Web Programming for Business

PHP Object-Oriented Programming with Oracle

David Paper

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2015
• eBook ISBN: 9781136671890
• Topic: Computer Science
• Subtopic: Business General
• Index: Computer Science

Web Programming for Business: PHP Object-Oriented Programming with Oracle focuses on fundamental PHP coding, giving students practical, enduring skills to solve data and technical problems in business.

Using Oracle as the backend database, the book is version-neutral, teaching students code that will still work even with changes to PHP and Oracle. The code is clean, clearly explained and solutions-oriented, allowing students to understand how technologies such as XML, RSS or AJAX can be leveraged in business applications. The book is fully illustrated with examples, and includes chapters on:

• Database functionality
• Security programming
• Transformation programming to move data

Powerpoint slides, applied exam questions, and the raw code for all examples are available on a companion website. This book offers an innovative approach that allows anyone with basic SQL and HTML skills to learn PHP object-oriented programming.

1 Linux, HTML, PHP, and JavaScript Basics

DOI: 10.4324/9780203582084-1

Overview

The 2014 Fall semester marks my 18th year teaching PHP web scripting (programming) with Oracle as the back-end database. Over the years, many of my students have commented on programming skills developed, ability to secure a good job and discipline to help advance careers acquired by successfully completing the course. This book is based on what I have learned, how I have learned, continuous interactions with industry experts (web developers, database engineers, and application programmers), my experiences as a programmer, consultant, and analyst, and clear and concise programming fundamentals. Although technology changes rapidly, programming fundamentals remain relatively constant. The code included in these chapters has changed little over the years and still works even with new distributions of Linux, PHP, JavaScript, and Oracle. Of course, I tweak and add new code as I learn more.

In my technology teaching experiences, I have learned that clean, clear, concise, and systematic code examples with explanations go a long way in helping students learn, digest, and apply technologies, such as various types of programming and database activities. Also, teaching fundamentals has proven to be key in establishing a strong technological base in my students. Feedback from numerous industry employers who hire our students have indicated that my classes offer excellent and enduring technology fundamentals (which is one of the most important reasons why they hire our students).

So, this book strives to offer programming fundamentals presented in a clear, concise, and practical manner. In later chapters, I include applications using the fundamentals included in these chapters.

Web programming is only possible with an appropriate information technology (IT) platform. An IT platform can take many forms, but must include an operating system (OS), programming (or scripting) language, web browser, web server, and database management system (DBMS). The platform I use includes Linux as the OS, PHP as the scripting language, a web browser (Google Chrome is my preference), and Oracle as the DBMS.

I have an IT expert install and maintain Oracle, Linux, and PHP on a computer server. Our industry advisory board endorses the IT platform I have just described. My current platform includes Oracle 12c, Linux (Redhat Fedora), and PHP 5.3.14. My IT expert creates Linux and Oracle accounts on a server for each student. Students create and save PHP scripts on their Linux accounts using PuTTY (or MobaXterm), and use Oracle SQL Developer to interact with Oracle. When students need to securely transfer files, they use WinSCP.

Chapter 1 covers Linux, HTML, JavaScript, and PHP basics. Although basics are covered, I recommend visiting w3schools’ or other websites for tutorials to deepen knowledge of Linux, HTML, PHP, and JavaScript. The w3schools’ URL is www.w3schools.com/.

Learning Objectives

After completing this chapter, you will gain a fundamental understanding of Linux, HTML, PHP, and JavaScript through explanation and code examples. The following objectives summarize the skills the chapter will help you develop:

1. Learn how to install and use ‘PuTTY’.
2. Learn how to install and use ‘WinSCP’.
3. Learn how to install and use ‘Oracle SQL Developer’.
4. Learn the basics of Linux (as an end user).
5. Learn the basics of HTML.
6. Learn the basics of PHP.
7. Learn the basics of JavaScript.

Install and Use PuTTY

‘PuTTY’ is a free and open-source terminal emulator application that can act as a client program for SSH, Telnet, and Rlogin network protocols. ‘PuTTY’ is used to connect to a user account on Linux. ‘PuTTY’ opens a window where anything typed is sent straight to the Linux machine and the response from Linux is sent back to the open window. So, you can work on the Linux machine as if you were sitting at its console, while actually sitting in a remote location. To download ‘PuTTY’, Google the keywords ‘putty download’ and choose the hyperlink ‘PuTTY Download Page’ (Figure 1.1). The version may change over time. Feel free to use another site if you wish. The site is only recommended because it is the one that I use.

Figure 1.1 PuTTY Download Page

On the ‘PuTTY Download Page’ (Figure 1.2), choose the ‘putty.exe’ link. This is the first link under ‘For Windows on Intel x86’. Click the down arrow (to the right of the downloaded file ‘putty.exe’) and choose ‘Show in folder’. Your computer automatically opens the ‘Downloads’ directory. Find the ‘putty’ icon in this directory and open it. Click ‘Run’ to open ‘PuTTY’.

Figure 1.2Hyperlink to Putty Download Page (http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/download.html)

The ‘PuTTY Configuration’ window opens automatically. Type the name of the server for ‘Host Name’ and the ‘Port’ for the port where Linux is listening for requests. Your IT expert should provide this information. In my case, I use ‘SSH’ to enhance security, which is recommended. So, after you type in the host and port information be sure to click the ‘SSH’ button (if you use SSH). Click ‘Open’ to begin your session. Now, you should see the console. To access Linux account information, enter your ‘username’. When Linux prompts you for your password, enter it. Your IT expert will provide this information (Figure 1.3). If username and password are accepted, you are logged into Linux (Figure 1.4). Type ‘exit’ to close the session.

Figure 1.3 Username and Password to SSH into Linux Server

Figure 1...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Half-title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication Page
• Table Of Contents
• List of Illustrations
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• 1 Linux, HTML, PHP, and JavaScript Basics
• 2 Object-Oriented Concepts and Fundamentals
• 3 Login Security
• 4 Input Validation and Report Generation
• 5 XML in Action
• 6 Standard PHP Library and the Iterator Interface
• 7 XML Database Transformation and AJAX
• 8 Really Simple Syndication and PHP Data Objects
• Index