PHP and MySQL database

Just got a new client . His webmaster/designer he had prior to me wanted to change his site to PHP and MySQL database type site verses a site with regular tables, etc. He said the reason was that the site was outdated. I have limited experience setting working with PHP or MySQL databases and was wondering if someone can learn it on there own good enough to do a site?

Particularly how long would it take to learn and be proficient?

Does anyone know of any good resources, books, websites , etc that might help?

If I need to subcontract that part out what am I to expect in price?

Does anyone with the skills necessary want to PM me for some possible work when we get to this stage? (I would want some free lessons so I can maintain the site and have the knowledge to do it myself next time a job demands it)

Thank You​

 

Waht sort of site is your client looking for?
Are they wanting shopping cart software or a site they can update by logging in and editing the text which is stored in the database?

 

It is a real estate site, currently with 19 properties (each with its own page and 5-8 pictures).

 

First off you need to install http://www.phpmyadmin.net and decide what information you want to store for each property. Once you have done that you create the database using phpmyadmin and enter a couple or properties into it.

Then you can write a quick script to query the database for the property for each page so domain.com/property.php?p=propertyname1 will bring up the details for propertyname1

You should mod rewrite the pages to look like static pages.

 

You could also go the open-source way and just utilize a CMS for content management and use a plugin for the real estate listings. Mambo has a real estate component...I can't remember if its free or not.

I would definitely take a look at that route if you have no previous programing experience.

 

if u have previous programming experience, a few weeks

otherwise maybe a month

dont worry php is easy (believe me i do C and Java regulary!)

 

I think learning PHP is quite easy especially if you have prior programming knowledge. These sites might help:

http://www.w3schools.com/php/php_intro.asp (A very good starting point)
http://www.php.net/quickref.php (PHP Manual - Contains all PHP commands)
http://www.krasline.ru/Library/postgress/manual/sql-commands.htm (SQL)

Working with MySQL databases shouldn't be a problem. Simply use the following code snippets and you'll be on your way:

Open the database connection, replace username and password by your username and password:
$conn=mysql_connect("localhost","username","password");

Select the database. db_name should be the name of the database.
mysql_select_db("db_name",$conn);

Run Queries:
$rs=mysql_query("SQL Query goes here");

Close the connection:
mysql_close($conn);

Good luck!