Ongoing discussion about MM CFMX 2004
Hey webexplorer,
First of all, don't be embarrassed yourself. You are not alone. We all go through everyday learning new stuff. (smile) As you are, you are not alone. I haven't really get my hands dirty working with PHP4 and MySQL. I stay away from Java especially applets (it is so annoying!). Even tho, I have installed PHP4, MySQL and Apache2. Though, as you know, every OSX and Mac comes with PHP, MySQL and legacy version of Apache (not Apache2).
In my wish list and "To Do" sometime during 2004, I would like to learn more about Cold Fusion because I have been hearing that it is really good app and server app. Please note that if you "coded" CF tags in your html source of your web pages, you also need to have Cold Fusion server application up running in order to run or process or perform whatever your web pages' html/CF tags" requests back forth between web server (Apache and CF server as well).
If you go to one of Barnes Noble bookseller stores in your town or near one of those major cities near your hometown, you'd be surprised how many books all about Cold Fusion references. There are so many titles, reference and topics regarding Cold Fusion... and there are so many heavy, very thick CF books.
Well, you guess wrong about what Flash MX 2004 can do for you. (smile) As you are, I once thought that Flash is only for dazzling, cool Flash site with 'swoosh' movement of content and the like. Prior to Flash 5 in the past do not work or wasn't capable of creating 'data-driven' app within Flash 5 working with MySQL, or PHP, or other database applications. When Macromedia introduced "MX" and add "MX" to all of software application and introduced Macromedia Studio MX, that was when Flash MX have built-in JavaScript known as ActionScript. This allows you to be more creative and do MORE than just doing some dazzling animation movement of Flash files on the Internet. With Actionscript enabled in your Flash, the .AS files (ActionScript source files), you can do anything possible. ActionScript can even do some awesome dazzling movement of Flash objects within Flash or SWF file (which means less work or making file lot smaller than ever before). However, ActionScript programming is a bit advanced, high-end approach. Once you have some experience and experiments with Flash MX 2004, then you'd feel more comfortable working with ActionScript eventually. Once you're comfortable working with ActionScript and Flash, you'd be able to do more and maxmize out of Flash MX 2004 working with data-driven website and/or working with database servers etc including PHP4, MySQL, J2EE (Java 2 Enterprise Edition) and the like.
What I meant by data-driven site, there are two kinds of websites: static and data-driven websites. Static website are plain simple sites loaded with images and html sources. Data-driven websites work with different kind of database servers and data source files and the like. Data-driven can be anything having to do with MySQL or XML or SOAP... You wouldn't believe this, there are endless possibilities and options. Therefore you have greater flexibility to pick whatever database app that you feel more comfortable and go after it. And of course, it all depends on what clients' requirement, need and want.
Finally, with your last question, I would suggest that you start to play and do some experiments with one of those database apps and find out what works best for you... and focus more on what you do the best because of your comfort level with whatever database application and data-driven website projects. And I strongly encourage you to browse around at Barnes and Noble Bookseller store and take a look at one of those books. There are great introduction books about MySQL, PHP and the like. I think it is called Visual Quick Start books... And there are books published by Macromedia Press as well. So you should be able to find books and browse.
You should be expected that you might be somewhat overwhelmed with all information in front of you at bookstore or working with one of database application or something like that. It is perfect natural part of learning cyle. Unless you have some sort of computer programming classes you have taken in the past, then you should be able to learn and to code relatively a bit easier than those who have never taken computer programming classes. But I know that my statement that is inaccurate especially someone who never work or used with computer, it doesn't mean that that person can't learn. but it takes some time, practice and do some experiments to make it work for that person who never work with computer or never took computer classes in the past. And each individual is different from others. So, I'd just leave at that as is. (smile)
I hope that help answer to some of your questions. Feel free to let me know if you need some help. Have a great weekend, webexplorer. Cheers, ventiCM
webexplorer said:
I am impressed that you know about the software.
I am embarrassed myself -- unfortunately for me, I have no experience on PHP, SQL, UNIX, Java, or CF. I have read about understanding how to use a MySQL or PHP, but it does not have good examples to show us where to put a line in a source file. (i.e. my html source on Dreamweaver) I cannot believe that there are more things to do in order to run a database (or data-driven application) on a website.
(I did not realize that dir, del, mkdir, rm, cd, find, mv, a few names are part of UNIX. I had an IBM PC and used to run on UNIX to open/execute my files because my computer does not come with a window software. I cannot remember now how to use the UNIX.)
I have a DSL service, and I could try to download the CF file. I am sort of afraid to use the Terminal because I only have one computer. I could do that if I have another Apple computer. Actually, I have an old PowerComputer Tower Pro, but it is not working. I think the video card died recently after I moved the computer in another room - I don't know.
I cannot believe that the SQL application server has serious security problems.
I currently have a Macromedia Studio MX 2004, Photoshop 5.5, and Fetch. I also have (free) MySQL, phpMyAdmin, CocaMySQL, and Xsql - but I have not installed them yet - these came from Apple's website in the 3rd party software section. I do not know much about them because I have not started anything to create a database.
Is this what you called a data-driven application such a database (i.e. SQL, MySQL, etc)?
What would you suggest me to learn or start, in order, with?
..
P.S. I thought that the Flash is only for graphic motion (or photo motion).
