Noob Website Questions

[JC]

Okay this is going to sound stupidly strange, but I cant find the answer anywhere.

I've successfully created simple css websites in the past, written by editing template code, changing colours and text, and then validating it correctly. Now thats all fine for something which you create and leave but how do you create a dynamic website?

For example if you want ever changing news, updates and information how do you edit your pages? Surely you dont open up each page and edit the source and resave it..? There must be another way?

Thank you

 

[yhack]

There is another way!

I use PHP and Mysql to make dynamic websites, Mysql is a database which you can store information in. You could put news into there and with PHP you can get it out and put it into a website. First you will need webspace that supports PHP and then you can use tutorials and books to learn it.

Heres some links that will help you get started:
http://us3.php.net/manual/en/faq.general.php
http://www.zend.com/php/beginners/
http://www.w3schools.com/php/default.asp
edit: theres also a sticky with tutorials http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17531993

 

[JC]

Thanks for your swift response, I've bookmarked a lot of links and it looks like there is quite a lot of reading to go.

 

[blade007]

there's also cms systems that allow content input whilst keeping shape

a popular one is mambo.

easily updatable