Mapscript: adding data points

[Kieran Ames]

I want to thank all those who helped me last month in installing
Mapscript/PHP on an NT machine. I was wondering now if I might trouble
the group once more. I'm looking for some "starter code" for an SQL
interface.

I can't see anything in the archives that gives a plain example of
adding point data on-the-fly with Mapscript/PHP. For instance, with a
map containing layers like lakes, roads and parks, (...pre-defined shape
files), I'd like to add points, say... historical markers, from a MySQL
db. I use Decimal Degrees in my maps and my data have LAT/LON
coordinates.

The concept would be:
Add a layer as SELECT * FROM TABLE WHERE LATITUDE BETWEEN x&y AND
LONGITUDE BETWEEN a&b.
This would return points that I'd like to include on the map as a layer.

Some things I've found thus far include labelObj from
http://mapserver.gis.umn.edu/majordom_lists/archives/mapserver-users/html/0006/msg00125.html

but I can't make the connection to making the point layer.

An example would really help in getting me started with understanding
Mapscript (and PHP as well!).

Thanks for any help.
Kieran