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Sausage Sizzler - Webmaster Weekly |
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| Editorial - January 24th 2002 |
G'day Sizzlers!
It is a new year. We are now a staff owned and run company. We have a lot of big plans for this year!
The first task on our list is to make this newsletter more useful for you all. No longer will it be simply an announcement list for our latest product offerings and specials. As you will see with this first issue of the year we are going to try and bring you some other useful reviews, tips and highlights that will help anyone trying to make the most of their Web presence. A couple of forum regulars have stepped up to write some sections. This should add to the community aspect of this newsletter, as within reason anybody will be able to contribute to this newsletter.
In fact after you have read this issue
go to our poll and let me know how you liked it.
It was great to see how pasisonate some of you are about this newsletter. When I said I was considering swapping to HTML I was testing the waters. I got a split amongst the readers; a lot don't like the idea of HTML email or are not set up for it. That is why when I do offer a HTML verison I will also offer this same TEXT version. That keeps everyone happy!
Please also note that we will now be accepting sponsorships and ads, with the team at
Lockergnome helping us manage this.
Finally I would like to thank eveyone for being reasonable after the first issue using the new Lyris server. There were a few people on the list that didn't want to be and a few more that required email address changes. If you follow the
instructions you can get off this list or change your address VERY easily.
Keep on sizzling!
Nathan Allan
Sausage Sizzler Editor
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Sponsor - Sort of! |
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Many of you would know Kevin Yank from the Sizzler Forums. He has
been part of the Sausage Community and helped with beta testing
HotDog since way back to Version 2.0. Kevin knows his stuff when
it comes to Web Development.
Kevin has just launched a new book through SitePoint.com called
"Build Your Own Database Driven Website Using PHP and MySQL".
If you are looking to build your own Database Driven Website and
have never used PHP or MySQL I would recommend that you get a copy
of this book. You can read the first 4 chapters of the book here:
http://www.webmasterbase.com/article.php/228
In summary Kevin's book will show you how to:
- Build a working Content Management System
- Add, edit and delete Web content without using HTML
- Setup automatic backups of your database
- Increase your database security
- Optimize the loading time of your Website
- Build an ecommerce shopping cart
- Automatically send email on triggered events
- Handle file uploads using HTML forms
- Build a Web-based file repository or photo gallery
- Utilize sessions and cookies to track site visitors
- Master MySQL Database Administration.
In addition it also includes a download of the complete code
archive used in the book, which makes applying the examples
in the book super easy.
I would encourage you to check it out. It's the best book around
for learning PHP and MySQL and as a handy desk reference!
http://sitepoint.com/books/?bookid=BookByKev
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| Dynamic Tip - PHP Tips 1 - HotDog Intro |
Over the coming Sizzler issues you'll be shown the basics of PHP4. I'll walk you through handling form input, PHP Sessions, and MySQL database interaction. Then we'll tie it together and build a very basic contact manager.
This issue however, I want to go over a few features of HotDog that can make our lives easier as PHP developers.
Syntax Highlighting - It can be fully configured according to your preferences (In the menu bar: Edit -> Preferences -> Editing Window -> PHP Coloring). In the PHP mode it also correctly highlights HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and VBScript.
FTP Open/Save - Accessed through 'Open Remote' and 'Save Remote' in the File menu. HotDog can also show the FTP window always by going to View -> Resource Manager -> Internet Files.
Preview - This function can be very useful. It can be configured on a per directory basis to request the preview from a web server instead of just reading it from the local file system. This way the PHP is parsed by the web server, as it should be.
This only covers the basics of what HotDog does for us. In future issues I'll note a HotDog feature when it would be helpful at that point. I’m also always open to any questions or comments so, please feel free to contact me.
Tip by Rich Cavanaugh
From - EnFlyer: The Email Marketing Experts
In this new section we are going to outline the raw basics of building a Web page. No one starts off as a Webmaster striaght away! You have to learn the basics and slowly but surely build your way up to more difficult tasks.
So here is where we start. The basic elements of a Web page.
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE> type_Document_Title_here </TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY>
</BODY>
</HTML>
The HTML tags identifies the document as being made up of HyperText Markup Language.
Everything between the HEAD tags contains information about the Web page. This will not be displayed in the browser window (although the TITLE tag displays the title of the page at the top of the browser window).
Finally the BODY tags define the content of the Web page.
All of this is very simple and in HotDog Professional you will find when you start a new document this will be set-up for you already.
Tip by Nathan Allan
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Sponsor - Hosting Matters |
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Sausage has been in the business of helping people build Web sites for years now, however in the past we have never recommended any hosting company in particular.
That changes right now. Through experience with our staffs own personal sites we can highly recommend Hosting Matters. Hosting Matters have proven to us time and time again that they have superior customer service to compliment their various hosting plans.
Please check them out and sign up from the form provided at:
http://www.sausagetools.com/misc/hosting.html
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| Sizzler Forum Spotlight - Selling Online |
Oldies but goodies.. gotta love 'em. Back in November 2001, a very good topic was brought up: Selling Online. The reason I find this topic hot still is because of the current state of the worlds economy and how people have come to view the Internet.
This forum thread is really more related to how does one set up a shopping cart, what's involved, and a slew of other details related to both the technical and the practical. Still, there are so many other thoughts and ideas that surround "Selling Online". What's a good product? What's a bad product? How do you attract business? ..or better asked: How do you market your new store? How do you design your site to be most appealing? Should you use Perl and flat files? Should you get involved with dynamic content and a database?
Each of these questions can (and should) spawn other related questions such as: PHP/MySQL or ASP/MS SQL? or.. Word of mouth marketing or paid advertising? I could go on.. but that would take all the fun out of this.
Let's start chatting!
Check it out at the Sizzler Forums!
Review by Bram Leland Scolnick
| Gear Grinders - Brain food to make you think |
G-day HotDoggers! Welcome to this brand-new section. The focus is to share thoughts, stimulate ideas and generate conversation. The topics will always focus around, or be connected to the Internet. I have a huge list of topics that I plan on bringing to the table. In the coming weeks, I'll be asking questions about various topics. Each week you'll find a new topic of discussion. In the following week's Sizzler, I'll
include a summary of the results and then continue with the same topic or move on to a new one. It all depends on you! .. and you.. and you.. and yes.. even YOU!
They'll include, but not be limited to, the following: Design (all kinds), Marketing, Browser considerations, Newsletters, Security and Insecurity, Interesting Tech news, Chat and Instant Messaging, What's your title and what do you like to be called, and much much more. Sometimes it may be related to making you
laugh by remembering a great movie or great lines (My father hung me from a hook once..... ONCE). Maybe something just downright silly. Who knows.
I'd like to get you all into the grove with This Weeks Gear Grinder: Surely you have a question or topic you've wanted to discuss out in the open, but maybe you've never taken the time. Send me your ideas for topics. I'll add them to my list and next week we'll get things going!
Opinion from Bram Leland Scolnick
It seems that everyone now has a webcam. You may use it for MS NetMeeting or other video chat software but have you ever considered putting it on your Web site?
Conquercam is one possible solution. It allows you to upload to various Web servers, set intervals for upload, archive images, overlay logos and text on the images.
It even allows you to set your webcam up as a security motion detector!
Name: Conquercam
Version: 2.0.3.0
Cost: US$10 - 30 day Trialware
Website: http://www.conquercam.comDownload: http://www.theill.com/ConquerCam/download.asp?id=7
Review by Nathan Allan
To read the Sizzler Forums you do not need to be a member.
However to take full advantage of this resource it will only take
you a few seconds to sign up!
- Go to: http://www.sizzlerforums.com
- Read the information and click on the REGISTER button
- Fill out the form
- You will receive an email that you simply reply to
- Hey presto! Your a fully fledged Sizzler Forums member!
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