Hello,

I would like to make a project I am intrested in as I learn a programing language. I would like to build my own PHP based billing system in my spare time. I would like it to include a client database, keep track of when payments are received and when they are do. I would also like it to interface with paypal to process payments. Where should I start on this project? Do you think this project would be easier in ASP(or .NET)?

Thanks for your advice.

I would go for PHP. I would start by designing the database. So, you obviously need a table for the clients.
Fields:ID,firstname,lastname,emailaddress,address1,address2,zip,phone,etc.
You need a table for payments
Fields:ID,clientid,time,amount,etc.
Well you can carry on. Then you can start making the login/register pages. Paypal has an example of how to integrate it, but it doesn't explain enough so when you get onto that bit make a new topic or PM me.

What do you mean by, "where should I start?"

Once you get the hang of PHP, it is a very handy tool to use. If I were you, I would start dealing with the basic operations of the program, such as managing when orders are received, storing that information, and then doing something useful with it once it is stored.

After that, you should move on to the more advanced aspect of the scripts, such as automatically e-mailing the clients a few days before their bill is due, setting up invoices based on stored information, and the like.

Finally, you will want to move on to the security aspects of the program (obviously you should be considering this the entire time you are writing). You will want secured access to the program, possibly multiple user access to the administration panel. In addition, you should consider giving each new registrant an account to access their billing and account information over the internet.

Good luck

You should also take a look in interigating into cPanel, Directadmin, Plesk etc, so you can automate it all.

Hello,

Right now I am looking to start with the database structure and login page. Does anyone know a site that might show me some PHP mySQL commands so I can learn to add, delete and read to a mysql data use using mysql? I should be able to make the login page pretty easily from a guide off of google. I am getting hooked on the idea of how to create the order links. The link should create the payment as well as create an entry in the clients database for the system. What do you all recomend for this part of the software.

I plan to write this all in dreamweaver. Do you think dreamweaver will be a good choice or is there a better PHP editor?

Thanks a lot!

http://www.freewebmasterhelp.com/tutorials/phpmysql/1
That's pretty good for learning mysql in PHP. But rather than

$num=mysql_numrows($result);
$i=0;
while ($i < $num) {
$first=mysql_result($result,$i,"first");
$last=mysql_result($result,$i,"last");
etc....
}

use

while($foo=mysql_fetch_array($result)){
$first=$foo["first"];
$last=$foo["last"];
}

Thanks, so I can use this setup for all the customer databasing. I would like to have packages I can assign to my clients, would I have them in a database as well? Also, what do I do about the sign up feature like in my last post? Will I be able to do all of this from dreamweaver or is there a better PHP editor I should use.

Thanks

I made my own billing system on my site.

People pay via paypal then once I get the IPN the time theyhave paid for is automatically incremented.

Works nice, took a while to getit to work correctly though

We created our own custom billing system but as you are learning it will be alot harder, knowing how to design your DB will go along way.

If you want to actually use this in production at some stage then i would suggest you plan the project. Write down what you want it to do and mark them as "must do" / "should do" / "could do" this give an easy overview of what i really needed to get the system going.

Designing your DB will be the biggest challenge so as you don't have to modify it down the track, i'm sure you will and we have had to as well but the initial design made our changes easy.

Security security security, this is very much needed now and you should look up what easy ways there are to secure against SQL Injection, XSS and Session Hi-jacking, those are probably your biggest threat if you use it in production.

Good luck with the project and I'm sure you will learn heaps on your way.

I'd just build on top of an existing billing system or just skin it if that meets your needs. Most billing systems now integrate with the leading hosting control panels.

take care :)