PHP and MySQL For Dummies (For Dummies (Computers)) [Paperback]

Janet Valade (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 29, 2002 | ISBN-10: 0764516507 | ISBN-13: 978-0764516504 | Edition: 1

You need to develop an interactive Web site in a hurry! Your boss just put you in charge of your company’s online catalog. And you don’t have a clue about how to develop a Web database application. Don’t panic, the Dynamic Duo,” PHP and MySQL, are here to save the day. MySQL is a fast, easy-to-use, open-source relational database management system that runs on most operating systems. PHP is a fast, easy-to-use, free scripting language designed for use on the Web that interacts with just about every type of database management system. Together, PHP and SQL have spelled relief for thousands of reluctant Web database developers just like you.

PHP and MySQL For Dummies fills you in on how to develop Web database applications using the Dynamic Duo — and no programming or database experience required! With this friendly reference as your guide, you’ll:

• Build and use a MySQL database
• Add PHP to HTML files
• Use all the features of the PHP language
• Use HTML forms to collect information from users
• Show information from a database in a Web page
• Store information in a database

In plain English, expert Janet Valade explains PHP and MySQL and shows you how to access and get started with them. And with the help of two complete sample applications, she walks you through the entire Web database application development process. Topics covered in detail include:

• Creating and changing MySQL databases and moving data in and out of them
• Writing PHP programs that enable your Web pages to insert, update, or remove information from a MySQL database
• Organizing PHP programs into a functioning application that interacts with MySQL databases
• Common traps to avoid when developing Web database applications and fixes for common problems

The bonus CD-ROM features:

• PHP
• MySQL
• Apache Web server
• Sample applications and code from the book

Ready to take your site to a bold new level of interactivity? PHP and MySQL For Dummies shows you how.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The fun and easy way(TM) to create a Web database application!

Get the scoop on building online catalogs and members-only sites

Take your site to the next level - no programming or database experience required

With a MySQL database and a little PHP programming, you can add a whole new level of interactivity to your site - for free. But how do you get a fix on the world of Web database applications? Don't worry! With this friendly reference (and the free software on the CD-ROM), you'll be building a MySQL database and writing PHP programs in no time.

All this on the bonus CD-Rom
* PHP server-side scripting language
* MySQL relational database management system
* Apache Web server
* Sample applications and code from the book

System Requirements: A Pentium PC or faster; Windows 9x/2000/Me/XP, Windows NT 4 or later; Linux. At least 32 MB of total RAM; a CD-ROM drive.

See CD appendix for details and complete system requirements.

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About the Author

Janet Valade has 17 years of experience as a Web designer, programmer, and systems analyst.

Product Details

• Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (April 29, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764516507
• ISBN-13: 978-0764516504
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #368,518 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #59 in Books > Computers & Technology > Databases > MySQL
  • #91 in Books > Computers & Technology > Web Development & Design > Programming > PHP

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book for beginners March 25, 2003

By Richardjf

Format:Paperback

This is a great book for someone learning to use PHP and MySQL. It assumes the reader already knows basic HTML. The book is easy to read and understand. The topics it covers gives the reader a good grounding of the basics, enough to create a reasonably sophisticated web application. The stuff it leaves out is not essential to know, and can be left for when the reader steps up to more complicated applications.

Information is well organised and easy to navigate. The two web application examples towards the back of the book are also excellent to learn from. They're very good at demonstrating techniques described in earlier chapters.

One potential difficulty someone might have is with the explanation of relational database design. Someone without any past knowledge of relational databases might find the book's explanation a bit light. Designing relational databases isn't terribly complicated, but has its tricky bits.

Another thing I liked about this book is how it helped me set up the appropriate software on my computer so it all worked cleanly together.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Starts good and gets lost in the middle March 1, 2003

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

Had I written this review whilst reading the first chapters of the book I would have given it 5 stars. The steps how to install MySQL and the PHP installation went very smoothly following the book. I even found setup tips for MySQL that I had previously search for on the web/forums without results. I found I was leaning PHP & MySQL very quickly.
The middle of the book has more general info using various examples, but nothing really useful to tryout. The book gets up to speed in chapter 11. I felt I was leaning something again. Learn you must, you need to know what you're doing so you can correct the mistakes in code. Chapter 12, even more mistakes. This time I took the lazy way and downloaded the corrected code from the author's site only to find it was still incorrect. Maybe the mistakes in the code have actually helped, whilst solving the errors I have found lots of useful info for PHP & MySQL.
My roundup:
The start of the book is good for a PHP beginner, with useful setup info. It's weak in the middle. The last part, the main reason to buy the book tends to go too quickly not explaining details that would help a beginner.
It's a shame the book's wasn't checked a little better.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for beginners November 2, 2002

By Matthew Maroon

Format:Paperback

When I bought this book I was looking to create dynamic web pages, and had begun using Perl/CGI. I happened to come across the PHP manual on the net, and was amazed. I did not know much about PHP, and had never used mySQL so I wanted an entry-level book, and was lucky enough to purchase this one.
The authors did a wonderful job introducing me to both PHP and mySQL. The book takes you through building a members only site, and an e-commerce site. Unlike many books I have read all code is well commented, and uses only topics already introduced and explained, so it is never hard to follow.
I recommend reading the PHP chapter before the mySQL chapter, even though it comes after, then going back to the database chapter. Anyway you read it though it is a perfect starting point for learning the two. After reading this you will probably want to read a more advanced book on PHP, and maybe one on mySQL, as many of he less common features of both are left out. But thanks to this book you will feel after 1 week like you could build your own amazon.com.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars It's not ideal but suffice for beginner needs. October 24, 2002

By Dom

Format:Paperback

Good points:

1. Trained me into some of the mindset required.
2. Gave me actual instruction on the many basic database input/output tasks. Full marks. I was reading and writing to a database after reading chapter 8, dedicated to this very interest.
3. For the complex subject that PHP is, the author did fairly well at the task of simplifying it but could not fully succeed. I still don't understand some of the foundation PHP understandings.

Bad points:

1. Insufficient explanation of the sample scripts. parts of many scripts were left unexplained. I looked at the scripts in detail. Not everything I saw was explained. But can they be??

2. For slow learners, the book moves too quickly.
3. Doesn't ease me into the state of being (that I perceive) I need to be in for any development challenge - but is that what this book is for?? Once I knew what database site I wanted to make, I continually found myself getting stuck.

In summary, I am pleased I got the book and it has helped me in the task of finding my feet with PHP. However, I now need a more advanced book.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Now I'm Starting My Own Company September 17, 2002

By Jed D. Hunsaker

Format:Paperback

This book was simple enough to understand that I've been able to create a database for my company with over 500 products in an easily viewable format. I saw a bigger, fatter book for PHP4 but they really lose you fast. Plus, I didn't have that much time to read. These dummies books are always my solution.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Reading, Good Reference November 27, 2004

By Thomas D. Webster

Format:Paperback

Ms. Valade's book is a solid intro to the dynamic duo of PHP & MySQL, with an excellent running example throughout the book to bring it all together. Although it's difficult to write a book that's both readable cover-to-cover AND accessible for quick-lookup references when you need them, this one does well at both. After reading the book, I converted one of my web sites from static HTML to PHP and MySQL, and collapsed the number of pages from around 450 to under 50 ( [...] ).

I've read the other reviews of this book, and it's unfair to beat up on the book for Amazon's quirks. Make sure you order the current edition (the 2002 edition is, as you'd expect, woefully out of date, but Amazon will gladly sell it to you if you let them). And it's not Ms. Valade's fault if download of the e-book doesn't work.

It's been my experience that Ms. Valade is responsive to e-mails, so if you have a beef with Amazon, complain to Amazon. If you have questions about the book, Ms. Valade has a good track record for helpful responses.