How do I view a PHP file?

As a test I pasted a PHP script into Notepad between HTML tags and saved it as test.php on my hard drive.

When I try to browse to it the file doesn't open - do I have to upload it to a server to test it, or have I made some silly basic mistake somewhere?

Thanks!

 

you need at least a webserver (apache) put it in htdocs and run it from there

 

Yes you need a server intalled on your system. Something like PHP DEV or WAMP or UNISERVER wich allows you to vie php files after connecting to localhost.

 

I've got XAMPP - will that work?

 

yep! thats the one i'm using now, just put the file anywhere inside the htdocs folder and access it through your browser with this url

http://localhost/pathtofile/filename.php

 

Thanks, how would I access my D drive using a url like that?

 

Xampp is good. You can also try installing EasyPHP.

Install Xampp in your D drive. after successfully installation, put your test.php file into htdocs direcotry. then run a browser addressing http://localhost/test.php

 

Awesome, it works - now I can get down to learning PHP
If the installation process is anything to go by, it looks like it will be a very long and complicated journey!
I still wonder why it comes up as a Broderbund Print Quick Type icon in Explorer, but as long as I can now access my scripts the journey can start.

Thanks again for everyone's help; have a great weekend