http://hmediapro.netfirms.com/hmediapro.com/ Updates for BobbyHash.Com and HMediaWeb.Com Absolut Engine 1.73 - http://www.absolutengine.com/ I've loved the Absolut Engine since I began using it on a client project a few years back. My client had introduced it to me, but wanted me to integrate it into the design. I was a PHP youth at the time, but it really taught me a lot along the way.Now I will be moving on to a Wordpress layout for one reason only - plugins/ease to maintain the db. Thanks Absolut. It's been a fun run. http://bobbyhash.com/?articleID=153 http://bobbyhash.com/?articleID=153 personal hmedia@hmediapro.com (Bobby Hash) Thu, 21 Aug 2008 01:48:34 GMT I've loved the Absolut Engine since I began using it on a client project a few years back. My client had introduced it to me, but wanted me to integrate it into the design. I was a PHP youth at the time, but it really taught me a lot along the way.Now I will be moving on to a Wordpress layout for one reason only - plugins/ease to maintain the db. Thanks Absolut. It's been a fun run. http://bobbyhash.com/?articleID=153 http://bobbyhash.com/?articleID=153 Bobby Hash Home hmedia@hmediapro.com (Bobby Hash) Thu, 21 Aug 2008 01:48:34 GMT Testing connectivity to a database can be achieved a few different ways in PHP. Today we'll take a quick look at a feature called PHP Database Objects (PDO). PDO is defined by php.net as:"The PHP Data Objects (PDO) extension defines a lightweight, consistent interface for accessing databases in PHP."Now, on to how this bad boy works.As with anything, we must start by assigning various variables. Similar to other methods of connecting, we will assign variables for the mysql connection host, database, username, and password.<? // Assign variables for connecting to MYSQL Host $dsn = 'mysql:host = localhost;dbname=mydatabase;'; $user = 'user'; $password = ''; From there we will move on to a try catch statement using the PDO class to create a new PDO(). We will use our trust try/catch statement to test the connection and report any errors that may occur. // Test the connection, alert if fails - very similar to C# in a sense try { $sqlconn = new PDO($dsn, $user, $password); //echo 'success'; }We will use $e as the exception / what our event will argue. catch (PDOException $e) { echo 'Connection failed: ' .$e->getMessage(); } ?> As you can see it is a simple process. Set the variables, then utilize a try/catch statement to make the PDO request / handle the error.And now for the unmolested code: Enjoy!<? // Assign variables for connecting to MYSQL Host $dsn = 'mysql:host = localhost;dbname=litebox;'; $user = 'user'; $password = ''; // Test the connection, alert if fails - very similar to C# or //any other try/catch in a programming language in a sense try { $sqlconn = new PDO($dsn, $user, $password); //echo 'success'; } catch (PDOException $e) { echo 'Connection failed: ' .$e->getMessage(); } ?> http://bobbyhash.com/?articleID=152 http://bobbyhash.com/?articleID=152 PHP hmedia@hmediapro.com (Bobby Hash) Sat, 16 Aug 2008 00:01:05 GMT Testing connectivity to a database can be achieved a few different ways in PHP. Today we'll take a quick look at a feature called PHP Database Objects (PDO). PDO is defined by php.net as:"The PHP Data Objects (PDO) extension defines a lightweight, consistent interface for accessing databases in PHP."Now, on to how this bad boy works.As with anything, we must start by assigning various variables. Similar to other methods of connecting, we will assign variables for the mysql connection host, database, username, and password.<? // Assign variables for connecting to MYSQL Host $dsn = 'mysql:host = localhost;dbname=mydatabase;'; $user = 'user'; $password = ''; From there we will move on to a try catch statement using the PDO class to create a new PDO(). We will use our trust try/catch statement to test the connection and report any errors that may occur. // Test the connection, alert if fails - very similar to C# in a sense try { $sqlconn = new PDO($dsn, $user, $password); //echo 'success'; }We will use $e as the exception / what our event will argue. catch (PDOException $e) { echo 'Connection failed: ' .$e->getMessage(); } ?> As you can see it is a simple process. Set the variables, then utilize a try/catch statement to make the PDO request / handle the error.And now for the unmolested code: Enjoy!<? // Assign variables for connecting to MYSQL Host $dsn = 'mysql:host = localhost;dbname=litebox;'; $user = 'user'; $password = ''; // Test the connection, alert if fails - very similar to C# or //any other try/catch in a programming language in a sense try { $sqlconn = new PDO($dsn, $user, $password); //echo 'success'; } catch (PDOException $e) { echo 'Connection failed: ' .$e->getMessage(); } ?> http://bobbyhash.com/?articleID=152 http://bobbyhash.com/?articleID=152 Server Side hmedia@hmediapro.com (Bobby Hash) Sat, 16 Aug 2008 00:01:05 GMT Testing connectivity to a database can be achieved a few different ways in PHP. Today we'll take a quick look at a feature called PHP Database Objects (PDO). PDO is defined by php.net as:"The PHP Data Objects (PDO) extension defines a lightweight, consistent interface for accessing databases in PHP."Now, on to how this bad boy works.As with anything, we must start by assigning various variables. Similar to other methods of connecting, we will assign variables for the mysql connection host, database, username, and password.<? // Assign variables for connecting to MYSQL Host $dsn = 'mysql:host = localhost;dbname=mydatabase;'; $user = 'user'; $password = ''; From there we will move on to a try catch statement using the PDO class to create a new PDO(). We will use our trust try/catch statement to test the connection and report any errors that may occur. // Test the connection, alert if fails - very similar to C# in a sense try { $sqlconn = new PDO($dsn, $user, $password); //echo 'success'; }We will use $e as the exception / what our event will argue. catch (PDOException $e) { echo 'Connection failed: ' .$e->getMessage(); } ?> As you can see it is a simple process. Set the variables, then utilize a try/catch statement to make the PDO request / handle the error.And now for the unmolested code: Enjoy!<? // Assign variables for connecting to MYSQL Host $dsn = 'mysql:host = localhost;dbname=litebox;'; $user = 'user'; $password = ''; // Test the connection, alert if fails - very similar to C# or //any other try/catch in a programming language in a sense try { $sqlconn = new PDO($dsn, $user, $password); //echo 'success'; } catch (PDOException $e) { echo 'Connection failed: ' .$e->getMessage(); } ?> http://bobbyhash.com/?articleID=152 http://bobbyhash.com/?articleID=152 Bobby Hash Home hmedia@hmediapro.com (Bobby Hash) Sat, 16 Aug 2008 00:01:05 GMT Originally posted Thursday, November 16th, 2006 at bobbyhash.blogspot.comUpdates applied May 20th, 2007 at bobbyhash.blogspot.com - Salvaged for BobbyHash.com July 14th, 2008.Friends always harass me about who my web development and design instructors are. I give them the names of instructors I have taken. Unfortunately what they do not realize is the concepts that have made me successful were learned outside the classroom. I must attribute what I have learned to the fact that I started out designing web sites at an early age and was producing for clients at the same speed. I was a daily user before I could grasp how web sites worked inside and out. I read various tutorials online. I learned a lot from the days Angelfire.com was a widely popular free server and WebMonkey was its tutorial counterpart. Years later I own my server and create ways to produce my web sites. Learning is something you never finish in this industry. To this day I still learn something from every project that I take in. The amount that I know about this industry is far greater than it was when I graduated high school. Heck, what I've learned in the past two years (thanks to Chris Pund's talk about Web 2.0 way back in the days of 2005) has really amazed me. I also run into various situations where I learn just how little I know about this industry. This is critical as it really showcases where one needs to improve. LAMP. Web 2.0. AJAX. The User Experience. Hello Divs. Bye Bye Tables. The world in front of us developers is changing ever so rapidly. How does one keep up with the break-neck pace of it all? Online forums, social bookmarking, and web sites geared toward the profession are a tremendous start in terms of help. It also doesn't hurt to have a Barnes & Noble near by either. Just think - go there, grab a cup of coffee, hit up the technology section and read some of the latest books out. It's a cheap and effective way to see what authors are writing about. Think those two previous steps aren't enough? Develop for clients, but do your research on products similar to what you are developing. Take note of the trends.As of right now, you may wonder what are the emerging technlogies and trends. From my user experience and work as a developer, here is my input on WHAT you should know if you want to be effective in this field of work:The Original List for May 20th, 2007 - Bare Essentials:HTML 4.01XHTMLCSSWeb-Development:XHTMLCSSJavascriptPHPASP, ASP.NETC++AJAXJAVAPERLXMLMySQL, SQL, AccessLAMP, WAMPWeb-DesignStandards Compliance & DesignValidationUser Interface TrendsComplimentary Colors, the rule of 3Simplicity, not Graphic IntenseDesign for lowest medium possibleSection 508I know personally I have left out a lot. Just from that list though, it is obvious this field of work spans a wide variety of technologies to meet a specific, common purpose. This field of work isn't going to level off anytime soon. With technology trends and mobility increasing in demand with each day, the thirst to meet those needs will become even more evident.Thank the Lord for my freelancing abilities - without them I could not up to date, ahead, or let alone in the game itself. My How Things Change By 2008Bare Essentials: HTML 4.01 (now upgrading to 5)XHTMLCSSXMLUnderstand User MechanicsPrinciples of Digital CommunicationMust Have Some Skills In Writing For The Web Web-Development (Server-Side): ASP.NETPHPC#.Net FrameworkJAVAColdFusion (especially in government projects)XMLC++PERLMySQLSQLMSSQLOraclePostGreSQLConcepts such as LAMP, WAMP, WIMALincus, Apache, MySQL, PHPWindows, Apache, MySQL, PHPWindows, IIS, MSSQL, ASP.NETServices (List from Wikipedia - Can Include But Not Limited To:)BEEP - Blocks Extensible Exchange ProtocolBPEL - Business Process Execution LanguageE-Business XMLHessianJSON-RPCREST (Representational State Transfer)SOAP - outgrowth of XML-RPC, originally an acronym for Simple Object Access ProtocolUniversal Description, Discovery, and Integration (UDDI)Web Services Description Language (WSDL)WSFL - Web Services Flow Language (superseded by BPEL)WSCL - Web Services Conversation LanguageXINS Standard Calling Convention - HTTP parameters in (GET/POST/HEAD), POX outXLANG - XLANG-Specification (superseded by BPEL)XML-RPC - XML Remote Procedure CallPHP FrameworksCakePHPCodeIgnitorZend FrameworkSymfony ProjectJavascript FrameworksPrototypeJQueryASP.NET AJAXMootoolsYahoo User Interface LibraryDojo IDEsVisual StudioVs.PHPPHPEclipseZendWeb-Design Standards Compliance & DesignValidationUser Interface TrendsKeep It SimpleComplimentary Colors, the rule of 3Simplicity, not Graphic IntenseVisual Cues Meets ExplanationDesign For Lowest Medium PossibleSection 508 http://bobbyhash.com/?articleID=144 http://bobbyhash.com/?articleID=144 Industry hmedia@hmediapro.com (Bobby Hash) Fri, 15 Aug 2008 03:20:20 GMT As some of you may know, I just recently accepted a position to move on to Virginia Tech as a developer for the Office of the VP of Research.Virginia Tech is a fine institution and will allow me to return to the New River Valley (where I attended Radford University). I feel it will allow me to broaden my career expertise and allow me another proving ground in my field.I would like to personally thank all of my friends and collegues I've made at The Results Companies. Nico, James, Ian, Sarah, Blaine, Ben - You've all been an aset during my corporate experience. I have grown a lot under the tutileage of you all. We've shared a lot of laughs, explicitives, victories, and frustrations. I wish you all the best and don't be afraid to give me a call if you ever need anything.Eric, Jason, Diane, Jon, Kevin, Dave, Michael, Rose, Cindy, Ryan, JoBeth, Dondea, Bobbie, Amy, Chris, Sherry, Cindy, MichelleI think each and every one of us have been through a lot in the growth of this company. I appreciate all of your hardwork and honest critiques during times of development. I know you'll all keep bringing great ideas to the table to increase the strength of Results Galax.Although I will still be a contracted developer for Results - It's time to move on. It's time to take up a new challenge. http://bobbyhash.com/?articleID=150 http://bobbyhash.com/?articleID=150 Bobby Hash Home hmedia@hmediapro.com (Bobby Hash) Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:41:52 GMT As some of you may know, I just recently accepted a position to move on to Virginia Tech as a developer for the Office of the VP of Research.Virginia Tech is a fine institution and will allow me to return to the New River Valley (where I attended Radford University). I feel it will allow me to broaden my career expertise and allow me another proving ground in my field.I would like to personally thank all of my friends and collegues I've made at The Results Companies. Nico, James, Ian, Sarah, Blaine, Ben - You've all been an aset during my corporate experience. I have grown a lot under the tutileage of you all. We've shared a lot of laughs, explicitives, victories, and frustrations. I wish you all the best and don't be afraid to give me a call if you ever need anything.Eric, Jason, Diane, Jon, Kevin, Dave, Michael, Rose, Cindy, Ryan, JoBeth, Dondea, Bobbie, Amy, Chris, Sherry, Cindy, MichelleI think each and every one of us have been through a lot in the growth of this company. I appreciate all of your hardwork and honest critiques during times of development. I know you'll all keep bringing great ideas to the table to increase the strength of Results Galax.Although I will still be a contracted developer for Results - It's time to move on. It's time to take up a new challenge. http://bobbyhash.com/?articleID=150 http://bobbyhash.com/?articleID=150 personal hmedia@hmediapro.com (Bobby Hash) Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:41:52 GMT After being a full-time Windows developer for a year or more, it's going to be fun moving back into the world of PHP.Now if I could only get over typing void rather than function.....Fortunately, I've been refreshing in my spare-time. Also - knowing the principles of object-oriented programming helps too.Bring on the challenge! http://bobbyhash.com/?articleID=151 http://bobbyhash.com/?articleID=151 personal hmedia@hmediapro.com (Bobby Hash) Tue, 12 Aug 2008 23:33:22 GMT After being a full-time Windows developer for a year or more, it's going to be fun moving back into the world of PHP.Now if I could only get over typing void rather than function.....Fortunately, I've been refreshing in my spare-time. Also - knowing the principles of object-oriented programming helps too.Bring on the challenge! http://bobbyhash.com/?articleID=151 http://bobbyhash.com/?articleID=151 Bobby Hash Home hmedia@hmediapro.com (Bobby Hash) Tue, 12 Aug 2008 23:33:22 GMT