Help getting set up with PHP

Hi,

I need desperately to take the plunge and move across from ASP to PHP. Particularly I have built one PHP-enabled site which I now need to add some functionality to urgently.

I appreciate you guys have published lots of "getting started" material for PHP, but I was wondering whether I can buy an hour or two of your time to just assist me with my set up here and short-cut some of the inevitable head-scratching that goes on with setting up the first time.

My issues will be with initial connection I think - in terms of local and remote connections and how to access MySql. Once i have figured the connections and know how to get to tables etc, I think I will be ok generally.

I'd like to use the tuorials to further my knowledge but I just need someone to look over my set-up and get me connected in the first instance.

Can this be done via Skype/remote log in? If so, how quickly could it be arranged.

If you are unable to help could you suggest anyone else outh there who could help me get connected and set up?
Thanks in advance.

Not wanting to appear unhelpful, but there are a number of steps involved.

I took the leap to php from asp about 3 years ago and never looked back.

I can unreservedly recommend an excellent book by David Powers called Php Solutions, now in its second edition, and reading through a couple of chapters will get you through installing php and mysql, as well as explaining everything along the way.

You'll be good to go in a few hours.

phpsolutions/

Thanks Craig.

I will probably get the book as there's obviously a lot of on-going stuff that'd be useful. The website also looks really useful so thanks. However....

My experience is that every installation is different and rarely straightforward, and I would find it preferable to have someone look over it who's been there and seen it before, rather than me sitting there wondering why something doesnt connect and that issue not being mentioned in the book. just a bit of an inital shortcut really to get me connected.

Webassist - any chance of confirming whether or not this is possible for a fee?

Thanks again mate.

Russ

We dont usually offer assistance with setting up the PHP testing server. More times than not, following the tutorials that we have in the learning resources section of the site will be sufficient for getting the testing server running.

Using either MAMP (For Mac) Or XAMPP for windows is a very straightforward and simple install process. It usually takes longer to go to the web site and download the package than it does to install the package.

One thing to keep in mind, coming from ASP, you probably have IIS running for an ASP testing environment, make sure to turn off the IIS service if it is running before starting the Apache server.

As far as the data base connection and managing the local and remote connection, use the Dynamic Connections extension.

It allows you define both the local connection details and remote connection details in the same place and automatically determines which to use based on the URL in the address bar.

If you really want some hand holding, we offer a premiere ticket service, using a premiere ticket you can sign up for 1/2 hour of 1 on 1 training through a screen sharing session for $99.

Ok. I'll start with the tutorials etc. It's just nice to know that, if there are set-up issues, i may be able to call upon your experience to troubleshoot any bits and pieces or answer a few questions that'll save me a few hours reading/pondering.

quite sure i'll be fine once connected etc.