So you want an easy life; you want to make PHP forms as if you are working with access? It’s possible. There are loads of such programs available but the best I’ve seen is PHPmaker5.
How it works
To start with, you need to have your database ready (in MySQL for example). PHPMaker5 will connect to your database and get the tables you are using. For each of these tables, you can create a form (PHPMaker5 will make a form out of it) that will allow you to add data to your database – of course all databasse connection scripts will be created for you.
Exploring the software a bit more will allow you to create forms with one to many relationships (master-child) and combo boxes can even retreive from tables!
Favourite Features
- It just works – it connects to your database and allows you to create forms just like that. In a few mins, you’ll have a decent application alive and kicking
- Customization – the code generated is clear and it can be easily customized to cater for additional stuff. In addition to that, the CSS can be easily changed
- It’s free – this amazing software is free. You only have to pay and register if you want support
If you don’t believe me, go to their site and you’ll see that PHPMaker5 has got no less than 21 awards! The only criticism I can make is that there’s no Linux version unfortunately.
Yesterday I decided to investigate Qt from Trolltech and get something working with it.
Very briefly, Qt is a library that allows you to create interfaces. Lots of programs use it (a lot of KDE programs do) and i’ve heard a lot of good things about it but alway thought naaa, this is too complicated. So yesterday i downloaded all the libraries of Qt4 (Qt4 is free for open-source development) and tired a tutorial and … it wouldn’t work – I got some error messages saying that it wouldn’t recognise some libraries (qapplication.h: No such file or directory)!
What the hell had I got wrong?
Actually I don’t know. I had installed most of the Qt4 stuff in adept I deemed necessary but it seems that I had not installed all Qt4 stuff (in my foolishness I tried removing some Qt3 stuff – somethin not to do – and it removed amarok as a result. Had to reinstall it).
After installing all (or most) of the Qt4 stuff it worked and I was really surprised as to how easy it is to create interface code.
The best tutorial is I think on the Qt website.
Getting started
First of all get all (or most) of the Qt4 stuff in adpet installed.
Then type the following code that is available from tutorial 1:
#include <QApplication>
#include <QPushButton>
int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
QApplication app(argc, argv);
QPushButton hello("Hello world!");
hello.resize(100, 30);
hello.show();
return app.exec();
}
Then save the file as (for example) main.cpp.
Next at the prompt type:
$qmake -project (creates a .pro file)
$qmake (creates a platform specific makefile)
$make (calls the makefile and produce the exe)
Run the exe to get your first app working. It’s really easy.
Have Fun and Tranks Trolltech!
