WELCOME

Welcome the Installation notes for the PADDA (PHP Application for
Developing Database Applications) - a RAD environment for developing
database driven applications for the internet.

LICENSE

PADDA is released under the GNU Public License, (which should be
included in fill with the PADDA source distribution as LICENSE). This
license means that you are free to use, copy, distribute and modify
the files associated with PADDA, on condition your modifications are
released under the same (GPL) license, and that this license is
distributed with any copies of this software that you may pass on to
others.

QUICK INSTALLATION

For the impatient, here is the quick guide to installing PADDA:

1)Install APACHE
2)Install PHP 4.0.x
3)unpack the PADDA distribution into your web server's directory tree
e.g. 
	tar xvfz PADDA_[date].tar.gz /var/www/html

4)Go to the installated directory
e.g.
	cd /var/www/html/padda
5)Create the PADDA database for mySQL
e.g.
	mysqladmin create PADDA
6)Dump the PADDA table structures and data into this database
e.g.
	mysql PADDA < PADDA_mysql.sql
7)Modify the padda/inc/config.php file, providing appropriate details for the
database, username and password to be used to connect to the PADDA
backend.

8)To get the sample application going (an application that 
administers the PADDA tables), edit the padda/index.php file and setup
the username, password and database (should be PADDA if using above
instructions) for the $myConn connection object.  

9)Point your browser (Mozilla or IE known to work ok) at
http://yourwebserver/pathtopadda/
e.g.
	http://myserver.com/padda


FEATURES

PADDA provides the following features:

	-abstraction layer for mySQL, postGRES and SYBASE/MSSQL
	databases
	-datacontrol widget with [<< < > >> * SAVE DELETE] functions
	that automate the navigation through a recordset. The control
	is simply passed a table name with an optional filter and
	thereafter handles all dataset navigation.
	-template based form construction with rich databound contols
	such as crosspicker / combo / list / textbox / checkbox
	controls. This list is increasing all the time.
	-template based reporting system with mulitlevel nesting
	capabilities.
	-automatic database drive generation of DHTML menus (using the
	HEIRMENU javascript
	http://www.webreference.com/dhtml/column58/). The PADDA
	implements a system of CONTEXTS, meaning that your menus
	can be made to change dynamcally, depending on which part of
	the PADDA-enable web site you are on.
	-abstracted design allows for future support of other
	technologies such as WAP /cHTML with minimal effort.
	-PADDA is OpenSource, which means you can modify it according
	to your own needs.
	

REQUIREMENTS

Apache
PHP 4.0.x
mySQL / postgreSQL / MSSQL 7 sp2
Browser must be javascript compliant and support DHTML

GETTING HELP / DOCUMENTATION

Full API documentation is available as part of this distribution in
the directory padda/classdocs.

For email assistance, contact tim_lnx@yahoo.co.uk or
aaturner@cncjnk.wcape.gov.za.

PRICING / COST

This may be foreign to some of you working in commercial contexts, but
PADDA is available at no charge. If you would like to make a donation
of some kind, it can be contributed to Andrew Turner's (who as well as
being a software dude, is also a herpetologist) research and
conservation activities for reptiles and amphibians in the Western
Cape Province of South Africa. Address your cheques to:

Andrew Turner
Western Cape Nature Conservation Board
Scientific Services Board
P Bag x18
Stellenbosch
Cape Town
South Africa
7700

Please make any monies payable to 'Western Cape Nature Conservation
Board' and attach a note that the money is to be used specifically by
the Scientific Services Division for Research Projects and
Conservation Efforts involving the Herpetofauna of the Western Cape
Province.

Tim Sutton, 2001