Don't Know Php--Where to Begin?

I have no idea where to begin. You installation instructions seem to assume I know php.  I don't know what "reference source code" or "declair an object variable as a new instance of php" mean.

I placed tbs_class.php in my apache www directory (with php) and expected something to happen when I called the page but all I got was a blank page.

You give 3 steps in the installation and I only understand the first one.

I'd also like to see sites done in tbs. Where can I find some?

This application doesn't seem to be for "beginners" at all.

garyland

Hello Garyland,

I agree (only) with your first critic : the first steps are too technical for a PHP beginer. I gonna make it clearer in the manual that I'm rewriting now.

You don't need to undsetand what an objet or an instance is to begin. Just copy/past the fist lines in a new PHP script, and then continue with
your code.

TBS is a module, a library that you add in your main PHP application. That's why nothing appends when you call it alone, or when you do nothing with it.

TBS is given with a set of many small examples. You have the set in the zip file, and you have it live in the TinyButStrong web site (here).
You can watch the template, the Script, and the Result.

About sites done with TBS : they are getting more and more numerous, you can found some related in this this forum. but anyway, it won't help you because you cannot see if a site is done with a template engine or not. You're not supposed to read the templates if you are ont the client side (internet user).

Enjoy,

I'll wait for your new manual. Your explanation helps, but I still don't know how to get started. I've tried at least 10 other content management applications with instant success. I've tried all the Nuke applications; no problem.

I need a step by step tutorial that doesn't use words like "appends" etc. I need a directory that I put in my root directory, and, presto, the site is up and running. I don't mind making a few changes to the config file or loading tables into mysql. But if I have to play with php code, I'm going to get lost.

Finally, please list sites that are using this application. You're asking a lot of a person to invest time in this application without first having some idea of what it can do.

However, I do think I like it a lot.

gary

Hi Garyland,

Here is a small list of TBS sites quoted in this forum :
http://www.dcfr.ath.cx/site/
http://www.TabacoJujuy.com.ar
http://linux.multishops.com.ar
http://lesitamag.free.fr
http://www.degrootstekerstboom.nl/

TBS is not exaclty a 'content managment' application. It's a 'template engine'. A template engine is not a 'ready to use' user interface (web pages). It a tool that make the development of user interfaces more easy.
What is the difference ? Well, let's say that a 'content managment' application can be developed with TBS, a e-business site can be developed by TBS, a personal web album can be developed with TBS, ...

With TBS, you need (at least a little bit of) Php development.
If you just need to display texts from a database, this is very easy to develop with few Php (and TBS). But if you need more reaction from the user (the reader) you will have to code more Php.

If what you need is a common 'content managment', I've been heard about SPIP which seems to be very smart.

Thanks, Skrol.

My interest in tbs is I think it's an excellent tool with which to learn php. I say this, because unlike most of the applications i looked at, the structure of tbs is simple and it allows you to work directly with php code.

However, again, there should be an easier way of getting started. I want to know -- step by step -- how to get a webpage on my Apache server I can tinker with. I have no idea how to do that right now.

When is you updated manual coming out?

Okay,

Here's what I'm talking about. Here's your installation instructions:

1. Copy tbs_class.php into your server directory.
  (fine, I can do that. No problem)

2. Reference the source code of tbs in your php program

(Huh? How do I do that?

3. Declair an object variable as a new instance of the tbs class

(Huh? How do I do that?)

As I say, I'm a beginner. I don't understand the terms you use or what you're asking me to do.

gary

I accidentally cancelled my preious answer, so I have to keep it short:

I marked the steps you name in the File inclusion example from this websites examples page. For the other files for this example pleas go to the example pages

<?

//------------------------
// STEP 2:
include_once("tbs_class.php") ;
//------------------------

$f_html = 'tbs_us_examples_include_left.htm' ;
$f_text = 'tbs_us_examples_include_main.txt' ;

//------------------------
// STEP 3:
$TBS = new clsTinyButStrong ;
//------------------------

//------------------------
// Loading a template, then showing it
$TBS->LoadTemplate('tbs_us_examples_include.htm') ;
$TBS->Show() ;
//------------------------

?>

Thanks for you help, but I have no idea where the code is supposed to go.

Where am I supposed to place it? Which file and where does the file go once I've placed the code in it?

gary

Ok, I've done a little reseach.

In the php book I borrowed from the library, "include("file.php") and require("file.php") appear in Chapter 13, page 214!

Friends, let's be honest about it, an understanding of basic php is a requirement for tbs, without it, a newbie will not be able to get beyond Step 2 of the installation.

Now, there's nothing wrong with this and I plan to devote a week to stuyding this book so I'll be able to install tbs, but my suggestion is that somewhere on your website you let people know that a basic understanding of php is required to use tbs.

gary

If you know programming (I did information technology, so I had all the benefits of learning how to code properly ;)) then you have a sort of instant understanding of most programming languages and PHP is more or less like C/C++. So learning PHP proved no problem at all for me, I just had to know what functions where available to PHP and I was done.

But you do not have any programming experience, or so it seems. So I can understand why this is hard for you to understand.

But that was not the reason I'm replying:
TBS is NOT a good way to learn PHP. Most of the things you need to do with TBS is stuff related more to the system TBS is. All you need to do with PHP is select your templates and provide data, and sometimes not even that last thing!!

But I think you figured that out since you did get that book...
I suggest you also do some online tutorial, just search for PHP tutorial (and perhaps add 'hello world' as that is a popular starting point for most tutorials)

Also, Skroll allready told you, but there is no TBS installation. you just copy the file onto the server, include it and use it's functions!!

Have fun :P

From what I see, tbs makes structured use of php code. The, examples are pre-written php modules that you stick in places or string together to get the functionality you want. TBS seems to work with raw code and doesn't require the learning of a spcialized scripting language.

If all the above is correct, than it seems to me tbs will show me how to structure php code. I really don't know what else tbs would do, if not this.

Correct?

Gary

I don't agree with this description.

Each example of TBS is a litlle application that illustate one feature of TBS. You're are not suposed to 'stick' the examples to make your application. They are here to show you how to do this or that with TBS.

It's right that an understanding of basic php is a requirement for tbs (as you said in a previous post).

Using TBS you'll code twice faster your dynamic HTML pages, but you'll need to code at least a bit.

When is you new manual coming out?

gary

It will coming out with the new version.
But a part of the manual is already available with the downloadable beta version.