Ok i fully mastered the basics of html and want to move onto coding in php. a whole new dimension for me. i tried to start off installing a local server on my computer. the installs of apeche thingy, php and stuff like that in one wont work. any promising ones out there to start me off. thanks.

f you would like to learn PHP you will find all you need to get started here...

http://www.php.net/ - official documentation is here
http://www.hotscripts.com/PHP/ - includes many tutorials, selections of PHP programming-related books.
http://www.faqts.com/knowledge_base/index.phtml/fid/51 - Tutorials
http://www.php-help.net/
http://httpd.apache.org/docs/ Starting Apache...

is there any software to make my coding any easier. i have a copy of macromedia dreamweaver mx on a cd. will that help at all?

no it won't.
tsweb editor will help a little. but php is mostly: buying a cheap book that will tell you how to start. and from then on: www.php.net to find out about a function you need, etc.

http://www.astahost.com/Mini-Apache-Server-W-Php-t2788.html

This is a good apache/php server for just testing PHP codes.


http://www.mpsoftware.dk/

PHP Designer 2005 is a good software to code PHP and other languages. I'm currently using it to code my site.


Essential PHP for Web professionals, PHP Black Book, Professional PHP Programming
I started PHP with these books (Actually, they're the only PHP books at the library at that time)
After that, I got PHP & MySQL for Dummies to read, and that was a great book.

i cant get the mini apache php server working. im working behind a norton firewall.

when i begin to install the service in the command prompt it has this message.

finally i got the server working! all i had to do is restart my pc. i never turn it off i only put it into hibinate. and starts up more faster. ok only one more problem...

i cant get the SSL working, well i think thats whats its called. the code that adds a text file to the html file and makes it into a complete file. that doesnt work on the server. thanks.

if this makes it any clearer at all? cos i dont think i know what iam talking about..

Actually, Called SSI but not used for PHP
PHP code is <? include(filename.php); ?>
must be called from a PHP enabled page like:
index.php
index.phtm
index.phtml
testpage.php
...

additionally, .php, .phtm, .phtml must be listed in apache to forward to the php engine.
so if you only listed .php, then the calling page must have that file extension.
unless, you use an html script tag like:
<script language="php">include(filename.php);</script>

the included file can have any extension like:
.inc, .php, .txt, .code

good luck,
see also Programing How to's / Programming / PHP-> PHP forum
vujsa

thanks though! but i found another package that have everything installed. its called XAMPP. it acts like a real proper server like we got here. it haas everything there. i should recommend this now.

been searching the internet downloading a trying till i got this! now i can start learning php! yay!