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 01/04/2005 07:07:15 PM · #1
Hey Guys!
How goes it? As always, when I have ?'s on techie stuff, DPC is the place to go to get answers that work.
I am trying to develop a website that does several things. I am trying to learn web development thru this project as well, so if folks got answer sending me a PM with detailed steps or just posting them here would help me more than I could measure.

1. I wanna create memberships for those who participate. How do I do this? Does the web host have to provide this? How does this work?

2. some web hosts provide mysql & php in there control panels. To crate a thread, do I have to do it thru a separate group (sau proboarrds which is free & I could link it to my website) or can it be done thru the actually site & comtrol panel. How does DPC do it?

3. if folks wanna donate cash to the site, how can I set this up? Does it also have to be thru the web host or is it a separate function?

4. And lastly, how does one set up a 'send an email' funtion on a site that comes stright to email?

thanks much in advance!
 01/04/2005 07:13:13 PM · #2
hey

1) i havent looed through this yet, but i get most of my resources from webmonkey, here is an article on PHP authorizations for users //webmonkey.wired.com/webmonkey/00/05/index2a.html?tw=programming

2) godaddy.com is good for webhosting or domain registrating if you wanna host on your own or elsewhere.

3) donate cash? i dont know...paypal maybe?

4) mailto function like; e-mail
me.

hopes this helps and good luck

01/04/2005 07:17:37 PM · #3
PayPal will work for donations. You can generate a button that ties into your PayPal account.

As far as a message board, I would get a host that includes a MySQL database and then use something like phpBB for the messageboard.
 01/04/2005 07:21:04 PM · #4
wow! that sounds pretty complex. What are you doing that requires membership and sponsors to start? If you're in need of money, and can show that the site gets enough traffic you can probably sell advertising space, but it tends to detract from the appearance of the web site. I'm not sure how much I can help, but feel free to PM me if you want advice
 01/04/2005 07:23:44 PM · #5
im pretty sure you can put google ads on your site no matter how big it is.


01/04/2005 07:36:22 PM · #6
Originally posted by maxj:
4) mailto function like; e-mail
me.

This is not really recommend from a design standpoint, as it relies on the browser's default email browser being properly setup as the actual email client used by the person visiting the site. Otherwise, it defaults to Outlook Express or Outlook. Also since many people use web-based email, it's just not a good idea.

As for your requests, Rooster:
1) This can be done with databases, flat text files (assuming read/write access on the web server), or external hosting (and probably 20 other methods). I personally would never consider anything other than a relational database for something like membership module, which will require storing encrypted member information (passwords, personal info, etc.)

2)I would actually use a third party message system like phpBB as was recommended. It's just too much effort for something that has been developed 2000 times by developers with much more time than you.

3)Paypal is the fastest and most doable option. Another is to set up a merchant account and use a 3rd party Credit card validation service from the likes of Verisign. I would go with Paypal, as it lends a more "help me survive" feel than a slick authenticated, secure form.

4)As noted above, the email link option is not a wise one. It's better to use PHP, ASP, ASP.NET or equivalent to tap into a mail service for directly sending email from posted form data.

Goto //www.w3schools.com and //www.webreference.com for details on how to get started with this stuff. In general, stay away from WYSIWYG editors such as Dreamweaver and Frontpage for all but the most simplistic sites. And never, I repeat, never use MS Word for coding up web pages...but you knew that already.

Message edited by author 2005-01-04 19:37:59.
 01/04/2005 07:46:21 PM · #7
Originally posted by bledford:
...In general, stay away from WYSIWYG editors such as Dreamweaver and Frontpage for all but the most simplistic sites...


I don't know how much experience you have with Dreamweaver, but it is a rather powerful tool that can create a lot more than "the most simplistic sites".
01/04/2005 07:51:04 PM · #8
Originally posted by cbeller:
I don't know how much experience you have with Dreamweaver, but it is a rather powerful tool that can create a lot more than "the most simplistic sites".

Quite a bit in my early days (1998-2001). I just hate, I mean, hate the way it codes Javascript mouseovers. We are talking about a maintenance nightmare. If you're convinced you'll never touch the code again, it's not a bad tool. It's also useful for quick mockups and documentation, but I would never code with it. Give me Notepad and good XHTML/DHTML 1000 page reference any day.
 01/04/2005 08:04:49 PM · #9
I used the following free set up to create an awesome board.
You can set up memberships and all kinds of stuff.

The PDF manual is an absolute must read.
YABB Forum

By the way the link to my use of this code is below:
My BB
 01/04/2005 08:22:21 PM · #10
I have a webhost that includes mysql/php. I use phpbb for a message board and photokorn for a photo gallery. You can find a php script for an email form at hotscripts.com. You can check out what I've done at //www.bryanbrazil.com
 01/04/2005 08:25:18 PM · #11
If you really want to learn it, you ought to learn to create a web site, any web site, with a text editor before getting into various tools.

Everything you mentioned is doable with the simplest account at any web hosting site.
 01/04/2005 08:25:25 PM · #12
Originally posted by bledford:
I just hate, I mean, hate the way it codes Javascript mouseovers. We are talking about a maintenance nightmare. If you're convinced you'll never touch the code again, it's not a bad tool. It's also useful for quick mockups and documentation, but I would never code with it. Give me Notepad and good XHTML/DHTML 1000 page reference any day.


I have to agree with cbeller...Dreamweaver is fun, but the code is EXTREMELY bloated and challenging to modify if you need to.

oops...edited, quote was by bledford, not cbeller

Message edited by author 2005-01-04 21:04:00.
 01/04/2005 08:47:24 PM · #13
from my limited web building experience, SciTE is a great text editor. has some very neat features
 01/04/2005 08:59:50 PM · #14
Originally posted by glad2badad:
Originally posted by cbeller:
I just hate, I mean, hate the way it codes Javascript mouseovers. We are talking about a maintenance nightmare. If you're convinced you'll never touch the code again, it's not a bad tool. It's also useful for quick mockups and documentation, but I would never code with it. Give me Notepad and good XHTML/DHTML 1000 page reference any day.


I have to agree with cbeller...Dreamweaver is fun, but the code is EXTREMELY bloated and challenging to modify if you need to.


Actually that was bledford that made that comment. I have been using Dreamweaver for years and find it to be a fine tool, however I first learned to code in Notepad. :)

Now Frontpage on the other hand, that is some nasty stuff. :)
 01/04/2005 09:06:06 PM · #15
Originally posted by cbeller:
Actually that was bledford that made that comment. I have been using Dreamweaver for years and find it to be a fine tool, however I first learned to code in Notepad. :)

Now Frontpage on the other hand, that is some nasty stuff. :)


Yikes! My bad...and Notepad is STILL a fine editor. :-)
 01/04/2005 09:09:35 PM · #16
Originally posted by glad2badad:

Yikes! My bad...and Notepad is STILL a fine editor. :-)


I'm too lazy. :)

\me is done and sorry for taking over Rooster's thread, although we kept it at the top, for her.
01/04/2005 10:27:46 PM · #17
Outlook is evil

Araneae is a way cool free text editor

PHP Nuke is an easy Open Source Portal to set up and work with (php/mysql).

Unfortunately I ended up with an .ASP Service Provider...Fortunately I do .ASP/MySql

Andy
 01/04/2005 11:09:22 PM · #18
If you haven't already made a firm decision on your webhosting, etc., I highly recommend that you at least check out Site Build It, and see if they have what you need.

I have several sites at godaddy, but will be discontinuing them soon, as I now have an SBI site, and plan on purchasing 2 more tomorrow. It is awesome, with all the tools built into it, SO easy to build a site, and absolutely the best customer service on the planet. The price is very low, and INCLUDES the cost of your domain name.

Message edited by author 2005-01-04 23:17:07.
 01/05/2005 12:50:40 AM · #19

Not true - for some things Rooster wants to do requires the ability to run scripts on the server, be it CGI, perl, ASP or server side includes. Not many places allow that, at least not for cheap. ASP is becoming more common, but then you are using frontpage.
Originally posted by yurasocolov:

If you really want to learn it, you ought to learn to create a web site, any web site, with a text editor before getting into various tools.

Good Idea there!
Rooster
If you have a spare PC and a constant net connection (cable or dsl), you can use no-ip.com to keep a web address pointed at your computer even if the IP address changes. You can get BB and forums like DPC as freeware and run them under XP.
//www.webwizguide.info/web_wiz_forums/default.asp
and here it is running a friend's PC, using no-ip to get there
//mynmra.servehttp.com/default.asp

GoDaddy.com will sell you a name.com etc cheap and it can be forwarded to wherever.
//www.keystonedivision.org
This is hosted on my service provider's free space, 'wrttien' in an old old copy of NetObjects Fusion.

To take money yourself you need a Secure Server - a seperate directory that those secure pages are setup under. Most everybody will charge you extra for that. Paypal is the way to go here.

My site is simple, and kept 99% on NetObjects. One day i may get the urge to learn somthing more modern, but this works for me for now. I agree with the other commetns here on how nasty these WYSIWYG programs are in what they wirte. Yuk. Running it off of an SQL server is the way to go these days. But not the simplest.
 01/05/2005 06:40:36 PM · #20
wow! thanks guys!
Lots of info here.
I have created web sites before but using frontpage & dreamweaver. Most of the sites i developed are really basic stuff & most are from cyberpixels which I am coming to undertand does not give you all tht much for your buck. I looked into phpbb but am not entirely sure how it works. I guess I can link it to a page or something, right?
what other rpograms are good & easy to learn that would be ideal for what I am trying to do?
thanks so much everyone! Yet another reason why DPC RAWKS!
 01/06/2005 03:10:25 PM · #21
Originally posted by awpollard:
Outlook is evil

Araneae is a way cool free text editor

PHP Nuke is an easy Open Source Portal to set up and work with (php/mysql).

Unfortunately I ended up with an .ASP Service Provider...Fortunately I do .ASP/MySql

Andy


Hey,
does the test editor you suggested above allow you to work visually instead of with code? Can anyone suggested others that might be useful & is free or cheap?
thanks!
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