1. Google for what you need
Seriously, google for what you need. we guarantee your error-message related questions have been answered. Find the answer. Don't make us type it again.
2. Read the manual first which you got!
The PHP manual and the MySQL Manual are both very well written. If you want to know how to properly use the PHP date function , read the manual page for date, including the comments on the manual page, which usually include bugs, "gotchas", and usage examples.
3. Understand the situation
The follow items are separate languages and technologies that have nothing to do with each other at the fundamental level:
PHP
MySQL
Regular Expressions
HTML/CSS
JavaScript/AJAX/Jquery
Those items above, when combined properly by a person skilled in all 5 of them, create a fully functioning website. They are not the same language, and an expert in one of them is not necessarily an expert in another. Most of the moderators of the PHP boards are experts in all 5 simply through virtue of experience (and being awesome). What most new developers fail to understand is that PHP doesn't "know" anything about your HTML form or your MySQL database. PHP "knows" only PHP things. You must tell it, specifically and explicitly, if you want it to fetch information from a database, or receive information from an HTML form.
4. Debug the issuse on your own
Debugging a PHP script is easy. If you come to us and say "why won't this script work?" and paste 500 lines of code, we will ignore you. Some of us might even "disagree" with you and remove some reputation from your profile.5. If your Question is not so Urgent
If you believe your question is not so urgent, if you will fail your class or lose your job if you don't get the correct answer within less time, break out your wallet and hire someone. This is a volunteer community that does not respond well to being rushed or scolded.
