Creating a simple PHP forum

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    Creating a simple PHP forum

    In this tutorial create 5 files
    1. create_topic.php
    2. add_topic.php
    3. main_forum.php
    4. view_topic.php
    5. add_answer.php

    Steps
    1. Create table name "forum_question" and "forum_answer" in database "test".
    2. Create file create_topic.php.
    3. Create file add_topic. php.
    4. Create file main_forum.php
    5. Create file view_topic.php
    6. Create file add_answer.php

    Set up database
    Code:
    Table forum_question
    CREATE TABLE `forum_question` (
    `id` int(4) NOT NULL auto_increment,
    `topic` varchar(255) NOT NULL default '',
    `detail` longtext NOT NULL,
    `name` varchar(65) NOT NULL default '',
    `email` varchar(65) NOT NULL default '',
    `datetime` varchar(25) NOT NULL default '',
    `view` int(4) NOT NULL default '0',
    `reply` int(4) NOT NULL default '0',
    PRIMARY KEY (`id`)
    ) TYPE=MyISAM AUTO_INCREMENT=1 ;
    
    Table forum_answer
    CREATE TABLE `forum_answer` (
    `question_id` int(4) NOT NULL default '0',
    `a_id` int(4) NOT NULL default '0',
    `a_name` varchar(65) NOT NULL default '',
    `a_email` varchar(65) NOT NULL default '',
    `a_answer` longtext NOT NULL,
    `a_datetime` varchar(25) NOT NULL default '',
    KEY `a_id` (`a_id`)
    ) TYPE=MyISAM;
    Create file create_topic.php
    Code:
    <table width="400" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="1" bgcolor="#CCCCCC">
    <tr>
    <form id="form1" name="form1" method="post" action="add_topic.php">
    <td>
    <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
    <tr>
    <td colspan="3" bgcolor="#E6E6E6"><strong>Create New Topic</strong> </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
    <td width="14%"><strong>Topic</strong></td>
    <td width="2%">:</td>
    <td width="84%"><input name="topic" type="text" id="topic" size="50" /></td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
    <td valign="top"><strong>Detail</strong></td>
    <td valign="top">:</td>
    <td><textarea name="detail" cols="50" rows="3" id="detail"></textarea></td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
    <td><strong>Name</strong></td>
    <td>:</td>
    <td><input name="name" type="text" id="name" size="50" /></td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
    <td><strong>Email</strong></td>
    <td>:</td>
    <td><input name="email" type="text" id="email" size="50" /></td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td><input type="submit" name="Submit" value="Submit" /> <input type="reset" name="Submit2" value="Reset" /></td>
    </tr>
    </table>
    </td>
    </form>
    </tr>
    </table>
    Create file add_topic.php
    Code:
    <?php
    $host="localhost"; // Host name 
    $username=""; // Mysql username 
    $password=""; // Mysql password 
    $db_name="test"; // Database name 
    $tbl_name="forum_question"; // Table name 
    
    // Connect to server and select database.
    mysql_connect("$host", "$username", "$password")or die("cannot connect"); 
    mysql_select_db("$db_name")or die("cannot select DB");
    
    // get data that sent from form 
    $topic=$_POST['topic'];
    $detail=$_POST['detail'];
    $name=$_POST['name'];
    $email=$_POST['email'];
    
    $datetime=date("d/m/y h:i:s"); //create date time
    
    $sql="INSERT INTO $tbl_name(topic, detail, name, email, datetime)VALUES('$topic', '$detail', '$name', '$email', '$datetime')";
    $result=mysql_query($sql);
    
    if($result){
    echo "Successful<BR>";
    echo "<a href=main_forum.php>View your topic</a>";
    }
    else {
    echo "ERROR";
    }
    mysql_close();
    ?>
    Create file main_forum.php
    Code:
    <?php
    $host="localhost"; // Host name 
    $username=""; // Mysql username 
    $password=""; // Mysql password 
    $db_name="test"; // Database name 
    $tbl_name="forum_question"; // Table name 
    
    // Connect to server and select databse.
    mysql_connect("$host", "$username", "$password")or die("cannot connect"); 
    mysql_select_db("$db_name")or die("cannot select DB");
    
    $sql="SELECT * FROM $tbl_name ORDER BY id DESC";
    // OREDER BY id DESC is order result by descending 
    $result=mysql_query($sql);
    ?>
    <table width="90%" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" bgcolor="#CCCCCC">
    <tr>
    <td width="6%" align="center" bgcolor="#E6E6E6"><strong>#</strong></td>
    <td width="53%" align="center" bgcolor="#E6E6E6"><strong>Topic</strong></td>
    <td width="15%" align="center" bgcolor="#E6E6E6"><strong>Views</strong></td>
    <td width="13%" align="center" bgcolor="#E6E6E6"><strong>Replies</strong></td>
    <td width="13%" align="center" bgcolor="#E6E6E6"><strong>Date/Time</strong></td>
    </tr>
    
    <?php
    while($rows=mysql_fetch_array($result)){ // Start looping table row 
    ?>
    <tr>
    <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><? echo $rows['id']; ?></td>
    <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><a href="view_topic.php?id=<? echo $rows['id']; ?>"><? echo $rows['topic']; ?></a><BR></td>
    <td align="center" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><? echo $rows['view']; ?></td>
    <td align="center" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><? echo $rows['reply']; ?></td>
    <td align="center" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><? echo $rows['datetime']; ?></td>
    </tr>
    
    <?php
    // Exit looping and close connection 
    }
    mysql_close();
    ?>
    <tr>
    <td colspan="5" align="right" bgcolor="#E6E6E6"><a href="create_topic.php"><strong>Create New Topic</strong> </a></td>
    </tr>
    </table>
    view_topic.php
    Code:
    <?php
    $host="localhost"; // Host name 
    $username=""; // Mysql username 
    $password=""; // Mysql password 
    $db_name="test"; // Database name 
    $tbl_name="forum_question"; // Table name 
    
    // Connect to server and select databse.
    mysql_connect("$host", "$username", "$password")or die("cannot connect"); 
    mysql_select_db("$db_name")or die("cannot select DB");
    
    // get value of id that sent from address bar 
    $id=$_GET['id'];
    
    $sql="SELECT * FROM $tbl_name WHERE id='$id'";
    $result=mysql_query($sql);
    
    $rows=mysql_fetch_array($result);
    ?>
    <table width="400" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="1" bgcolor="#CCCCCC">
    <tr>
    <td><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" bordercolor="1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
    <tr>
    <td bgcolor="#F8F7F1"><strong><? echo $rows['topic']; ?></strong></td>
    </tr>
    
    <tr>
    <td bgcolor="#F8F7F1"><? echo $rows['detail']; ?></td>
    </tr>
    
    <tr>
    <td bgcolor="#F8F7F1"><strong>By :</strong> <? echo $rows['name']; ?> <strong>Email : </strong><? echo $rows['email'];?></td>
    </tr>
    
    <tr>
    <td bgcolor="#F8F7F1"><strong>Date/time : </strong><? echo $rows['datetime']; ?></td>
    </tr>
    </table></td>
    </tr>
    </table>
    <BR>
    <?php
    $tbl_name2="forum_answer"; // Switch to table "forum_answer" 
    
    $sql2="SELECT * FROM $tbl_name2 WHERE question_id='$id'";
    $result2=mysql_query($sql2);
    
    while($rows=mysql_fetch_array($result2)){
    ?>
    <table width="400" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="1" bgcolor="#CCCCCC">
    <tr>
    <td><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
    <tr>
    <td bgcolor="#F8F7F1"><strong>ID</strong></td>
    <td bgcolor="#F8F7F1">:</td>
    <td bgcolor="#F8F7F1"><? echo $rows['a_id']; ?></td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
    <td width="18%" bgcolor="#F8F7F1"><strong>Name</strong></td>
    <td width="5%" bgcolor="#F8F7F1">:</td>
    <td width="77%" bgcolor="#F8F7F1"><? echo $rows['a_name']; ?></td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
    <td bgcolor="#F8F7F1"><strong>Email</strong></td>
    <td bgcolor="#F8F7F1">:</td>
    <td bgcolor="#F8F7F1"><? echo $rows['a_email']; ?></td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
    <td bgcolor="#F8F7F1"><strong>Answer</strong></td>
    <td bgcolor="#F8F7F1">:</td>
    <td bgcolor="#F8F7F1"><? echo $rows['a_answer']; ?></td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
    <td bgcolor="#F8F7F1"><strong>Date/Time</strong></td>
    <td bgcolor="#F8F7F1">:</td>
    <td bgcolor="#F8F7F1"><? echo $rows['a_datetime']; ?></td>
    </tr>
    </table></td>
    </tr>
    </table><br>
    
    <?
    }
    
    $sql3="SELECT view FROM $tbl_name WHERE id='$id'";
    $result3=mysql_query($sql3);
    
    $rows=mysql_fetch_array($result3);
    $view=$rows['view'];
    
    // if have no counter value set counter = 1
    if(empty($view)){
    $view=1;
    $sql4="INSERT INTO $tbl_name(view) VALUES('$view') WHERE id='$id'";
    $result4=mysql_query($sql4);
    }
    
    // count more value
    $addview=$view+1;
    $sql5="update $tbl_name set view='$addview' WHERE id='$id'";
    $result5=mysql_query($sql5);
    
    mysql_close();
    ?>
    <BR>
    <table width="400" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="1" bgcolor="#CCCCCC">
    <tr>
    <form name="form1" method="post" action="add_answer.php">
    <td>
    <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
    <tr>
    <td width="18%"><strong>Name</strong></td>
    <td width="3%">:</td>
    <td width="79%"><input name="a_name" type="text" id="a_name" size="45"></td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
    <td><strong>Email</strong></td>
    <td>:</td>
    <td><input name="a_email" type="text" id="a_email" size="45"></td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
    <td valign="top"><strong>Answer</strong></td>
    <td valign="top">:</td>
    <td><textarea name="a_answer" cols="45" rows="3" id="a_answer"></textarea></td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td><input name="id" type="hidden" value="<? echo $id; ?>"></td>
    <td><input type="submit" name="Submit" value="Submit"> <input type="reset" name="Submit2" value="Reset"></td>
    </tr>
    </table>
    </td>
    </form>
    </tr>
    </table>
    add_answer.php
    Code:
    <?php
    $host="localhost"; // Host name 
    $username=""; // Mysql username 
    $password=""; // Mysql password 
    $db_name="test"; // Database name 
    $tbl_name="forum_answer"; // Table name 
    
    // Connect to server and select databse.
    mysql_connect("$host", "$username", "$password")or die("cannot connect"); 
    mysql_select_db("$db_name")or die("cannot select DB");
    
    // Get value of id that sent from hidden field 
    $id=$_POST['id'];
    
    // Find highest answer number. 
    $sql="SELECT MAX(a_id) AS Maxa_id FROM $tbl_name WHERE question_id='$id'";
    $result=mysql_query($sql);
    $rows=mysql_fetch_array($result);
    
    // add + 1 to highest answer number and keep it in variable name "$Max_id". if there no answer yet set it = 1 
    if ($rows) {
    $Max_id = $rows['Maxa_id']+1;
    }
    else {
    $Max_id = 1;
    }
    
    // get values that sent from form 
    $a_name=$_POST['a_name'];
    $a_email=$_POST['a_email'];
    $a_answer=$_POST['a_answer']; 
    
    $datetime=date("d/m/y H:i:s"); // create date and time 
    
    // Insert answer 
    $sql2="INSERT INTO $tbl_name(question_id, a_id, a_name, a_email, a_answer, a_datetime)VALUES('$id', '$Max_id', '$a_name', '$a_email', '$a_answer', '$datetime')";
    $result2=mysql_query($sql2);
    
    if($result2){
    echo "Successful<BR>";
    echo "<a href='view_topic.php?id=".$id."'>View your answer</a>";
    
    // If added new answer, add value +1 in reply column 
    $tbl_name2="forum_question";
    $sql3="UPDATE $tbl_name2 SET reply='$Max_id' WHERE id='$id'";
    $result3=mysql_query($sql3);
    
    }
    else {
    echo "ERROR";
    }
    
    mysql_close();
    ?>
    ________________
    Jacques
    jacques@gw-designs.co.za
    http://coding.biz.tm
    Come join and lets make it a place to learn all the noobies how to code
    __________________

    NEVER FORGET TO CLICK THE TANX BUTTON IF U LIKE WHAT IM SHARING OR HELPING WITH

    #2
    bro im having error at the sql..

    Comment


      #3
      CREATE TABLE `forum_question` (
      `id` int(4) NOT NULL auto_increment,
      `topic` varchar(255) NOT NULL default '',
      `detail` longtext NOT NULL,
      `name` varchar(65) NOT NULL default '',
      `email` varchar(65) NOT NULL default '',
      `datetime` varchar(25) NOT NULL default '',
      `view` int(4) NOT NULL default '0',
      `reply` int(4) NOT NULL default '0',
      PRIMARY KEY (`id`)
      ) TYPE=MyISAM AUTO_INCREMENT=1 ;

      CREATE TABLE `forum_answer` (
      `question_id` int(4) NOT NULL default '0',
      `a_id` int(4) NOT NULL default '0',
      `a_name` varchar(65) NOT NULL default '',
      `a_email` varchar(65) NOT NULL default '',
      `a_answer` longtext NOT NULL,
      `a_datetime` varchar(25) NOT NULL default '',
      KEY `a_id` (`a_id`)
      ) TYPE=MyISAM;
      ________________
      Jacques
      jacques@gw-designs.co.za
      http://coding.biz.tm
      Come join and lets make it a place to learn all the noobies how to code
      __________________

      NEVER FORGET TO CLICK THE TANX BUTTON IF U LIKE WHAT IM SHARING OR HELPING WITH

      Comment


        #4
        ok i know this is a old post but never the less valuable to newbies like me
        im having a problem with view_topic.php on the above script its giving me

        ( ! ) Parse error: syntax error, unexpected $end in C:\wamp\www\test\forum_test\view_topic.php on line 135

        ive looked through the code and cant see to figure out whats wrong
        could anybody help pls

        thanks in advance

        Comment


          #5
          its ok got to sort it out learned a lot thanks

          Comment


            #6
            how to add user login, reg , logout system?

            Comment


              #7
              marv, you need to add ?> at the end, because it is not close.
              its like html tag, you need to close it.

              Originally posted by venko View Post
              how to add user login, reg , logout system?
              You can based on lavalair script or also you can search it on google.
              Did I help you?
              You can help me too
              Your donations will help me finance my studies.

              Comment


                #8
                i will rebirth this post, i re-transform my database, the old database gives me error.

                Code:
                CREATE TABLE `forum_question` (
                `id` int(4) NOT NULL auto_increment,
                `topic` varchar(255) NOT NULL default '',
                `detail` longtext NOT NULL,
                `name` varchar(65) NOT NULL default '',
                `email` varchar(65) NOT NULL default '',
                `datetime` varchar(25) NOT NULL default '',
                `view` int(4) NOT NULL default '0',
                `reply` int(4) NOT NULL default '0',
                PRIMARY KEY (`id`)
                )  ;
                
                CREATE TABLE `forum_answer` (
                `question_id` int(4) NOT NULL default '0',
                `a_id` int(4) NOT NULL default '0',
                `a_name` varchar(65) NOT NULL default '',
                `a_email` varchar(65) NOT NULL default '',
                `a_answer` longtext NOT NULL,
                `a_datetime` varchar(25) NOT NULL default '',
                KEY `a_id` (`a_id`)
                ) ;
                but when i create new topic there's no topic in viewing it.

                Added after 9 minutes:

                error in add_answer.php same code in the old post

                Code:
                Notice: Undefined index: id in C:\xampp\htdocs\simple\add_answer.php on line 13
                
                Notice: Undefined index: a_name in C:\xampp\htdocs\simple\add_answer.php on line 29
                
                Notice: Undefined index: a_email in C:\xampp\htdocs\simple\add_answer.php on line 30
                
                Notice: Undefined index: a_answer in C:\xampp\htdocs\simple\add_answer.php on line 31
                Successful
                View your answer
                error in add_topic.php

                Code:
                Notice: Undefined index: topic in C:\xampp\htdocs\simple\add_topic.php on line 13
                
                Notice: Undefined index: detail in C:\xampp\htdocs\simple\add_topic.php on line 14
                
                Notice: Undefined index: name in C:\xampp\htdocs\simple\add_topic.php on line 15
                
                Notice: Undefined index: email in C:\xampp\htdocs\simple\add_topic.php on line 16
                Successful
                View your topic
                and when i create topic and go back in main_forum.php there's no topic but it has blank rows.

                see attachment my main_forum after i create topic.
                Attached Files
                Last edited by marcuel; 29.01.13, 13:37.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Thats because of old type of coding, now those vars needs to be checked are isset().
                  <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//WAPFORUM.RS

                  Comment


                    #10
                    i'm not very good at php, can anyone tell me what should i do to the code that will view my post.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      I use ternary here:

                      PHP Code:

                      $id 
                      = isset($_GET['id']) ? $_GET['id'] : null
                      This is equivalent to:

                      PHP Code:

                      if (isset($_GET['id'])) {

                      $id $_GET['id'];

                      } else {

                      $id null;


                      This way: $id = $_GET['id']; forget, it is simply wrong.
                      <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//WAPFORUM.RS

                      Comment

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