Dreamweaver/PHP newbie needs help

Question

I have bought a price comparison script. Unfortunately the
script is coded in PHP and I do not know PHP.
Over the last couple of years I taught myself HTML and the
tools necessary to developed a number of simple shopping sites for
my businesses using Dreamweaver; Fireworks; & Flash. – I
know these tools reasonably well.
So far I have installed WampServer 2.0f [12/16/08]
Includes : Apache 2.2.11; MySQL 5.1.30; PHP 5.2.8
Wamp installs in c > wamp
All features up and running and tested using simple test
files such as time display – all installed in c > wamp
> www
I then did a ‘Get’ and placed the local version
of the script to c > wamp > www
Setup a test server in Dreamweaver:
Local Root folder and testing Server Folder:
C:\wamp\www\lowprice\
Http Address:
http://www.lowprice.co.za/
URL Prefix:
http://localhost/lowprice/
I started all services on the wampserver
and opened the main file: index.tpl.php in Dreamweaver.
I was hoping for a beautiful display of the home page, but
only get dotted lines & php tags - no graphical display at all.
What I need to know at this stage:
1) Did I do anything wrong while setting up the test server
above
2) Do you think I’m nearly there and if so do you have
any advice as to how to get there.
3) If I’m still miles away I’ll keep on slogging
through the training and support sites and even buy a book if need
be. If you have any advice – please tell me.
Just a short summary or a couple of hints as to what
direction to go. I know you cannot teach me PHP.
Thanx you

Answer 1

biltong08 wrote:
> I have bought a price comparison script. Unfortunately
the script is coded in
> PHP and I do not know PHP.
Buying scripts is not necessarily a bad thing, but buying one
written in
a language you don't understand puts you at risk. First, you
can't adapt
it if it doesn't do what you want. More important, you're
entirely in
the hands of the developer if it turns out there's a security
bug in the
script. If you want to use PHP, you should at least learn the
basics.
> I was hoping for a beautiful display of the home page,
but only get dotted
> lines & php tags - no graphical display at all.
You wouldn't. Dreamweaver is a development environment, where
you write
and edit code. However, if you have set up a testing server,
you can
view the output (but not edit it) in Live View. Just click
the Live View
button in the Document toolbar. Live View is available in
Dreamweaver
CS4 only. In earlier versions, use the Live Data view button
in the
Document toolbar.
> What I need to know at this stage:
> 1) Did I do anything wrong while setting up the test
server above
Your testing server definition looks OK.
> 2) Do you think I?m nearly there and if so do you have
any advice as to how to
> get there.
Try Live View or Live Data view.
> 3) If I?m still miles away I?ll keep on slogging through
the training and
> support sites and even buy a book if need be. If you
have any advice ? please
> tell me.
You can start with the PHP online documentation:
http://docs.php.net/manual/en/getting-started.php
The documentation is very useful, but it can be overwhelming
if you
don't know what you're looking for (it's rather like trying
to learn a
foreign language from a dictionary). I have written several
books about
PHP, details of which you can find on my website (see link in
my
signature). The Dreamweaver-related ones have a short crash
course in
PHP syntax, and then concentrate on using the PHP server
behaviors built
into Dreamweaver. "PHP Solutions" teaches PHP through a
series of
practical exercises and projects. However, I have no idea if
my books
would be of practical help to you in deciphering the script
you have bought.
I noticed that the filename you gave contained "tpl". That
usually
suggests that the file is written in a PHP templating
language called
Smarty. If so, you need Smarty installed (
http://www.smarty.net/).
Although I have used Smarty, I don't like it because it adds
an extra
level of complexity. It's intended to make it easier for
non-programmers
to edit pages without touching the underlying PHP. However,
if you're
the only person working on the project, it means you need to
learn two
languages instead of one. To my mind, it adds an unnecessary
burden.
Good luck.
David Powers, Adobe Community Expert
Author, "The Essential Guide to Dreamweaver CS4",
"PHP Solutions" & "PHP Object-Oriented Solutions"
http://foundationphp.com/