book

PHP Hacks

Name: PHP Hacks
Author: Jack D. Herrington
ISBN: 9780596101398

by Jack D. Herrington

December 2005

Intermediate to advanced

468 pages

9h 12m

English

O'Reilly Media, Inc.

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Dedication
A Note Regarding Supplemental Files
Credits
About the AuthorContributors
Preface
Why PHP Hacks?How to Use This BookHow This Book Is OrganizedCommon ProblemsMaking a Cool Web ApplicationConventions Used in This BookUsing Code ExamplesHow to Contact UsGot a Hack?Safari Enabled
1. Installation and Basics
1.1. Hacks 1–2: Introduction1. Install PHP1.2.1. Installing PHP on Windows1.2.1.1. Installing PHP in Apache.1.2.1.2. Installing PHP in IIS.1.2.2. Installing PHP on Mac OS X1.2.3. Installing PHP on Linux1.2.4. Checking Your ISP Installation1.2.5. Installing MySQL1.2.6. Managing the Databases1.2.7. See Also2. Install PEAR Modules1.3.1. Installing PEAR Modules on Your ISP
2. Web Design
2.1. Hacks 3–10: Introduction3. Create a Skinnable Interface2.2.1. The Code2.2.2. Running the Hack2.2.3. See Also4. Build a Breadcrumb Trail2.3.1. The Code2.3.2. Running the Hack2.3.3. Hacking the Hack2.3.4. See Also5. Create HTML Boxes2.4.1. The Code2.4.2. Running the Hack2.4.3. Hacking the Hack2.4.4. See Also6. Add Tabs to Your Web Interface2.5.1. The Code2.5.2. Running the Hack2.5.3. See Also7. Give Your Customers Formatting Control with XSL2.6.1. The Code2.6.2. Running the Hack2.6.3. See Also8. Build Lightweight HTML Graphs2.7.1. The Code2.7.2. Running the Hack2.7.3. Hacking the Hack2.7.4. See Also9. Properly Size Image Tags2.8.1. The Code2.8.2. Running the Hack2.8.3. Hacking the Hack2.8.4. See Also10. Send HTML Email2.9.1. The Code2.9.2. Running the Hack2.9.3. See Also
3. DHTML
3.1. Hacks 11–26: Introduction11. Put an Interactive Spreadsheet on Your Page3.2.1. The Code3.2.2. Running the Hack3.2.3. See Also12. Create Pop-Up Hints3.3.1. The Code3.3.2. Running the Hack3.3.3. See Also13. Create Drag-and-Drop Lists3.4.1. The Code3.4.2. Running the Hack3.4.3. See Also14. Build Dynamic HTML Graphs3.5.1. The Code3.5.2. Running the Hack3.5.3. See Also15. Section Your Content with Spinners3.6.1. The Code3.6.2. Running the Hack3.6.3. See Also16. Create Drop-Down Stickies3.7.1. The Code3.7.2. Running the Hack3.7.3. See Also17. Create Dynamic Navigation Menus3.8.1. The Code3.8.2. Running the Hack3.8.3. See Also18. Obscure JavaScript Dynamically3.9.1. The Code3.9.2. Running the Hack19. Build a DHTML Binary Clock3.10.1. The Code3.10.2. Running the Hack3.10.3. See Also20. Tame Ajax with JSON3.11.1. The Code3.11.2. Running the Hack21. Make a DHTML Slideshow3.12.1. The Code3.12.2. Running the Hack3.12.3. See Also22. Add Vector Graphics with PHP3.13.1. The Code3.13.2. Running the Hack3.13.3. See Also23. Build a Color Selector3.14.1. The Code3.14.2. Running the Hack24. Create Link Graphs3.15.1. The Code3.15.2. Running the Hack3.15.3. See Also25. Create an Interactive Calendar3.16.1. The Code3.16.2. Running the Hack3.16.3. See Also26. Create the Google Maps Scrolling Effect3.17.1. The Code3.17.2. Running the Hack3.17.3. See Also
4. Graphics
4.1. Hacks 27–33: Introduction27. Create Thumbnail Images4.2.1. The Code4.2.2. Running the Hack4.2.3. See Also28. Create Beautiful Graphics with SVG4.3.1. The Code4.3.2. Running the Hack4.3.3. See Also29. Simplify Your Graphics with Objects4.4.1. The Code4.4.2. Running the Hack4.4.3. See Also30. Split One Image into Multiple Images4.5.1. The Code4.5.2. Running the Hack4.5.3. Hacking the Hack4.5.4. See Also31. Create Graphs with PHP4.6.1. The Code4.6.2. Running the Hack4.6.3. See Also32. Create Image Overlays4.7.1. The Code4.7.2. Running the Hack4.7.3. Hacking the Hack4.7.4. See Also33. Access Your iPhoto Pictures with PHP4.8.1. A Look Behind the Scenes: iPhoto Data4.8.2. The Code4.8.3. Running the Hack4.8.4. Hacking the Hack4.8.5. See Also
5. Databases and XML
5.1. Hacks 34–50: Introduction34. Design Better SQL Schemas5.2.1. Bad Primary Keys5.2.2. Misunderstanding Relational Databases5.2.3. Use Not Null Fields5.2.4. See Also35. Create Bulletproof Database Access5.3.1. See Also36. Create Dynamic Database Access Objects5.4.1. The Code5.4.2. Running the Hack5.4.3. Hacking the Hack5.4.4. See Also37. Generate CRUD Database Code5.5.1. The Code5.5.2. Running the Hack5.5.3. See Also38. Read XML on the Cheap with Regular Expressions5.6.1. The Code5.6.2. Running the Hack5.6.3. Hacking the Hack5.6.4. See Also39. Export Database Schema as XML5.7.1. The Code5.7.2. Running the Hack5.7.3. See Also40. Create a Simple XML Query Handler for Database Access5.8.1. The Code5.8.2. Running the Hack5.8.3. See Also41. Generate Database SQL5.9.1. The Code5.9.2. Running the Hack5.9.3. See Also42. Generate Database Select Code5.10.1. The Code5.10.2. Running the Hack5.10.3. See Also43. Convert CSV to PHP5.11.1. The Code5.11.2. Running the Hack44. Scrape Web Pages for Data5.12.1. The Code5.12.2. Running the Hack5.12.3. Problems with Screen Scraping5.12.4. See Also45. Suck Data from Excel Uploads5.13.1. The Code5.13.2. Running the Hack5.13.3. See Also46. Load Your Database from Excel5.14.1. The Code5.14.2. Running the Hack5.14.3. See Also47. Search Microsoft Word Documents5.15.1. The Code5.15.2. Running the Hack5.15.3. See Also48. Create RTF Documents Dynamically5.16.1. The Code5.16.2. Running the Hack5.16.3. See Also49. Create Excel Spreadsheets Dynamically5.17.1. The Code5.17.2. Running the Hack5.17.3. See Also50. Create a Message Queue5.18.1. The Code5.18.2. Running the Hack5.18.3. See Also
6. Application Design
6.1. Hacks 51–66: Introduction51. Create Modular Interfaces6.2.1. The Code6.2.2. Running the Hack6.2.3. See Also52. Support Wiki Text6.3.1. The Code6.3.2. Running the Hack6.3.3. Hacking the Hack53. Turn Any Object into an Array6.4.1. The Code6.4.2. Running the Hack6.4.3. See Also54. Create XML the Right Way6.5.1. The Code6.5.2. Running the Hack6.5.3. See Also55. Fix the Double Submit Problem6.6.1. The Code6.6.2. Running the Hack56. Create User-Customizable Reports6.7.1. The Code6.7.2. Running the Hack6.7.3. See Also57. Create a Login System6.8.1. The Code6.8.2. Running the Hack6.8.3. See Also58. Apply Security by Role6.9.1. The Code6.9.2. Running the Hack6.9.3. See Also59. Migrate to MD5 Passwords6.10.1. The Code6.10.2. Running the Hack6.10.3. See Also60. Make Usable URLs with mod_rewrite6.11.1. An Introduction to Rewriting6.11.2. Basic Rewriting6.11.2.1. Basic redirects.6.11.2.2. Forcing new requests.6.11.3. Using Regular Expressions6.11.3.1. Adding trailing slashes.6.11.3.2. Match modifiers.61. Build an Ad Redirector6.12.1. The Code6.12.2. Running the Hack62. Add a Buy Now Button6.13.1. Creating a Buy Now Button6.13.2. Tracking the Sale6.13.3. Verifying the Sale6.13.4. The Code6.13.5. Running the Hack6.13.6. Hacking the Hack6.13.7. See Also63. Find Out Where Your Guests Are Coming From6.14.1. The Code6.14.2. Running the Hack6.14.3. See Also64. Import Information from vCards6.15.1. The Code6.15.2. Running the Hack6.15.3. See Also65. Create vCard Files from Your Application’s Data6.16.1. The Code6.16.2. Running the Hack6.16.3. See Also66. Create a Shopping Cart6.17.1. The Code6.17.2. Running the Hack6.17.3. See Also

7. Patterns
7.1. Hacks 67–78: Introduction67. Observe Your Objects7.2.1. The Code7.2.2. Running the Hack7.2.3. See Also68. Create Objects with Abstract Factories7.3.1. The Code7.3.2. Running the Hack7.3.3. See Also69. Flexible Object Creation with Factory Methods7.4.1. The Code7.4.2. Running the Hack7.4.3. See Also70. Abstract Construction Code with a Builder7.5.1. The Code7.5.2. Running the Hack71. Separate What from How with Strategies7.6.1. The Code7.6.2. Running the Hack72. Link Up Two Modules with an Adapter7.7.1. The Code7.7.2. Running the Hack73. Write Portable Code with Bridges7.8.1. The Code7.8.2. Running the Hack74. Build Extensible Processing with Chains7.9.1. The Code7.9.2. Running the Hack75. Break Up Big Classes with Composites7.10.1. The Code7.10.2. Running the Hack76. Simplify APIs Using a Façade7.11.1. The Code7.11.2. Running the Hack77. Create Constant Objects with Singletons7.12.1. The Code7.12.2. Running the Hack7.12.3. Hacking the Hack78. Ease Data Manipulation with Visitors7.13.1. The Code7.13.2. Running the Hack7.13.3. Hacking the Hack
8. Testing
8.1. Hacks 79–85: Introduction79. Test Your Code with Unit Tests8.2.1. The Code8.2.2. Running the Hack8.2.3. See Also80. Generate Your Unit Tests8.3.1. The Code8.3.2. Running the Hack8.3.3. See Also81. Check for Broken Links8.4.1. The Code8.4.2. Running the Hack8.4.3. See Also82. Test Your Application with Simulated Users8.5.1. The Code8.5.2. Running the Hack8.5.3. See Also83. Test Your Application with Robots8.6.1. The Code8.6.2. Running the Hack8.6.3. Hacking the Hack8.6.4. See Also84. Spider Your Site8.7.1. The Code8.7.2. Running the Hack8.7.3. See Also85. Generate Documentation Automatically8.8.1. The Code8.8.2. Running the Hack8.8.3. See Also
9. Alternative UIs
9.1. Hacks 86–94: Introduction86. Create Custom Maps with MapServer9.2.1. MapServer Concepts9.2.2. Getting the PHP MapScript Extension9.2.3. Hacking Maps with PHP9.2.3.1. Step 1: Prepare data.9.2.3.2. Step 2: Render a map.9.2.3.3. Step 3: Modify the map.9.2.3.4. Step 4: Mapping from scratch.9.2.4. Learning More9.2.5. See Also87. Build GUI Interfaces with GTk9.3.1. The Code9.3.2. Running the Hack9.3.3. See Also88. Send RSS Feeds to Your IM Application Using Jabber9.4.1. The Code9.4.2. Running the Hack9.4.3. Hacking the Hack9.4.4. See Also89. IRC Your Web Application9.5.1. The Code9.5.2. Running the Hack9.5.3. See Also90. Read RSS Feeds on Your PSP9.6.1. The Code9.6.2. Running the Hack9.6.3. See Also91. Search Google by Link Graph9.7.1. The Code9.7.2. Running the Hack9.7.3. See Also92. Create a New Interface for Amazon.com9.8.1. The Code9.8.2. Running the Hack9.8.3. See Also93. Send SMS Messages from Your IM Client9.9.1. The Code9.9.2. Running the Hack9.9.3. See Also94. Generate Flash Movies on the Fly9.10.1. The Code9.10.2. Running the Hack9.10.3. Hacking the Hack
10. Fun Stuff
10.1. Hacks 95–100: Introduction95. Create Custom Google Maps10.2.1. The Code10.2.2. Running the Hack10.2.3. See Also96. Create Dynamic Playlists10.3.1. The Code10.3.2. Running the Hack10.3.3. See Also97. Create a Media Upload/Download Center10.4.1. The Code10.4.2. Running the Hack10.4.3. See Also98. Check Your Network Game with PHP10.5.1. The Code10.5.2. Running the Hack10.5.3. See Also99. Put Wikipedia on Your PSP10.6.1. The Code10.6.2. Running the Hack10.6.3. See Also100. Create a Weather Showdown10.7.1. The Code10.7.2. Running the Hack10.7.3. See Also
About the Author
Colophon
Copyright

Overview

Programmers love its flexibility and speed; designers love its accessibility and convenience. When it comes to creating web sites, the PHP scripting language is truly a red-hot property. In fact, PHP is currently used on more than 19 million web sites, surpassing Microsoft's ASP .NET technology in popularity. Not surprisingly, this surge in usage has resulted in a number of PHP books hitting the market. Only one, though, takes the language beyond traditional Web programming and into mapping, graphing, multimedia, and beyond: PHP Hacks.

In PHP Hacks, author Jack Herrington wrings out his 20 years of code generation experience to deliver hands-on tools ranging from basic PHP and PEAR installation and scripting to advanced multimedia and database optimizing tricks.

On the practical side of things, PHP Hacks helps you develop more robust PHP applications by explaining how to improve your database design, automate application testing, and employ design patterns in your PHP scripts and classes. In the category of "cool," Herrington explains how to upgrade your Web interface through the creation of tabs, stickies, popups, and calendars. He even examines how to leverage maps and graphics in PHP. There's also a bounty of image and application hacks, including those that show you how to:

Integrate web sites with Google maps and satellite imaging
Dynamically display iPhoto libraries online
Add IRC, SMS, and Instant Messaging capabilities to your Web applications
Drop the latest Wikipedia dictionary onto your Sony PSP
Render graphics and user interfaces with SVG, DHTML, and Ajax

Whether you're a newcomer or an expert, you'll find great value in PHP Hacks, the only PHP guide that offers something useful and fun for everyone.

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