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Weekly Assignment:

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Week 2: PHP Basics and CGI: Script-Generated Pages

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Weekly Assignment:

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Week 3: Database Design, MySQL, and the SQL Language - Part 1

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Weekly Assignment:
The basis of this week's assignment is to create and manipulate a table of your own creation, but also to show what you did and present it in a web page that is created by a PHP script. Thus, all SQL statements that you issue will be documented in your web page, as well as how each statement affected the data in your table. Here are more specific instructions:

• Create a table of your choosing which contains the following columns: an ID column, at least one numeric column (i.e. integer, double, or decimal), at least one string column (i.e. varchar, text, or blob), and at least one date or time column (i.e. date, time, datetime, etc). Show a visual representation of the columns of your table in your PHP-generated web page. You can use the "Print View" link on the PhpMyAdmin "Structure" page and take a snapshot of your table in PhotoShop and present it as an image, or you can cut and paste the HTML from the "Print View" link into your PHP script, or use whatever means necessary to show the structure of your table inside of your PHP-generated web page.
• Using the INSERT statement in the PhpMyAdmin SQL window, create at least 5 records.
• Inside of your PHP-generated web page, list the INSERT statements that were used to create your data set. Then show all records in your table. You can use the "Print View" link on the PhpMyAdmin "Browse" page and take a snapshot of your table in PhotoShop and present it as an image, or you can cut and paste the HTML from the "Print View" link into your PHP script, or use whatever means necessary to show the contents of your table inside of your PHP-generated web page.
• Using the SELECT statement in the PhpMyAdmin SQL window, make at three targeted queries. One should be based upon a numeric column (i.e. where id=5), one should be based upon a text query (i.e. where name='Jones') and one should be based upon a datetime column (i.e. where date>'4/1/2001'). Show each query and its respective results inside of your PHP-generated web page.
• Using the UPDATE statement in the PhpMyAdmin SQL window, change at least one of the records in your table. Show the statement and the new contents of your table inside of your PHP-generated web page.
• Using the DELETE statement in the PhpMyAdmin SQL window, remove at least one but not all of the records in your table. Show the statement and the new contents of your table inside of your PHP-generated web page.

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Week 4: Database Design, MySQL, and the SQL Language - Part 2

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Weekly Assignment:
Pick a raw data set of your choosing that contains at least 10 records, and normalize it through the three forms of normalization, making sure that the design changes with each step. The design of your raw data set is what will help demonstrate your knowledge of what defines each step of normalization, so choose it carefully. Your design must consist of several tables. Take snapshots of your design at each step and present them in a web page generated by PHP such that we can dissect them in class.

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Week 5: PHP Talks to MySQL: The Web to the Database and Back

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Weekly Assignment:
Create a web page that accepts user input and stores it in a table (or tables) in your database. This page should also be able to display the contents of your table(s) in some interesting way. As always, try to choose your data and functionality in some coherent fashion, paying particular attention to user interface design. Why would someone want to use this little application you've created? Why is it important that whatever activity they have performed be persistent in your database? On a more technical level, this means that PHP will have to perform at least one SELECT query, at least one INSERT query, possibly an UPDATE query, and possibly a DELETE query. However, the functionality of your interface is ultimately more inportant than the range of SQL operations it needs to perform.

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Week 6: Basic PHP Tricks and Bulk Data Population

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Weekly Assignment:
Your assignment is start working on your mid-term project, which is due Oct 27th. Your mid-term project cannot be a collaborative effort with another student, as each student must show a core proficiency in the basic concepts that have been taught up to now. You will be free to collaborate on your final project if desired. The main technical requirements for the mid-term project are as follows:

• Well-architected HTML front-end demonstrating a firm grasp of form widgets
• Normalized multiple-table database design
• PHP scripting that incorporates error checking, database manipulation, and proper user feedback

• A description page containing a paragraph explaining your project, and an image screenshot of your database design.
• A working demo. If your demo requires a login to see various functionality, then the login page should either allow for new user registration or indicate a valid username/password combination to login.
• Note: If your demo is not hosted on the ITP Stage server, then please provide links so that I can view the source code to all relevant scripts (re-saving "script.php" as "script.php.txt" and linking to the latter will accomplish this) or email them to me.

Week 7: Advanced PHP Tricks and Site Architecture Basics

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Weekly Assignment:
Your assignment is to continue your work on your mid-term project.

Please be prepared to present your project next week. Also, please make sure that your description page and your working demo link to each other such that you can easily switch between them. Note that if your project isn't functioning properly, it is still far better to submit it than to submit nothing, because we can dissect any problems during class.

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Week 8: Mid-Term Project Presentations

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Your finished mid-term project should consist of the following:

• A description page containing a paragraph explaining your project, and an image screenshot of your database design.
• A working demo. If your demo requires a login to see various functionality, then the login page should either allow for new user registration or indicate a valid username/password combination to login.
• If your demo is not hosted on the ITP Stage server, then please provide links such that I can view the source code to all relevant scripts (re-saving "script.php" as "script.php.txt" and linking to the latter will accomplish this). Alternatively, you can email them to me.

Week 9: CSS, The DOM, and Basic Javascript

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Weekly Assignment:
Your assignment is to create a PHP script that uses CSS and basic JavaScript to enhance its visual design and functionality. Pay particular attention to your user interface design, as your use of these technologies should augment your page's capability, and not simply exist just to fulfill the assignment.

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Week 10: XML, AJAX, Frameworks and Web Service Basics

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Weekly Assignment:
Your assignment is to create a PHP script that uses Javascript to interact with a web service API. Please feel free to use a Javascript framework to handle the parsing of web service data and to streamline the display process.

Recommended Reading/Reference:

Week 11: Web Service Integration, Mashups, and Facebook Apps

Week 12: Interfacing with Flash

Week 13: Final Project Workshop

Week 14: Final Project Presentation