[Ch-1] General discussion of the structure and purpose of PHP. By patching XAMPP, I was able to get a running localhost on my flashdrive. Unresolved: How to write the file declaration as the book requests but our instructor said to just go with NETBEANS default declaration. He said to stick with Internet Explorer, which I have but my files work on all 4 of my browsers.
[Ch-2] Building a basic function and passing data to and from. Decision making with IF, passing multiple parameters, using RETURN, ELSE, SWITCH, and basic loops. WHILE, DO..WHILE, FOR & FOREACH. Scope was covered along with a very brief and superficial touch on INCLUDE and REQUIRE_ONCE. My only critique would be that the last RollDice7 was very confusing as instructed by the book. My previous experience with PHP pulled me through. I do like that I can execute my code right from the flash drive.
[Ch-3] Using strings, concatenating strings, and formatting strings. I struggled a bit at first but all problems were syntax errors on my part. Exercise examples are short and easy so typing and debugging goes fairly quick. Looks like a million functions to cover. I didn't link WordPlay-1 & 2 because they won't run on this GoDaddy server. It is running PHP-5.2 and some of the (str) functions are 5.3 features. They run fine on my localhost (php-5.4). The review questions were difficult as was the material of this chapter.
[Ch-4] Introduced the include() statements and built a website template from which to bring in each page from a navigation bar. Much different approach than the Larry Ullman version from my other books. A type error on page 208 stalled me for awhile but solving it gave me the confidence to modify the WebTemplate.php to work better in all browsers.
[Ch-5] Chapter 5 was extremely challenging in that there was script after script that was revised to demonstrate each function. I have started to renumber titles to preserve the examples on how to use each function.
[Ch-6] Chapter 6 made 5 look like child's play. The constant revision made renumbering a nightmare considering there was interaction between two-files. Book eratica shows errors in the book and I can't follow the corrected version either and I am spending immense time trying to get a working version. I have e-mailed my instructor for help. 6.1-MessageBoard1, 6.2-PostMessage1(view), 6.3-PostMessage2..6.3-delete first, 6.4-delete last, 6.5 delete this, 6.6..7..8-MessageBoard3..6-add isset(), 7-replace array_splice() with unset(), 8-remove duplicate,MessageBoard4..6.9 (introduce an associative array), 6.10 ver.5 book errors made me pull my hair out but this is my version, 6.11-12 added sort and reverse sort. Database intersects and combines were introduced, multidimension arrays and forms also.
[Ch-7] Chapter 7 introduced MySQL. I have already been introduced to it so I found it a good review. My new version of XAMPP has no root password and I nned to resolve this so I can log in as various users to master privilege setting. I am excited to learn the import/export procedures.
[Ch-8] Chapter 8 connects PHP with MySQL. The book is using mysql_ functions where I am familiar with mysqli_functions. So far I can make examples work on my flashdrive server and my godaddy web site (with minor adjustments). Since creating a database via PHP (remotely) is not allowed on my Godaddy server. I have chosen not to put these files on my website. I had a major break through as I have managed to grant permissions and perform all of Chapter-8 tasks on my local server. Newsletter Subscriptions (3-files) and a GuestBook system (3-files).
[Ch-9] State information. (1)-create a database with 4-tables in MySQL, (2)-create a register/login page ... Since the examples in this book are not secure in structure, I will not put them on line either.
[Ch-10] (not assigned but I will do it.)