Programming Course
Databases and Dynamic Web Design

Learn the Web technology that powers a million ecommerce sites, enabling dynamic, interactive tools and applications.

In this hands-on 6-lesson course, you'll discover how to create dynamic Web sites using PHP and the MySQL database server. You'll learn the basic language syntax of PHP, how to design and administer a database as part of a relational database system, set up mailing lists, build discussion forums, create a storefront, and even build a working shopping cart.

No advanced Web technology background is required for this course—just a basic working knowledge of HTML, a Web hosting account, and some interest in writing neat code! Learning from an industry-leading PHP expert, you'll build practical skills with hands-on projects.

The Web is dynamic—shouldn't your sites be dynamic too?

Instructor: Lynn Kyle is an accomplished Web developer and author ... get bio

Course Developer: Julie Meloni is the technical director of i2i Interactive ... get bio

Form PHP block statements and create basic PHP documents that incorporate HTML.

Employ proper PHP syntax, identify key PHP code elements, and troubleshoot basic code errors.

Code variables and use eight different PHP variable types to create templates for operations, using various operator types to manipulate stored data.

Develop a working, interactive HTML form processed by a PHP script.

Identify key elements of a database and how they can be configured for maximum efficiency.

Issue create, insert, select, and delete queries that modify a MySQL database.

Connect to and modify a MySQL database using PHP code.

Create a working poll form using PHP and MySQL to record and return data.

Create a mailing list that includes MySQL storage of addresses and a PHP/HTML form for joining the list.

Develop a working discussion area that includes a registration form, restriction controls, and a visual display for the various elements of the discussion area.

Create a basic database administration page that allows a non-technical user to add, edit, and delete database records.

Develop a basic e-commerce Web site that includes dynamically generated pages and a complete shopping cart system with checkout, shipping, and email confirmation processes.

Outline:

LESSON 1 PHP Language Basics Lesson One kicks off with a quick check that your hosting solution is appropriate for this course. Then you're off to the races, learning basics of writing PHP scripts and how they interact with HTML. Concepts discussed include block statements, variables, operators, flow control, and form input. In the first project, you'll test your PHP knowledge so far then build a dynamic form in PHP.

LESSON 2 Database Fundamentals Databases are the foundation of dynamic Web content—you couldn't conduct an Amazon search without one. Lesson Two explores how to design and create a relational database with MySQL. It's easier than you might think. You'll start by looking at such foundation database elements as tables, fields, and records and how they relate to each other. The concepts of normalization will be discussed to make sure your database is optimized. Finally, you'll learn the nuts and bolts of database interactions using MySQL (create, insert, select, rinse, repeat...) and how MySQL interacts with PHP. In the second project, you'll apply these skills by developing a real live Web poll that reports to a database.

LESSON 3 Using Mail Got mail? Lesson Three explores how to use to PHP to harness the power of your mail server. You'll learn how to access a mail server and script basic mail functions such as headers, body, and mail() function in PHP. Then you'll learn how to set up mailing lists for site visitors, enabling them to subscribe/unsubscribe to services at your site, and allowing you to manage this list to email newsletters to your target customers. In the exercise, you'll create a data schema for a mailing list and send a formatted newsletter to all subscribers.

LESSON 4 Discussion Areas PHP and MySQL can easily create discussion forums, a popular venue for Web interactivity. Lesson Four begins with exploration of the basic database elements that form the foundation of discussion boards. You'll learn how to create user registration fields and forms and build input forms and scripts that allow your board users to post in real-time. User management tools and auto-notification scripts are also discussed as ways of creating a more usable user interface. In the exercise, you'll create a fully functional board that other students can post to.

LESSON 5 Online Storefront: Display Ready to hang out your shingle? Lesson Five focuses squarely on how to create a working storefront storefront using PHP and MySQL. You'll explore the basic elements of the online storefront—departments and items—and learn how to define such catalog items as description, image, price, and extras. You'll learn how to design your database, addressing the important issues of table hierarchy and table relationships. Finally, you'll learn how to test and troubleshoot the user's browsing experience, as they look at categories, items, and details. In the exercise, you'll create an online storefront of your choice, with everything functional except the shopping cart.

LESSON 6 Online Storefront: Commerce Lesson Six addresses a critical area for any e-commerce designer: shopping cart, checkout, and payment. You'll learn how to create a shopping cart with typical functionality: unique to user, carried from page to page, allowing the capability to add and remove items. You'll explore how to script the different steps in a user's checkout process: security messages, address collection, additional or tax and postage, total charge, and sale confirmation. Finally, different ways to accomodate foundation payment options and processes are discussed. In the final exercise, you'll create a working shopping cart (minus payment options) and you're ready for the big bad world.