GETTING READY TO WORK WITH PHP version of (Web host)
GETTING READY TO WORK WITH PHP version of PHP is running on your server. You need a minimum of 4.3.1 to use the code in this book. If you get a message that says something like Parse error, it means PHP is supported, but that you have made a mistake in typing the file. Use the download version instead. If you just see the original code, it means PHP is not supported. Hosting companies have been incredibly slow to update from PHP 4, frequently citing lack of demand. If your server is still running PHP 4, contact your host and tell them you want PHP 5 (or PHP 6 if that s the current version by the time you read this). Although you can do a lot of really cool things with PHP 4, the newer versions are faster, have more fea tures, and are more secure. If your host refuses to upgrade, it may be time to move to a new one. Equally, if you saw the raw code, you need to move to a new server. Try to find one that offers a minimum of PHP 5. Choosing a good script editor for PHP Although PHP isn t difficult to learn, if there s a mistake in your code, your page will prob ably never make it as far as the browser, and all you ll see is an error message. So, although you can write PHP in Notepad or TextEdit, you re much better off with a script editor that has at least the first three of the following features: Line numbering: Most good script editors allow you to toggle on and off the dis play of line numbers. Being able to find a specific line quickly makes troubleshoot ing a lot simpler. A balance braces feature: PHP uses parentheses (()), square brackets ([]), and curly braces ({}), which must always be in matching pairs. It s easy to forget to close a pair. All good script editors have a feature that finds the matching paren thesis, bracket, or brace. PHP syntax coloring: Some script editors highlight code in different colors. If your code is in an unexpected color, it s a sure sign that you ve made a typing mistake. PHP code hints: This is mainly of interest to more advanced users, but some editors automatically display tooltips with reminders of how a particular piece of code works. The following section describes some of the script editors you might like to consider. Dreamweaver: Visual display of PHP output My personal choice for writing PHP code, Dreamweaver (www.adobe.com/products/ dreamweaver/), has all of the features just listed. It also has the advantage of strong sup port for CSS and valid XHTML, making it an ideal editor for designers who want to add interactive elements to their web pages. As Figure 2-1 shows, Dreamweaver is capable of
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