Making Forums in Flash MX

[ezekun]

Does anyone know if it is possible to make forums using flash mx? Or making some kind of board where users who view the page can type text and its posted instantly. ANYONE? PLEASE HELP

[pellepiano]

Yes, but you need a serverside script like php, cgi or asp to save things to the server.

If your server supports php theres a free Flash forum/guestbook at www.flash-db.com

[Wok]

You will also need a Database...

[webdreamer]

Not true wok!

I downloaded a flash forum template with all files needed from www.Flash-db.com
The forum fla use's txt files instead of the db. It would be ok for those who don't know much about back-end scripting. I used it myself to get to grips with flash forums. {next project}!
If that dosent work u could always do what i have done and buy "PHP 4 Flash" Friends of ed.
http://www.phpforflash.com/
I am currently building the flash forum that is one of the case studies in this book.

Anyways i am off to try and get my own problem sorted.
L8r peeps

[amaretti]

Yes, the PHPforFlash Book is really good, highly recommended, it takes you through the basics of setting up MySQL and PHP so that even a munchkin like myself could understand it.

[webdreamer]

I would recommend the book to anyone wanting to break into php with flash. I have been flashing 4 years and it's only been in the past 6 months that i have started using php and mysql with flash.
It's a skoosh
And it's all thanks to that book.
I really need to get this site finished so i can show it off!!!

[ezekun]

Does anyone have any examples of it being done with text files, because i need something asap on the project i am currently working on and i don't know how to use php or any backend script yet. I am not even sure if my server supports it.

[pellepiano]

You need a serverside script anyway, otherwise you can not write to a textfile on the server.

If you are comfortable with actionsscripting you could get a script that just saves a reads from a textfile and do all the scripting in Flash.

An example of that kind of script is FlashDB from www.kessels.com (cgi) .

Then you can make guestbooks, highscores, polls and a lot of cool things, but it requires quite some actionscripting knowledge.

[webdreamer]

Sorry m8 i only said that a database is not needed.
U can find a working example @ http://www.flash-db.com/Forum/
hope it helps

[ezekun]

thanks again guys....now i'm off to learn php

[webdreamer]

ezekun are you any good with action script?

[ezekun]

I am ok i guess. I am not a guru or anything, but i learn what i need to and apply it. Its just programming...in a different language. I haven't had any formal training in it though, just what i can find here and in the Flash MX actionscript dictionary. Why do you ask? Is it going to be excessively hard?

[webdreamer]

I have found if you have a good grasp of coding AS it makes learning php that bit easier. Very similiar launguage.

[ezekun]

coo, so i should also buy that book, PHP for Flash? Because in the long run i want to have something similar to the message board they have on thier website.

[webdreamer]

Well that would be a good choice
phpforflash, it's worth the money

[ezekun]

I just hope i can find one at the college campus bookstore