PHP and Access databases

**Luke Ross** · Jul 16 '05, 10:41 PM

Re: PHP and Access databases

Hi,

Jo wrote:[color=blue]
> So, my main question is: can I use Access and PHP together? And, if
> I can, could anyone recommend a good tutorial/book I can follow to get
> me started?[/color]

I've never used the two together, but it shouldn't be a problem using
ODBC. Windows PHP claims to have ODBC built in so it should be easy
enough - the functions are documented on
http://uk.php.net/odbc . I'm not aware of any tutorials about this but
a quick google reveals that a fair number of people have tried this combo.

Luke

**Andreas Paasch** · Jul 16 '05, 10:41 PM

Re: PHP and Access databases

Jo wrote:
[color=blue]
> Hello
>
> I am a web designer who is slowly trying to learn more about web
> development. I have a client who would like to drive their website
> using a database so I am now in the perfect situation to move my
> skills forward.
>
> I know a little about databases or the scripting languages that
> connect them to web pages (is that the right terminology?!) but I am
> determined to improve my skills in this area.
>
> However, I have a few constraints:
>
> The little that I know about databases is centered around Access so I
> would prefer to use that if I can. I have played with MySQL but seeing
> as I am a novice, I find it a little tricky to work with.
>
> Also, all my clients use unix servers so, after a little research, I
> have come to the conclusion that PHP is my only option - is this the
> correct assumption?
>
> So, my main question is: can I use Access and PHP together? And, if
> I can, could anyone recommend a good tutorial/book I can follow to get
> me started?
>
> Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.
>
> Jo[/color]

Having used access a long time back, I know for sure that you can read the
SQL queries perfectly.
Knowing this I surely recommend you look into PHP and MySQL as database.
It's not as difficult at you might think, just take you words out of your
head, contruct them logical and then write your SQL statements.

/Andreas

--
Registeret Linux user #292411

**Brian McGarvie** · Jul 16 '05, 10:41 PM

Re: PHP and Access databases

> The little that I know about databases is centered around Access so I[color=blue]
> would prefer to use that if I can. I have played with MySQL but seeing
> as I am a novice, I find it a little tricky to work with.[/color]

There are a few decent front ends, I would reccomend you look into these in
the long-run it'll be more beneficial. Access is crap :)
[color=blue]
> Also, all my clients use unix servers so, after a little research, I
> have come to the conclusion that PHP is my only option - is this the
> correct assumption?[/color]

No yuhave others but PHP is the better out of them neway... I have used
Could Fusion, ASP etc but always go back/convert ppl to PHP!
[color=blue]
> So, my main question is: can I use Access and PHP together? And, if
> I can, could anyone recommend a good tutorial/book I can follow to get
> me started?[/color]

However if you are constrained to Access PHP will work with it thru ODBC as
somone has suggested... I have done this but the webservers was on a windows
machine running Apache/PHP and just set up system DSN to the access DB...
watch oput for it locking itself tho! - yet another reason to push yourself
to either MySQL or postgres (this should have a few GUI's too).

For mysql gui's http://www.mysql.com/downloads/index.html look under
Graphical clients and also:

MySQL Front was good

404 Not Found

http://mysqlfront.venturemedia.de/index.php?act=ST&f=2&t=328&s=0c0c53e5f9186f6a9ba6a4fbf290d6b6

And also there is a few web-based interfaces sush as phpMyAdmin which I
reccomend too.

**Geoff Berrow** · Jul 16 '05, 10:41 PM

Re: PHP and Access databases

Message-ID: <14f95d88.03070 70724.24cb5f0@p osting.google.c om> from Jo
contained the following:
[color=blue]
>The little that I know about databases is centered around Access so I
>would prefer to use that if I can. I have played with MySQL but seeing
>as I am a novice, I find it a little tricky to work with.[/color]

Most of Access is front end and reporting. Since you will probably be
creating that yourself on the page then you are left with the basic RDBMS.
You need to learn some SQL for queries but once you have and once you have
one programmed you can often use the same query in many different ways.

I have found some aspects of MySql to be much easier than using Access to
be honest. And it is much more satisfying.

How complex is your database?

--
Geoff Berrow
It's only Usenet, no one dies.
My opinions, not the committee's, mine.
Simple RFDs http://www.ckdog.co.uk/rfdmaker/

**Bruno Desthuilliers** · Jul 16 '05, 10:41 PM

Re: PHP and Access databases

Jo wrote:[color=blue]
> Hello
>
> I am a web designer who is slowly trying to learn more about web
> development. I have a client who would like to drive their website
> using a database so I am now in the perfect situation to move my
> skills forward.
>
> I know a little about databases or the scripting languages that
> connect them to web pages (is that the right terminology?!) but I am
> determined to improve my skills in this area.
>
> However, I have a few constraints:
>
> The little that I know about databases is centered around Access so I
> would prefer to use that if I can. I have played with MySQL but seeing
> as I am a novice, I find it a little tricky to work with.[/color]

If you played with Access, I suppose you at least know some bits of SQL.
If not, nothing prevent you from looking at the SQL code outputed py the
QBE. Even if it may have some pitfalls, SQL is quite straightforward for
usual requests.

MySQL is pretty simple to use, is a real database server, and is quite
fast for read access (no pun). No mystery why it's the de facto standard
for web development.

[color=blue]
> Also, all my clients use unix servers so, after a little research, I
> have come to the conclusion that PHP is my only option - is this the
> correct assumption?[/color]

No, you may use Java, Python, Perl etc... And probably even ASP (yuck),
but in your case, PHP is probably (with a very high probability) the
best choice.

BTW, if your clients use unix servers, definitively forget about Access,
<troll>and step into the real OS world</troll>.

Seriously, why would you get stuck with a stupid proprietary
non-standard indexed-file-based so called DBMS, when you can get a good
fast standard SQL server ?-)

[color=blue]
> So, my main question is: can I use Access and PHP together?[/color]

I guess you could, but why would you ? I strongly advise you not to do
this. Take some time to install and learn MySQL, and go for it.

There are PHP/Apache/MySQL packages that are easy to install, like
EasyPhp (someone else might tell you more about this...).

Bruno

**brian** · Jul 16 '05, 10:41 PM

Re: PHP and Access databases

joanne.hall@bti nternet.com idiotically stated:
[color=blue]
> Hello
>
> I am a web designer who is slowly trying to learn more about web
> development. I have a client who would like to drive their website
> using a database so I am now in the perfect situation to move my
> skills forward.[/color]

goto www.devshed.com and read their php/mysql tutorials. they basically
walk you through setting up, designing, maintaining, and using a php-mysql
driven dynamic website. you can then really design any kind of setup you
want - account managers, content managers, blogging tools, really anything
your heart desires.

--
brian ... brian@cc

**David Walker** · Jul 16 '05, 10:41 PM

Re: PHP and Access databases

> The little that I know about databases is centered around Access so I[color=blue]
> would prefer to use that if I can. I have played with MySQL but seeing
> as I am a novice, I find it a little tricky to work with.[/color]

From PHP mySQL is about the easiest you can get. Support is built in so
connecting and executing the queries is very easy. Its been years since I
used Access and can't even remember how it's queried, but SQL syntax is
really very simple, and reading the documentation for PHP and mySQL will
give you a great insight into using it. The PHP documentation will give you
the commands you need to connect to the database, and the mySQL docs have a
good section on the SQL itself, for how to get information out and put
information into the database. Access is only good for very very low usage
sites, its probably the worst option there is for a database for the web.
It is designed for few concurrent users, and isn't particularly fast, so
even a moderately sized website would end up slowed down with failing
requests to the database. As you're in Unix anyway, Access is well out of
its native environment, and if they have webservers with PHP the chances are
that they already have mySQL on the server. Basically, it is well worth the
extra initial effort to learn how to use mySQL effectively.
[color=blue]
> Also, all my clients use unix servers so, after a little research, I
> have come to the conclusion that PHP is my only option - is this the
> correct assumption?[/color]

There are other options, but PHP is the most common for good reason. The
other common scripting is ASP, but support for than on Unix isn't brilliant,
and with PHP available theres no reason to use ASP.
[color=blue]
> So, my main question is: can I use Access and PHP together? And, if
> I can, could anyone recommend a good tutorial/book I can follow to get
> me started?[/color]

Yes is the simple answer, but its really not a great idea to do so. Use
PHP, use mySQL, and personally I found the documentation for both these
enough to make the database work - they include little examples of code
throughout so building up the code is very easy. If you do want a
full-blown tutorial, there will be a hell of a lot more inforamtion about
PHP+mySQL than PHP+Access.

David

Jo · Jul 16 '05, 10:41 PM

Re: PHP and Access databases

Thanks everyone for your enthusiastic replies to my post.

So...you've convinced me! I'm going to take your advice and leave
Access well alone. However, can I learn PHP and MySQL at the same
time? Should I devote all my energy to learning one at a time
instead?

Thanks again!

Jo

**Geoff Berrow** · Jul 16 '05, 10:42 PM

Re: PHP and Access databases

Message-ID: <14f95d88.03070 80339.6472dc85@ posting.google. com> from Jo
contained the following:
[color=blue]
>
>So...you've convinced me! I'm going to take your advice and leave
>Access well alone. However, can I learn PHP and MySQL at the same
>time? Should I devote all my energy to learning one at a time
>instead?[/color]

No one can know what your skill level is or to what level of complexity you
wish to work. The rabbit hole goes on forever.

For single table stuff you could be running queries in an hour or so.
However if your programming skills are minimal you would be better doing a
few exercises first. There are plenty of 'introduction to php' tutorials
out there. I recommend the webmonkey ones.

Setting up databases in MySql is a lot easier if you have phpMyadmin
enabled but it still requires a bit more savvy than basic Access IMO. That
said, once you get the hang of it I find it's often easier.
--
Geoff Berrow
It's only Usenet, no one dies.
My opinions, not the committee's, mine.
Simple RFDs http://www.ckdog.co.uk/rfdmaker/

Jo · Jul 16 '05, 10:43 PM

Re: PHP and Access databases

Thanks Geoff - I will take your advice and start with the webmonkey
tutorials on php.

Jo

PHP and Access databases

PHP and Access databases

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