Step 1. Covering the Basics

First things first: I’ll assume you have a hosting account with an ISP (Internet Services Provider) or otherwise have access to server space in which to publish a site or sites. I’ll also assume you have basic familiarity with GoLive software, and plan to use GoLive 6.0. Third, an entry-level understanding of how a database works is helpful. Fourth, go ahead and update to GoLive 6.0.1 at: http://www.adobe.com/products/golive/main.html. It’s well worth it!

The first question to answer is: does your Web host allow the use of ASP, PHP, and/or MySQL data on their servers? Major ISPs often do. Check it out with them, because if they do, GoLive will automatically confirm that everything you need is in place. This means you can skip the entire procedure in the GoLive 6.0 manual “Preparing a site on a Web server.” If your ISP or server isn’t ready, you will need to set up your own server per the manual, or find a server that can accommodate your database. Also, GoLive includes pre-configured server environments that you can run on the same system as the GoLive client. See your Adobe Web Workgroup Server CD for more information on installing the preconfigured servers.

To get started, create a blank GoLive site. Don’t worry about how it will look. At this point, I map out the flow of my site’s pages using GoLive Design Diagrams, but all you need to do is create a page or two to get the database running, as we’ll discuss in Step 2.

If you prefer, you can download a ZIP file containing our example sites using both ASP and PHP. Download the sample sites here.