Overview: PHP 4: Introduction explores all of the major elements of PHP programming. With PHP, you can build dynamic, data-driven Web sites that use a variety of databases. Easy-to-understand code samples are used to demonstrate the many elements and techniques used in PHP programming.

Prerequisites: To ensure your success, we recommend you first take the following Element K courses or have equivalent knowledge:

· HTML Programming: Level 1

· HTML Programming: Level 2

· Introduction to Programming

· SQL Fundamentals of Querying

Delivery Method: Instructor-led, group-paced, classroom-delivery learning model with structured hands-on and minds-on activities.

Benefits: After completing this course you will be able to immediately use PHP to create impressive Web sites.

Target student: PHP 4: Introduction is designed for the student who is well versed in HTML, and who has had at least some experience with scripting languages and SQL. This is a serious programming course—it is not intended for students who have created Web sites only with a WYSIWYG editor (for example, MS FrontPage) and have never gotten into HTML coding by hand, let alone scripting or working with SQL databases.

Hardware/Software Requirements: You will need:

· A 133 MHz or faster Pentium-based PC.

· 32 MB of RAM (64 MB recommended).

· 75 MB or more of hard disk space.

· Monitor capable of displaying 800 x 600 pixels at 256 colors or more.

· Microsoft Windows 98. PHP requires a different configuration depending on the version of Windows you are using. This course is designed for Windows 98 and has not been tested using other Windows operating systems.

· Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher.

· PHP version 4.0.4 (included on course data files CD).

· MySQL version 3.23.35a (included on course data files CD).

· Microsoft Personal Web Server 4.0.

· A text editor; for example, Notepad.

Lesson objectives help students become comfortable with the course, and also provide a means to evaluate learning. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

· Describe what PHP is and the advantages to creating Web sites with PHP.

· Use variables, arrays, and functions in PHP scripts.

· Include other files in PHP scripts and manipulate files and directories.

· Process forms and validate their information.

· Incorporate hidden form fields, cookies, and session variables in PHP scripts.

· Add, update, and delete records in a database using PHP.

Topic 1A: What is PHP?

Task 1A-1: Understanding PHP

Topic 1B: Basic Syntax of PHP

Task 1B-1: Writing Your First PHP Script

Task 1B-2: Incorporating HTML in PHP Scripts

Task 1B-3: Commenting Your PHP Code

Topic 2A: Using Variables

Task 2A-1: Experimenting with Variables

Topic 2B: Working With Arrays

Task 2B-1: Creating an Associative Array

Topic 2C: Using Functions

Task 2C-1: Exploring Functions

Topic 3A: Including Files

Task 3A-1: Writing the Include Files

Topic 3B: File Access

Task 3B-1: Creating a Hit Counter

Task 3B-2: Creating a Directory Navigation Script

Topic 4A: Processing Forms

Task 4A-1: Using Arrays to Process Form Information

Topic 4B: Form Validation

Task 4B-1: Validating Form Data

Task 4B-2: Using the HTMLSpecialChars Function

Topic 4C: E-Mailing Form Data

Task 4C-1: Adding E-Mail Functionality

Topic 5A: Hidden Form Fields

Task 5A-1: Using Hidden Form Fields

Topic 5B: Cookies

Task 5B-1: Setting a Cookie

Topic 5C: Sessions

Task 5C-1: Setting Session Variables

Topic 6A: Interacting With Databases

Task 6A-1: Connecting to the MySQL Server

Task 6A-2: Retrieving Data

Topic 6B: Modifying Database Records Using PHP

Task 6B-1: Adding a Record

Task 6B-2: Updating a Record in the Database