Simple yet complex for the begginner

hello.
Im Just a begginner using php,I have a table called product with following tables:
Product id(auto increment)
Product name, description(normal textfields)
and product section
(combobox) How will I enter data from a form to fill these 'mysql'tables.
After which I need to search the Product name table for whatever name that will be entered into another form called the search form.
Please help. Very Lost. I have attempted it but got nowhere. thank you.

Okay,

I really recommend getting a copy of the PHP manual - this will give some examples of what you need:

Windows help file format:
http://www.angelfire.com/home/andryxa/
HTML version:
http://www.php.net/download-docs.php

But it also seems that you need a mySQL manual as well:
http://www.mysql.com/documentation/
From here you can get html versions or windows help file versions.

There's some really good begginer tutorials on this site but if you want quick answers then here you go:
INSERT: http://www.webdevelopersnotes.com/tutorials/sql/8.php3
SELECT: http://www.webdevelopersnotes.com/tutorials/sql/9.php3
SELECT: http://www.webdevelopersnotes.com/tutorials/sql/11.php3
(the 2nd select is ref: conditional selects - i.e. what your gonna use for the search routine!)

You can either manually enter data into your database using a mySQL administritive tool (I recommend phpMyAdmin). Alternativly you can create a php script that allows you to enter data in using a form (basically a html form with button, get the page to call itself on submit, pick up the POSTED (or GET) values using php script at the top of the script then use INSERT to get it into your tables - see the mySQL Manual)

There are many ways of doing searches. One of the basic ones is to have a form with a input boxes for each type of thing you want to search. Once submitted, pick up each variable and create an SQL statement (depending on search type you might want to add a '%' on the end of each variable and use 'LIKE' not '=' in the statement - this means a J in firstname would find John, James etc). Build your recordset and then output in html.

This may be way too much for you at the mo (that's not a critisim - we were all there at one point! ;) ) But have a look at the manuals, and then this message will make sense!

J

Thanks alot. Even Though I am a beginner in php I have programmed in VB,ASp Pascal and C and a little C++. So I have an idea of what you are saying.
Thanks alot for the helpful sites.