Introduction

• (your basic introductory text)

Chapter 1: Getting Started with PHP

• Installing a Web Server
  • Working with Apache
• Installing and Configuring PHP
  • Installing PHP on Linux/UNIX
  • Installing PHP on Windows
  • Modifications with php.ini
  • Adding Database Support to PHP
  • Testing Your Installation
• Working with Other Web Servers
  • Installing on Microsoft IIS 4 (or Newer)
• Using PHP4

Chapter 2: Basic PHP Techniques

• An HTML Refresher
  • HTML Tags
  • Creating a Valid HTML Document
• Understanding How PHP is Parsed
  • Code Cohabitation and PHP Tags
  • The Importance of the Instruction Terminator
  • Escaping Your Code
  • Commenting Your Code
• PHP Variables and Operators
  • Variables and Value Types
  • Operator Types
  • Working with Arrays
  • User-defined Functions
  • Retrieving Values from Forms
  • Displaying Dynamic Content
  • Sending E-Mail

Chapter 3: Working With Databases

• Basic Database Information
  • The Importance of Unique Identifiers
  • What About Relationships?
• Understanding Database Normalization
  • Looking at a Flat Table
  • The First Normal Form
  • The Second Normal Form
  • The Third Normal Form
• Basic SQL Commands
  • CREATE
  • ALTER
  • DROP
  • INSERT
  • UPDATE
  • SELECT
  • DELETE
• Establishing a Database Connection with PHP
  • Connecting to a MySQL Database
  • Connecting to a PostgreSQL Database
  • Connecting to an Oracle Database
  • Connecting to Microsoft SQL Server
  • Using other Databases with PHP

Chapter 4: Creating and Populating Database Tables

• Create a Database Table
  • Step 1: Basic Table Definition
  • Step 2: Field Definition
  • Step 3: Connect to MySQL and Create the Table
• Inserting Data
• Select and Display Data

Chapter 5: User Authentication

• Basic HTTP Authentication
  • Configuring HTTP Authentication on Apache
• Database-Driven Authentication
  • Using PHP Authentication Variables to Validate Users
  • Using HTML Forms to Validate Users
• Limit by IP Address

Chapter 6: User Tracking and Session Management

• Cookies
  • Setting Cookies
  • Reading Cookies
• PHP4 Session Handling
  • Understanding Session Variables
  • Starting a Session and Registering Variables
  • Managing User Preferences with Sessions

Chapter 7: Advanced PHP Techniques: Web-Based Database Administration

• Planning Your Product Catalog
  • Developing an Administration Menu
• Safe and Secure Shopping
  • Becoming SSL-Enabled
  • Credit Card Processing and Store Checkout Procedures
• Creating a Basic Shopping System
  • Displaying Your Product Catalog
  • Counting the Cart Items
  • When It's Checkout Time

Chapter 8: Advanced PHP Techniques: Working with Images

• Installation and Configuration Requirements
• Creating New Images
  • Pie Chart Example
• Working with Existing Images
• Expanding Your Image-Related Knowledge

Chapter 9: Advanced PHP Techniques: Working with XML

• XML Overview
• Creating New Images
  • Basic XML Document Structure
  • XML and Traditional Databases
• Preparing to Use XML with PHP
• Parsing XML
• Parse and Display Content from XML Files

Appendix A: Essential PHP Language Reference

• PHP Syntax
• Variables
• Operators
• Control Structures
• Built-In Functions
• Database Connectivity Functions
• Date and Time Functions
• Filesystem Functions
• HTTP Functions
• Mail Functions
• Mathematical Functions
• Miscellaneous Functions
• Network Functions
• PHP Version and Related Information
• Program Execution Functions
• Regular Expression Functions
• Session-Handling Functions
• String Functions
• Variable Functions

Appendix B: Getting Support

• Web Sites
• Mailing Lists