the index page? Same with keywords and description? Can someone explain how I would do this a little better? Sorry I am really really new to php.

Yeah, some people I know also commented on the background being a little 'out there'. I wasn't really sure what to do with the background. As for the Logo, I know. I didn't have photoshop at the time so I had to resort to a online banner creator (laugh). I did that just as a place holder until I made something a lot nicer. Everyone, I know this isn't xHTML compliant and everything, but that is because I haven't went through it yet. I just wanted to get the site working and everything then I go back and fix my mistakes. This site was a project for me to test some new ideas I had with php and just learn php better since I am still a beginner.

Okay I am still new to PHP and I am still trying to get better at the design part of sites. That is probably my main weakness right now. Anyways I want two sites below strongly critiqued. First site in the line up is very basic, but sort of fun creating. I know the site is very simple and doesn't have much content, since there really isn't much more I could add. This site sends text messages to any US/Canada phone number for free. http://FreeUnlimitedTexts.com/ ------------------------------------- Next, this is a torrent search engine. This was a little bit harder to create, but still fun. It basically is an RSS of another more popular torrent search engine, but was hard to code. As for this site, I know it needs a more friendly look or something to liven it up, but I am not sure what it needs. http://TorrentSafari.com/ Sorry I do not have a more thorough write up, but I am tired and wasn't sure what else is needed. Just please give me opinions.

Should I get a book on PHP4 or PHP5? I was leaning more towards PHP5. The 2 books above are PHP4 and PHP5. The 2nd revision, the cheaper one is PHP4 and the more expensive is PHP5.

Alright so those 2 books, although different editions, are basically the same? Still PHP5? I do not find if there is some errors in the earlier revision, gives me something to learn trying to find what is wrong in the code. Also for that first book some of the cheaper copies do not have the CD, do you think it is necessary? Do you think I can just find the CD online or something? I might also pick up the o'reilly php in a nutshell since I heard it was pretty decent.

Sorry for double post, but I guess the modify option goes away after time. ??? But if these books are good I suppose I should get the 2008 edition of it for $32, although more than I wanted to spend. http://www.amazon.com/PHP-MySQL-Development-Developers-Library/dp/0672329166/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215374964&sr=1-1 Edit: Nevermind the book isn't out yet. It comes out Sept 12.

Yeah, I read every post in that thread already, but the reason I made a thread was to ask about the books I listed since I didn't see much talk about them in that thread. But I keep hearing good reviews and recommendations on the book you said. I might get that if none of these other books end up being good. I have tried to read a for dummies book on C/C++ awhile back and returned it after reading, I think the 5th page, I am not really into much of the writings of previous books they did. But if these are good then I guess I can bare through it. Do you happen to know the difference between the two books below other than the price, cover, and publication date? http://product.half.ebay.com/Php-And-Mysql-Web-Development_W0QQtgZinfoQQprZ2435692 http://product.half.ebay.com/Php-And-Mysql-Web-Development_W0QQtgZinfoQQprZ30789070

I'm 16 and live in Southern Oregon. Currently a Junior in high school, but started programming a bit when I was a freshman. First I learned DarkBasic, which is very easy and used to create very simple games and such. Then the other half of my freshman year I took a Visual Basic class which I loved and enjoyed. Sophomore year I took a college class at my school, only 4 kids in it so it was really hands on, and we learned xhtml/css/javascript which I love. I think they are doing away with all the computer classes now and they wont teach what I want to learn so I am teaching myself PHP now. I am planning on going to Oregon State University for a bachelors in Computer Science in a few years, ever since I can remember I wanted to do anything with computers. Not much to say other than I hope to get better at PHP through this community and at one time actually help someone instead of getting helped myself.  :D

http://product.half.ebay.com/Php-in-a-Nutshell_W0QQprZ48645050QQtgZinfo http://product.half.ebay.com/Php-Mysql-for-Dummies_W0QQtgZinfoQQprZ4477174 http://product.half.ebay.com/PHP-5-for-Dummies_W0QQtgZinfoQQprZ2351599 http://product.half.ebay.com/Spring-Into-PHP-5_W0QQtgZinfoQQprZ43890924 http://product.half.ebay.com/Learning-Php-And-Mysql_W0QQprZ52639532QQtgZinfo Here is the new set of books, I cannot edit my original post, but I changed some books. If you guys had to choose the for dummies books or o'reilly series which would it be?

It is likely personal preference, but to me, they all seam far too basic. they are truly aimed at dummies. That being siad, Ive never read one, just skimmed through a few in the bookshops. That wiki I linked too is now this book. While the 'in a nutshell' books usually assume some experience, they also usually provide a good introduction to a language. Ive never looked at that book, but if its anything like the wiki I would say its a great place to start with php. Alright I will pick up that book. I checked it out on books.google.com and it looked good. I also heard some good stuff about the Jump into PHP5 book I listed and it is cheap so I might get that as well. I finished reading the full php tutorial at Tizag.com today and understand basically all of it, except the PHP Strings part which I am going to reread a few times.

I like Bluefish for Ubuntu.

For Ubuntu users I recommend you using gFTP. It is very user friendly, fast, and well I just love it compared to some others.

I too like physical books. I have an O'Reilly book for C programming already and like it so I might look for one in PHP. I have checked out that wiki already, but will thoroughly tomorrow. I might as well just pick out a cheap book from that list. The prices aren't bad. I keep hearing for dummies books are good and others say they are horrible. Hmm, is it personal preference or are they really horrible?