Hi all,

I've been looking at forums, I've got my hands on phpBB... (it was free!)... yet not sure about it... does alot of things I don't need.... and is a pig to alter the layout, styles etc. (my being useless with php is the main cause for this!).

So, any ideas as to how to go about creating the backend for a forum, and a simple way of visully designing the front end for it?

I have php applications, mysql stuff as well as access.

PLEASE remember - I'm a little dim, so go easy on me !

So, does this look about right for starting with the Forum/message side of things?

*******************************************
FORUM TABLE
Forum ID (auto-sequential increase)
Forum Title (txt)
Forum Description (txt)
*******************************************

*******************************************
CATEGORY TABLE
Category ID (auto-sequential increase)
Forum ID (carried from Forum)
Category Title (txt)
Category Description (txt)
*******************************************

*******************************************
TOPIC TABLE
Topic ID (auto-sequential increase)
Category ID (carried from Category)
Forum ID (carried from Category)
Topic Title (txt)
Topic Description (txt)
*******************************************

*******************************************
POST TABLE
Post ID (auto-sequential increase)
Topic ID (carried from Topic)
Category ID (carried from Topic)
Forum ID (carried from Topic)
Post Title (txt)
Post Message (txt)
User Details (carried from the User Table – after logon?)
*******************************************


So by this, it should go…..

F1
C1 (f1)
T1 (f1 c1)
P1 (f1 c1 t1)
P2 (f1 c1 t1)
P3 (f1 c1 t1)
P4 (f1 c1 t1)
T2 (f1 c1)
P1 (f1 c1 t2)
P2 (f1 c1 t2)
P2 (f1 c1 t2)
C2 (f1)
T1 (f1 c2)
P1 (f1 c2 t1)
P2 (f1 c2 t1)
T2 (f1 c2)
P1 (f1 c2 t2)
P2 (f1 c2 t2)

Does that make sense to anyone?

Further more... how the hell am I supposed to keep the user details?
Is it possible to keep that hidden on the page and transfer as you go from screen to screen, or do I need to generate cookies etc.?

Well, I take it no one else has a clue either!

Oh well.... I'll plug and pray as I go with that one!