First Time Installation

I'm not a developer, though I am not afraid of code.

I've purchased, downloaded, installed and registered. The einformation that I'm requesting is not in your Common Installation Issues or Quickstart Guide.

I have a finished design and html pages done in Dreamweaver, and that is all at this time.

Your Quickstart guide starts with:

"You'll need a couple of items to start:
• A standard dynamic Dreamweaver site in ASP, ColdFusion or PHP. If
you have SiteAssist, create a new dynamic site using that software.
• A connection to a data source like an Access or MySQL database.
- Optionally, a template with an editable region to hold the generated
forms and other content. "

I have the latter of the 3 bullets. I do not have PHP or My SQL, but could install them I suppose - by figuring out how do to this via the web.

So, do I need to *know* PHP to use your programs/extensions? It certainly doesn't say that on your site!

Anyway, I can install PHP and MySQL, but I'd need to know where and how to do so - so that's the installation is compliant with your program/extension's requirements. Where can I find that info? It's not in the Quickstart guide.

Is there another guide that walks non-programmers through the actual getting started process? Can I speak to someone on the phone to walk me through that?

Thanks,
Nate
415 five seven seven 8971

You can set up your testing server by using xampp and following the steps outlined here:
xampp_for_windows.php

You will have both php and mysql installed through xampp.

You will not need to know php coding to use the extensions. You will be running through wizards and interfaces to set up what you want.

First comment is that you guys REALLY need a getting started guide for nubes. I'd love to write one for you.

OK. Moving forward. I'm stuck at the DB portion.

1) in import_sql.pdf: "phpMyAdmin is commonly used for managing MySQL databases. Many
hosting providers, such as GoDaddy, provide this tool for making database
modifications." I'm using Godaddy for hosting - a search of their entire site retrieves no results for phpMyAdmin. Dead end. Thoughts?

2) dataassist_gsg.pdf (which needs to be completely rewritten by a non-developer BTW)
a) "A connection to a data source like an Access or MySQL database." What does that mean? 'Connection' is undefined; "data source" is undefined.
b) "If you want to follow the tutorial steps exactly, create a connection named connBlueSkyMusic to the Blue Sky Music datasource." How?
c) "Once you've set-up your dynamic Dreamweaver site and established a datasource connection, you're ready to begin the DataAssist wizard." Wow, great. What's a datasource connection? What does that mean? How do I do that?

Srsly,
Nate

Hey Nate,

You are effectively asking questions on how to use Dreamweaver here.

However, the good folks at WA have written documentation to help newbies out.

For example - a quick search on Google for how to setup a Dreamweaver data source returned:

ec_s1_08.htm

I urge you to go and learn the basics on how a web site with data source is put together. After all, if you are writing web apps for your clients shouldn't you know how they work in order to be able to support them?

Remember - Google is your friend :-)

Cheers
Ian

There should be a link in the control panel that GoDaddy gives you to get to the PHPMyAdmin. If you can't find it, you might want to contact GoDaddy and see if you have purchased a package that includes database access and if you already have, how to access the PHPMyAdmin page.

Jimmy - cool I'll try that - In the meantime can you answer my specific questions above? Thanks!

Did you follow the steps in the link that Ian posted?

That's how you set up a DataSource Connection. Its just a connection to your database.

I didn't know to - you are the support engineer. I don't know who Ian is - a member.

So that html doc refers to this one as a starting point:

ec_s1_04.htm

that doc states: "Clicking WA eCart in the details for your order lists all the components available for download through your Order History. The necessary files are available for download in the section called Getting Started Guide - Dynamic."

I can't find that anywhere. Stuck again.

I'D REALLY LIKE TO TALK TO SOMEONE ON THE PHONE.

ec_s1_08.htm has

"Copy the entire DataSource folder to your PHP server root."

How do I do that?

(But of course, I also do not have that folder as I can't find it. Just trying to be proactive, b/c this will be my next question after I do find it.)

"The DataSource folder is located within the WAeCart2_Sample_Data.zip file " - can you just send me this file?

Can I call support or have someone call me?

I'll just have to get my money back if I can't get this to work.