I have a suggestion that I have seen implemented on other coding forums I belong to and I would LOVE to see it here.
We should have a code fragment listing or database. I am talking about anyone and everyone lending their expertise for the greater good.
I am NOT talking about sample how-to's, where you need to figure most of it out. I am talking about whole code fragments GUARENTEED to work in PHPRunner (I have found that many of the code fragments out there for php, javascript and mysql do not work in phprunner as expected for whatever reason) as listed. I know that there are a bunch of good tips both here and in other parts of this forum, so I am talking about a sticky or downloadable list that we can use as an online or offline reference - but of working code fragments, not riddles where you are lead in the general direction, but you have to figure it out for yourself.
I learn coding by taking other's examples and re-using it or taking it apart to see why it works. If I am in a corner and need something fast, it is far easier and more reliable to use a code fragment and massage it for my needs than to figure it out from scratch.
Don't get me wrong, PHPRunner is an AWESOME program, one of the best I have ever used for database design and programming (my experience in the past is limited to Visual Basic, Access and Dbase). However, I do tend to get unexpected results in PHPRunner. More than likely, this is due to my noob status as a php/mysql programmer. Code fragments help me immensely. I know the manual has plenty of how-to's, but they are not full-featured examples, but starters to get you started - to give you a push in the right direction. I just don't want to GUESS. I want to plug in some code (for various examples) and it works.
I know Xlinesoft has a pay-for-coding service, and I have used it many times at this point. However, sometimes I just don't have the requisite times it takes to communicate with their staff over the obviously great distance (I think their programmer is from Russia and I am in the USA). They almost always get back to me within 24 to 48 hours, but sometimes I need an answer in minutes - and searching on the internet, I can find some code here and there, but when I try to marry it to PHPRunner, it NEVER works right 'out of the box' and my coding skills are still too weak in php or mysql to get it right.
That said, I paid for Xlinesoft to code some rather difficult parts and they did - and we eventually got everything working once I found all the problems and ironed them out. More than that, I now can take that coding and apply it to similar additions to the database that gets asked for. That's the beauty of code fragments. You 'plug' them in when needed.
An example:
How to figure out the birthdate in years from a date picker (ie. Fred is 49). The exact how-to with code and where it should go in the PHPRunner universe would be a massive time saver for someone like me. Remember, php and mysql do not have visual editors and EVENTS. It's just code. Even though PHPRunner makes all of this easier, it is more difficult in its own way. I find that something I could have EASILY coded in Visual Basic drives me FREAKIN NUTS to figure out in PHPRunner!!!
So, what do you think?
Mike