Webdesign, Using Php

[motarque]

Don't know if this is the right forum for this, so if it needs to be moved, that's fine.

 

Ok, i've mostly used Dreamweaver to build my websites in HTML. I see more and more sites using PHP and, quite honestly, I'd like to learn about it and see if that would be a better way. Are there PHP editors similar to dreamweaver? Obviously, i'm a complete newb when it comes to this. Any sites and/or tools would be helpful. Thanks!

 

Marc

[TCH-Dick]

You can use DreamWeaver to create and edit Php. I recommend getting a PHP IDE so you can test your scripts and pages locally.

 

 

moving for organization

[TCH-Don]

I do not use DW, but I bet most switch to php

for one reason at first.

And that is to use the include function to include code common to all pages,

such as a common menu that appears on all pages.

 

If the menu is on a template or page, it has to be updated on all pages when adding a new page, and then all pages uploaded.

 

But if you replace the menu in the template or pages

with the php code

<?php

include $_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT']."/menu.php";

?>

 

then to add a page is as easy as creating the page with the menu include,

modify the menu.php file

and just upload the two files rather than the whole site.

 

I would suggest a book on learning php, as it is easier to follow.

But there are sites that show this idea and more.

[bellringr]

Don,

 

This is probably a dumb question because I am not at all familiar with php, but how is using php for an include different than just doing a regular include with html? In Dreamweaver, I use the comment function to attach a disclaimer from a separate file at the bottom of all of my pages. If the disclaimer changes, I simply change it and upload the one file.

[OldTimer]

Can't the same thing be done with ssi ?

[TCH-Don]

As I mentioned I am not familiar with DW.

I am glad there is a way to include files like a menu or others.

Not all programs will do that.

 

For me, coding by hand, this was a nice bonus.

And not the only reason to look at php.

 

It is a very easy to learn scripting language

giving you the ability to create or modify thousands of scripts

or add logic to your site and its free

 

Its worth looking at, you never know when it will come in handy.