PHP Essentials Book

Introduction

Chapter 1: Getting Started with PHP

A Brief History of PHP

What Does PHP Do?

The Future of PHP

Is PHP Right for Me?

A Note Regarding Open Source Development

Installing a Web Server

Downloading and Installing Apache

Apache on Windows

Apache on UNIX

Downloading and Installing Xitami

Xitami on Windows

Xitami on UNIX

Downloading and Installing Microsoft IIS

Downloading and Installing WebTen

Downloading and Installing PHP3

Installing PHP3 on Windows

Configuring Apache to Use PHP3

Configuring Xitami to Use PHP3

Configuring IIS to Use PHP3

Installing PHP3 on UNIX

Configuring Apache to Use PHP3

Configuring Xitami to Use PHP3

Testing Your PHP Installation

Installing a Database

Downloading MySQL

Installing and Configuring MySQL for Windows

Installing and Configuring MySQL for UNIX

Using PHP4

Chapter 2: Basic PHP Techniques

An HTML Refresher

HTML Tags

Block-Level Tags

Text-Level Tags

Creating a Valid HTML Document

Understanding HTML Tables

Understanding HTML Forms

Commenting Your Code

Your First PHP Script

All About Variables

PHP Variables

HTML Form Variables

HTTP Environment Variables

Displaying Dynamic Content

Redirecting to a New Location

Displaying Browser-Specific Code

Sending E-Mail

Reading and Writing Data Files

Writing Data Files

Reading Data Files

Chapter 3: Working with Databases

Basic Database Theory

The Importance of Unique Identifiers

What About Relationships?

Basic SQL

CREATE

ALTER

DROP

INSERT

UPDATE

SELECT

DELETE

Establishing a Database Connection with PHP

Connecting to Informix Databases

Connecting to Microsoft SQL Server

Connecting to an mSQL Database

Connecting to a MySQL Database

Connecting to an Oracle Database

Connecting to a PostgreSQL Database

Connecting to a Sybase Database

Making ODBC Connections

Chapter 4: Creating and Populating Database Tables

Create a Database Table

Step 1: Basic Table Definition

Step 2: Field Definitions

Step 3: Connect to MySQL and Create the Table

Inserting Data

Select and Display Data

Chapter 5: User Authentication

Basic HTTP Authentication

Configuring HTTP Authentication on Apache

Creating the Users and Groups Files

Configuring the Web Server

Working with PHP Authentication Variables

Database-Driven Authentication

Using PHP Authentication Variables to Validate Users

Using HTML Forms to Validate Users

Limit by IP Address

Chapter 6: User Tracking and Session Management

Cookies

Setting Cookies

Reading Cookies

PHP4 Session Handling

Understanding Session Variables

Starting a Session and Registering Variables

Managing User Preferences with Sessions

A Word of Advice

Chapter 7: Advanced PHP Techniques: Web-Based Database Administration

Planning Your Product Catalog

Developing an Administration Menu

Adding Records to the Product Catalog

Modifying Records in the Product Catalog

Deleting Records from the Product Catalog

Chapter 8: Advanced PHP Techniques: e-Commerce

Data Encryption, or Safe and Secure Shopping

A Brief Glance at Data Encryption

Using PGP

Using GNUPG

Creating a Shopping System

Displaying Your Product Catalog

Tracking Your Users' Shopping Carts

Counting the Cart Items

Checkout Time!

Sending Secure Orders Via E-Mail

More Advanced Techniques

Appendix A: Essential PHP Language Reference

Appendix B: Getting Support

Index