Server, Database &Website...where do I start..Please hel

[Akeez]

Hi, Iv been looking through this forum to try and find some information, but it appears i am the only dumbass in the world I am new to this site and new to database driven websites.

I am trying to set up a website that uses a database to store images which can be called to the page when a search is done.
For example on an Estate Agents web site.

But I don't know where to start, I have knowledge of HTML and have done some basic coding before, I do tend to pick it up quite quickly. But i just don't know where to find the information. I have read many tutorials, but they don't seem to be what I am looking for.

Am i able to set the site and database up on my own computer (windows) to check it works fine before uploading it?
Do I have to download the apache server to run it all?
What is the best language to code it in, PHP, ASP??
Am I best to sign up to a host and do it all online?
Do i just upload the data straight on the the database with the host?

Sorry about so many questions, its just i seem to be told different things in every different tutorial i find.

Also if you think there is anything else i need to know please feel free to tell me.

Once again thank you for your help, i hope this hasn't bored you.

 

[u2]

well if you want to test it on your pc first (which for me is the best way because you have all the time you need to make fast changes as many time as you want to) you'll have to download apache server. go here www.apache.org download and install the latest version. then download and install PHP (or ASP) and install it as well. then (after you make sure that everything is setup propertly) download and install www.MySQL.com and MySQL Administator. You can also download and install in your apache htdcs www.PHPmyAdmin.net to manage your databases/tables from there easily. after you do all these you are ready to start working on your website. after you finish it start lookin for host that provides everything you need

as for the images try looking some tutorials about how to upload them. then you can store the exact path in the database and call it for each photo you want

hope i help

 

[Akeez]

Thank you very much!!! Ill give it all a go now!

I appreciate the response.

 

[brain]

You can store images in a mySQL database. Use the LONGBLOB field type to store them. There's advantages and disadvantages to each way though. Uploading the pic and then storing the reference url in a database is probably easier, but if you're trying to control how your images are displayed, you're going to have a tough go of it. If you store the images in your database you can control exactly how they appear as it will have to be a server side call to the database to view them.

 

[Akeez]

Thanks for the help!! Ill give it ago as soon as i get apache and php installed correctly.

Thanks alot, im so glad i found this site, ive been reading tutorials for weeks and got nowhere! They all seem to tell me something different!

 

[realtechtalk]

Hi, Iv been looking through this forum to try and find some information, but it appears i am the only dumbass in the world I am new to this site and new to database driven websites.

I am trying to set up a website that uses a database to store images which can be called to the page when a search is done.
For example on an Estate Agents web site.

But I don't know where to start, I have knowledge of HTML and have done some basic coding before, I do tend to pick it up quite quickly. But i just don't know where to find the information. I have read many tutorials, but they don't seem to be what I am looking for.

Am i able to set the site and database up on my own computer (windows) to check it works fine before uploading it?
Do I have to download the apache server to run it all?
What is the best language to code it in, PHP, ASP??
Am I best to sign up to a host and do it all online?
Do i just upload the data straight on the the database with the host?

Sorry about so many questions, its just i seem to be told different things in every different tutorial i find.

Also if you think there is anything else i need to know please feel free to tell me.

Once again thank you for your help, i hope this hasn't bored you.

Hi Akeez,

First of all don't feel alone because you're not, many people struggle when they start with all of this and it can be quite overwhelming but because you learn quickly you shouldn't have too much trouble.

When said Estate Agent did you mean Real Estate Agent? Since you are just starting out and learning you have a few options, if this is urgent and money is on the line you can hire a web developer. If you have the time to learn on your own you can choose to buy web hosting and the web server, PHP/ASP, MySQL will be setup for you.

Or if this is for learning only you can install Apache, PHP and MySQL on your windows computer and test from there. It is actually fairly easy to do.

You cannot just upload data to a database with creating the database itself, a username/password and most importantly the table structure.

What you might consider trying is something like phpGallery, an installable PHP application that uses MySQL and then you wouldn't need to learn any coding.

Best wishes for your new site and learning