Simple Website Login Required

[Pink Spider]

Hi Everyone

I need to create a very simple brochure website which has a login so that those logged in can view a catalog (pdf file).

Can anyone tell me how to create the login? I know html and CSS very well but not javascipt, which I'm presuming is what's needed here.

The login the only "dynamic" part of the website so I don't really want to go into php etc just for this. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks
Monique

[TheGAME1264]

Not only is Javascript not needed here...you do not want to use it for a login. Javascript is client side code, which means that anyone can read all of the code and extract the login / password for it, which defeats the purpose of a login / password setup. I've even "hacked" (and I use that term loosely) the competitor of a client of mine in 2001 when the competitor put several confidential marketing materials up on a website that was "protected" by a Javascript password prompt. Got in, grabbed the materials, left, and no one ever knew of my evil hack attempt.

Unfortunately, your answer lies within PHP (or, if you prefer, ASP.net or ASP or Ruby on Rails). This is pretty much what server-side code is intended for. You may not want to do it, but obviously this catalog is being password-protected for a reason, so you're going to have to use some server-side code.

[Pink Spider]

Thanks for your advice - much appreciated. I think it might actually be easier just to build this in a CMS so that side is taken care of rather than trying to integrate something when I'm not familiar with how to code it... what do you think?

[TheGAME1264]

I'm not an advocate for CMSes, but if you want something quick and lazy you're probably right. This might be a case for Joomla.

[Webzarus]

Thanks for your advice - much appreciated. I think it might actually be easier just to build this in a CMS so that side is taken care of rather than trying to integrate something when I'm not familiar with how to code it... what do you think?

I have a question, when I see he login question, not everyone is talking about the same thing.

So the login will be unique for everyone ? Registration ? Validation ? Or just a simple "everyone gets the same password ?"

I know, silly question, but I've had clients tell me they want to password protect downloads, but then decided to go with a simple password that they would just email to users who asked for it ??? Go figure.

PHP on this one or ASP ?

[Andrew Yurlov]

If you have the time, learn a little bit of php and mysql. Its not as hard as people make it out to be. Just find a good tutorial on how to create a simple login using php and mysql. I had mine up and running in less then a day when I did this.

EDIT: try this one. Super simple
http://www.phpeasystep.com/phptu/6.html