Okay, I've avoided learning this programming thing and all the multiple languages involved. Apparently, I can avoid no longer and am requesting some basic help... I have a web site hosted elsewhere that's html based with some extra DHTML thingies here or there - nothing difficult and of course, nothing extravagant. I have some knowledge but not enough and realize there's A LOT to learn so please excuse any stupid questions I may have... What I would like to do: Is AIM with someone who is interested in my current dilemma which is trying to get a phpBB forum up on my web site and connect to my database. My hosting company is of no help and of course the support at phpBB is limited to their software only. Please email me with your screen name so I can add you to my buddy list to chat. I am a very fast learner with a perfectfully functioning brain but without any programming foundation to start from. (You know, it's like learning to replace a distributor cap on a car without even knowing where the hood release latch is.) For those uninterested in assisting via AIM, by all means post your advice or recommend a good book for me. Thank you. =o)

(First of all, regarding the metaphor with the car, I totally understand. Really. heh) Anyway, http://www.php.net is a great place to go for PHP. I don't know how good the tutorials are or anything, but the function list is awesome to just find a function to do what you want to do. http://perl.about.com has some tutorials on it, for PHP, Perl, and MySQL (along with some other things as well). Of course, if you're unsure about something, just ask a question here and we'll try to answer it. Good luck! -zeroguy

Follow the installation instructions in the zipped PHPBB file or here. (Get the latest version, of course). If you are stuck in this, post your problem. PHPBB is very easy to use. It does not require programming knowledge to set up.

zeroguy: Thanks for your understanding and info. I will check those links out. (checking as I type) I love finding those doo-dads and believe me, I have a list of them I'd love to get up on my web site. =o) anonproxy: As for phpBB - no doubt, it seems very easy. It's installing it correctly, or rather, connecting to the database that I am having trouble with. I followed the installation instructions perfectly - been to their forum and posted my problem and so far, no one has been able to help resolve the problem. Do you know phpBB well? It is my understanding that one needs to setup or have access to a database on their server and then the phpBB install program sets up the database tables. I can't get past the installation screen with the database name/user name/password that my hoster provided. I have no idea how else to connect to the database and I don't believe I have shell access. Even if I do have shell access, I've been told to use the SSH program and I haven't a clue how. *LoL* Any ideas are welcome... Thanks for answering my post. =o)

"It is my understanding that one needs to setup or have access to a database on their server and then the phpBB install program sets up the database tables." Yes, you need access to a database and a database file created. That's it. "I have no idea how else to connect to the database and I don't believe I have shell access." Do you have a control panel or some other interface through which you can see if MySQL database access is enabled? Often you can use such an interface to make a database (the file, not the program). Go to your web hosting provider and check their help/support files. They should answer your questions about whether you have a database, how to create a database (the file), what you database account name and password are, etc.. In the PHPBB installation place the following values: server: localhost [literally, put that in] database name: username [usually is your account username] database username: username [usually same] database password: password [again, same as account usually] Prefix for tables in database: phpbb_ [don't change, you don't care] Admin Configuration: Admin Email: email@address [anything you want] Domain Name: www.myaddress.com [your website address] Server Port: 80 Script Path: [should be filled, if it's blank, fill it in like www.address.com/phpbb/ - with that last slash] Administrator Username: admin [anything you want] Adimistrator Password: password [anything you want] Admistrator Password (confirm): password [re-enter the password]

anonproxy: Yup, done all that so many times I've lost count. On a whim, I tried a little while ago and recieved a new error. Posted in the phpBB support forum and they responded saying it has been my hoster that's creating the problem. (apparently has been all along - that it should suddenly "connect") *LoL* My hoster sux, to put it lightly. Nope, no control panel in fact, their stinkin' file manager doesn't even work. I think that it's possible I know more than they do. (scary) *LoL* I appreciate your posts - thanks. I'm sure I'll have more Qs shortly...

Ahhh... okay, it's one of two things... (according to phpBB.com) Either I have to irritate my hoster to the point where they'll grant my db user more permissions or... if I can create my own db user w/permissions using this nifty tool called phpMyAdmin. Okay, so here's the trouble. Assuming I can use that program/that my hoster has allowed me the ability to create a new db user... I have NO IDEA how to work that program. *sigh* Know of any place that has a walk-thru type thing? Thanks =o)