Dynamic Web Form

1
Dynamic Web Form

• My Adventures with PHP

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Original Plan

• Create complete, comprehensive, pretty web form
  survey
• Write PHP script to catch and dump data into
  MySQL database (after creating database)
• Cross fingers, hit submit button, hope everything
  works

3
Reality

• Created basic test form (not sexy at all)
• Dropped MySQL database creation
• Focused on making functional PHP mailform script
• Hosted PHP on Dreamhost web server, pointed HTML
  form at it, tested functionality -- SUCCESS!

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Why Plans Changed

• Time
• Frustration and Intimidation
• Shift in Focus

5
Roadblocks

• Time (again)
• Teaching self PHP time-consuming Form HTML and
  CSS (display/design) Testing, formatting,
  retesting, reformatting
• Lack of experience with PHP
• First introduced in this class
• Terminology
• Knew what I wanted to do in non-specific terms

6
The Script

• Stay within delimiters ()
• Interchangeable terms, functions with similar
  actions
• Linear, logical hierarchy
• Imbed in HTML or separate script?

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Resources

• PHP.net
• W3Schools
• Tizag.com
• PHPhelp.com
• PHPfreaks.com
• Various and assorted books/guides/print materials