PHP editors.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mark T
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Mark T

Mark T

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I've just had a site created for my business which uses php. I've been trying to learn php but I'm struggling with certain code. I've read many tutorials (including those on GTP). What I really need is a php editor which shows me a preview of changes while I'm working on it.

I know there are some members here with a vast knowledge of php who may be able to help me or give some extra advice on working with php.

Thanks in advance.
 
Well, it doesn't really work like that, because PHP uses the state of things when the page is loaded, rather than when it was created.

If you're having specific difficulties with code, by all means post up code samples and we can see what we can do about helping.
 
GilesGuthrie
Well, it doesn't really work like that, because PHP uses the state of things when the page is loaded, rather than when it was created.

If you're having specific difficulties with code, by all means post up code samples and we can see what we can do about helping.
Click to expand...

I see. I don't have much experience with .php as I've always used Dreamweaver for creating my site. Now I have handed it over to a company for hosting and handling payments through my site.

I have started to learn php as I thought it would make sense to know what the code meant on my site. The site that the company has designed for me is pretty basic so I need to customise it. I've been doing it through Dreamweaver but people have warned me that Dreamweaver can sometimes "check" the code and make unnecessary adjustments.

I'm really looking for the easiest way to edit my site without having to go to in depth with php coding.
 
I use Dreamweaver. And the only thing I find with it is that it will sometimes move HTML markup around, but will leave PHP code blocks in tact. If you're embedding code in form tags, or "between" bits of tables, it can sometimes mess that about if you subsequently change the layout using the Design view.

Two examples of what I mean are:
PHP: 
<td>My table cell data</td>
<?php // my piece of code that does something ?>
<td>My next piece of table cell data</td>
PHP: 
<input type="text" name="my_form_field" value="<?php // my piece of code that does something?>" />

Actually the input type "text" isn't much to worry about, it's the "select" and "textarea" ones that DW can mess with.

DW does help you with PHP, by doing code colouring, to help you see the various types of statements and operators in PHP, but otherwise its support is "fledgling" at best, I would say. The "Code View" is your friend.

Oh, and don't even think about using the built-in code functions. They're very laboured, and not terribly flexible.
 
I think I'll carry on with Dreamweaver for the moment as I have used it for so long and if you use it, it's good enough for me.

Guess it's back to the php tutorials. I think Acid X's sticky tutorial page is also down at the moment.
 
I learned from Luke Welling & Laura Thomson's book, title is "PHP and MySQL Web Development". It's very good. Also, the functions list reference at www.php.net is very useful.
 

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