PHP is a rapidly growing open source web scripting language—the most popular Apache web server module, used in over 7,000,000 domains. There is a huge demand to integrate dynamic content into Flash sites and, as a competitor with ASP, JSP and ColdFusion, PHP has the advantages of being free, easy to learn and capable of running on just about any platform.

When used in conjunction with Flash, PHP can process, store and create new data. PHP can also work as a bridge between the Flash movie and external data sources, enabling web designers to build dynamic, interactive web applications, incorporating information from a host of databases, and including features such as e-mail integration and dynamically-generated images.

As an ingredient to a website, PHP can help a designer develop the functional potential of their work and set them above the growing multitude of motion graphics artists. Written completely with the designer in mind, this easy-to-follow Foundation book offers a thorough tutorial which will build your PHP skills from nothing to the point where processing, storing and creating new data is like second nature.

What you’ll learn

Who this book is for

Any professional working designer who is interested in learning a new scripting language. Although the book uses Flash examples, it also serves as a designer-centric introduction to PHP and MySQL for those who want to use it outwith or beyond Flash.

Flash users at any level who want to get starting with dynamic data integration, adding a new edge to their Flash projects with a minimum of fuss.

Amazon.com Review
Written for the Flash developer who wants to do more, Steve Webster's PHP for Flash shows how to combine simple server-side scripts with Flash to create smarter, more versatile Web applications. With a truly engaging writing style and a sharp visual sense, this title will let any working Flash programmer make the transition to simple server-side scripting with PHP.

While most programming books print source code as is, this one distinguishes itself with a keen visual presentation with graphics used to highlight sections of both Flash ActionScript and basic PHP. It also helps that Webster is a notably lively writer. A few guiding principles govern this text. First, all the interfaces are created in Flash and ActionScript, and the book walks you through the steps required to build these designs.

After a basic tutorial of the PHP language, the author uses PHP to add additional functionality to Flash-powered Web applications, from managing user registration to searching news articles using regular expressions. This text provides one of the best (and most truly accessible) tutorials for understanding and using regular expressions. While most writers pass the buck to difficult online resources for regular expressions, the author takes the time to explain and demonstrate how regular expressions really work, with clear examples and a nicely patient presentation style.

Later, the book zeros in on using the MySQL database package for storing and retrieving data from Flash applications. To this end, there's a quick introduction to programming with SQL and how to query and update data using PHP combined with MySQL. Later chapters present case studies of larger Flash applications that make use of techniques demonstrated earlier, like a customizable user poll, a simple event scheduler, plus a threaded discussion forum. With a winning writing style and a concise presentation that makes smart use of graphics, PHP for Flash will put simple PHP programming within reach of anyone who has a little previous familiarity with Flash. --Richard Dragan

Topics covered: Overview of PHP 4 and scripting essentials, loading external data in Flash (a registration script), PHP language fundamentals (including variables, data types, arrays), using functions (calling conventions), string handling in PHP, in-depth tutorial on PHP regular expressions, using cookies, file I/O tutorial, introduction to the MySQL database platform, basic SQL syntax tutorial, using PHP and MySQL together (a simple content management system), case study for a user poll (including administration modules), event planner scheduler application, case study for a threaded discussion Web application, reference for installing PHP and MySQL, object-oriented programming essentials in PHP, and resources for PHP.