From Book News, Inc.
Designed for developers, this guide and reference covers the key concepts of PHP and explains the features of PHP version 4.04. Beginning with a basic overview, it moves on to cover syntax, testing scripts, working with variables, and creating Web applications. Along the way, sample scripts and projects illustrate major points. Ullman is a PHP programmer and Web designer.Copyright © 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR


Book Description
Need to learn PHP fast? Try a Visual QuickStart! Takes an easy, visual approach to teaching PHP scripting, using pictures to guide you through the language and show you what to do. Works like a reference book--you look up what you need and then get straight to work. No long-winded passes--concise, straightforward commentary explains what you need to know. Companion Web site contains complete source code for examples in the book, online resources, updates, and more. Affordable--perhaps the least expensive PHP book you'll find! PHP: VQS Companion Web Site Chapter 1: Getting Started With PHP Basic Syntax Sending Data to the Browser Testing Your Script Sending Text to the Browser Sending HTML to the Browser Using White Space in PHP (and HTML) Adding Comments to Your Scripts Chapter 2: Variables What are Variables? Variable Syntax Types of Variables Assigning Values to Variables Predefined Variables Chapter 3: HTML Forms and PHP Creating a Simple Form Using Get or Post Receiving Data from a Form in PHP Inputting Data Manually Chapter 4: Using Numbers Adding, Subtracting, Multiplying, and Dividing Formatting Numbers Incrementing and Decrementing a Number Using Multiple Operators Using Built-in Mathematical Functions Chapter 5: Using Strings Trimming Strings Connecting Strings (Concatenation) Encoding and Decoding Strings Encrypting and Decrypting Strings Pulling Out Parts from a String Chapter 6: Control Structures The If Conditional More Operators Using Else Using Elseif The Switch Conditional The While Loop The For Loop Chapter 7: Using Arrays Creating an Array Adding Items to an Array Accessing Array Elements Sorting Arrays Transforming Between Strings and Arrays Creating an Array from a Form Creating Multidimensional Arrays Chapter 8: Regular Expressions What are Regular Expressions? Defining a Simple Pattern Matching Patterns Defining More Complicated Patterns Matching and Replacing Patterns Chapter 9: Creating Functions Creating and Using Simple Functions Creating and Calling Functions that Take Arguments Creating and Using Functions that Return a Value Variables and Functions Chapter 10: Files and Directories File Permissions Writing to Files Reading from Files Directories Handling File Uploads Renaming and Deleting Files and Directories Chapter 11: Databases Connecting to and Creating a Database Creating a Table Sending Data to a Database Retrieving Data from a Database Chapter 12: Cookies Creating and Reading from Cookies Adding Parameters to a Cookie Deleting a Cookie Chapter 13: Creating Web Applications Using include and require Determining the Date and Time Using http Headers Sending Email Chapter 14: Debugging Common Errors Error Reporting and Logging Debugging Detective Work Using the Die Statement Appendix A: Installation and Configuration Installing on a Linux Server Installing on a Windows 2000 Server Configuration Appendix B: Security Cryptography and SSL Writing Secure PHP Security Resources Appendix C: PHP Resources The PHP Manual Web Sites and Newsgroups Database Resources Advanced Topics Tables


Book Info
Beginner to intermediate level self-study guide on PHP for the World Wide Web. Takes a visual approach, offering readers step-by-step instructions with illustrations and screen shots to clarify procedures. Includes a companion Web site which features the code for the text, updates, and online resources. Covers PHP versions 3 and 4. Softcover.


From the Author
This book is intended for the beginner PHP programmer--those with little or no programming experience but basic Web development know-how. It teaches the aspects of PHP you'll need to understand today in order to have your dynamic Web application up and running tomorrow. All the examples in the book are real-world scripts which you can incorporate into your Web sites (no demonstrations of things you'll never need or long-winded explanations for techniques you may or may not ever use). The book covers the very fundamentals of PHP programming, including: regular expressions, connecting to a database, sending e-mails, and more. Certain topics (such as Object Oriented Programming and sessions) aren't covered but references will take you to where you can learn more, should you feel that's necessary. The text is well supported by its accompanying Web site where you'll find: all the scripts up-to-date and downloadable; a listing of any corrections; over 100 links to different PHP-related topics; latest news; and more! The author currently answers every email he receives and attempts to support the readers as much as possible. PHP for the World Wide Web: Visual QuickStart guide aims to be the best beginner's guide to PHP in terms of practical knowledge, clear demonstrations, author support, and price!


About the Author
Larry E. Ullman, an experienced PHP programmer, is currently Lead Programmer at Com-Insights, a digital media services provider. He lives in State College, Pennsylvania.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Unlike those other professional-level books on open-source scripting, PHP for the World Wide Web: Visual QuickStart Guide isn't just for professional programmers--it's written for the rest of us with a passing familiarity with HTML.

This visual, task-based guide gets users up and running with the basics of PHP, starting with basic syntax, testing scripts, working with variables, creating Web applications, and more. Throughout the book, sample scripts and projects show the reader just what they need to know, and a companion Web site offers every script available for downloading.

FROM THE CRITICS

Booknews