Completely A Newbie Please Help

I am trying to figure out how to get started. I did check with my the place where I'm hosted and they do support PHP 4.1 they actually are support PHP 4.3.10 But I"m wondering since I"m a newbie would it be better to try to install the guestbook v.1 51 version.

I'm first trying to follow the first set of instructions for the Advanced Guestbook 2.3.3 which is:
1. Open the configuration file 'config.inc.php' with a text editor
and set up your database settings.

WHAT ARE ME DATABASE SETTINGS? WHERE ARE THEY, IS THERE SOMETHING TO GO BY?

Okay, second instructions which are:
2. Create the tables for the guestbook:
mysql -u<user> -p<pass> <database> < guestbook.sql
Or use the script 'install.php' -> http://www.yourDomain.com/guestbook/install.php

WHAT TABLES ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT, AND CAN I JUST USE THE SCRIPT INSTALL .PHP TO INSTALL EVERYTHING FOR ME?

Then there's step three instructions
3. Give write permissions to these directories:

- public - 777 (drwxrwxrwx) (directory)
- tmp - 777 (drwxrwxrwx) (directory)

I THINK I SAW SOMETHING IN MY FILE MANAGER THAT HAD THOSE NUMBER IN IT.

What is this step for?
4. The default account is:

Username : test
Password : 123

AND AS FOR THE REST OF THE STUFF THAT'S IN THE ZIP FILE, WHERE TO DO PUT IT. LIKE ALL OF THE GIF'S, PANEL STYLE AND SO ON. DO I MAKE SOME KIND OF FOLDER TO PLACE ALL OF THIS IN THEN UPLOAD IT? DO I USE ALL OF THIS STUFF THAT CAME WITH THE ZIP FILE???

Any help would be great appriecitated.. Thank you

songwriter wrote:I'm first trying to follow the first set of instructions for the Advanced Guestbook 2.3.3 which is:
1. Open the configuration file 'config.inc.php' with a text editor
and set up your database settings.

WHAT ARE ME DATABASE SETTINGS? WHERE ARE THEY, IS THERE SOMETHING TO GO BY?

Advanced Guestbook requires a database. The database is provided by your hosting company. If you have CPanel, it will tell you if your hosting package includes databases and how many. If you are allowed databases, you can create them in CPanel or PhpMyAdmin. Some hosting packages, like mine, will only allow database creation from CPanel.

songwriter wrote:Okay, second instructions which are:
2. Create the tables for the guestbook:
mysql -u<user> -p<pass> <database> < guestbook.sql
Or use the script 'install.php' -> http://www.yourDomain.com/guestbook/install.php

WHAT TABLES ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT, AND CAN I JUST USE THE SCRIPT INSTALL .PHP TO INSTALL EVERYTHING FOR ME?

The database needs tables to hold the data. Most people can use install.php as it is to create the tables. The instructions for using it are in the readme file that came with the script. Other people, like me, cannot use install.php as it is, because it includes an instruction to create the database. Since my hosting plan will only allow the creation of databases in CPanel, if I run install.php as it is, it produces an error message. So, I have to manually create the database in CPanel and then go to PhpMyAdmin and create the tables using a .sql file. You should probably try install.php and see if it will work for you. If not, check with your host.

songwriter wrote:Then there's step three instructions
3. Give write permissions to these directories:

- public - 777 (drwxrwxrwx) (directory)
- tmp - 777 (drwxrwxrwx) (directory)

I THINK I SAW SOMETHING IN MY FILE MANAGER THAT HAD THOSE NUMBER IN IT.

You need to read the sticky that says "READ THIS BEFORE POSTING ADVANCED GUESTBOOK QUESTIONS." In it there is a link to a post which explains this. Look for CHMOD explanations. There are also links to posts explaining how to edit the config.inc.php file.

songwriter wrote:What is this step for?
4. The default account is:

Username : test
Password : 123?

The guestbook has an administration section. You need the username and password to access it. Then you change it.

songwriter wrote:AND AS FOR THE REST OF THE STUFF THAT'S IN THE ZIP FILE, WHERE TO DO PUT IT. LIKE ALL OF THE GIF'S, PANEL STYLE AND SO ON. DO I MAKE SOME KIND OF FOLDER TO PLACE ALL OF THIS IN THEN UPLOAD IT? DO I USE ALL OF THIS STUFF THAT CAME WITH THE ZIP FILE???

You upload the "guestbook" folder over to your server, keeping all of the subdirectories and files in tact. Using FTP, just drag "guestbook" over to your public_html directory. (Although I usually remove the doc folder afterward). Once you get everything working, it is important you remove the install.php file from your server for security reasons.

The guestbook needs some modifications, especially spam prevention. Since you are a newbie, maybe you should consider Carbonize's Lazarus Guestbook, which already has the modifications.

Where do I find this Carbonize's Lazarus Guestbook?

Thank you anyway

http://www.carbonize.co.uk/lazarus.php

I would like to point out that the install.php file ONLY tries to create the database if you tell it to. It offers two option,create database and tables or just create tables.

Sorry. I'm sure I was confusing it with some other script that produced that error.