How To Perform A QUICKSTART Installation – A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE
As I have been seeing a good number of questions and Support Tickets with regard to some having difficulty or not fully understanding how to successfully perform a QUICKSTART INSTALLATION of a JoomlArt Template, I decided to put together this tutorial in hopes of assisting those of you who, like me, sometimes like to have things spelled out for us. 😎
NOTE:
This tutorial is premised upon a J1.5 quickstart installation. However, the process is – by in large – the same for J1.6 and/or J1.7. The most notable difference (i’ve seen) is that when you reach Step Eleven, you can simply click a “remove installation folder” button rather than having to manually delete the folder from your server account. (Not a big ole’ difference if you ask me – moreso one of convenience).
Here we go . . . . . . .
STEP ONE:
Download the selected template files. (I generally just download all the files – just in case (better safe than sorry)).
STEP TWO:
Extract the template files to a folder on your desktop. In most cases, the extracted contents will be similar to this . . .
STEP THREE:
Open the folder “quickstart” and you will usually find an another zipped folder. Unzip and extract these files to your desktop.
TIP: I usually create a separate file just for the quickstart files. Saves a lot of hassle later trying to separate the quickstart files from the “template only” files you already downloaded.
The files you extract will be very similar to this – INCLUDING a file called “installation.”
This next step is premised on using an FTP client – such as FileZilla for transferring files to a webhost server account. If you need assistance on how to use FileZilla (or really, most any FTP client), here is a handy-dandy video tutorial for ya . . . .
STEP FOUR:
Upload all of the files you extracted from the quickstart zip/package to your webhost server account. Though some webhosts have a different structure, in MOST cases, you will upload them into a folder called “public_html.” (When in doubt, consult your webhost support staff).
STEP FIVE:
Once you have uploaded all of the files/folders from the quickstart folder into your public-html folder, you need to then navigate (via your web browser) your url (i.e http://www.yoursite.com )
Once the page opens it should look something like the image below.Select the language you want to use with your installation and press next.
STEP SIX:
The next page will give you a sense of your server compatibility. You will need to troubleshoot any of the flagged areas that are unsuitable for a Joomla installation before you continue here. Once you get the all clear … click next again.
(To be honest, I have never experienced a problem – so I always click “next” right away)
STEP SEVEN:
The next page is the GNU/GPL page .. you need to agree to the terms before continuing. (NOTE -just click “next” right away) 😎
STEP EIGHT: – IMPORTANT
Install page 4 is the database page. The details you enter here are important as this is where the actual information for your Joomla installation are going to be stored. In a nutshell you need to create a mysql database, a user for the database and then assign that user to the database you created.This step requires a slight detour and we need to open up cpanl on our server.
STEP 8.2: (if applicable):
IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY SET UP YOUR DATABASE . . . .
Open the Cpanel account on your server. Once you have logged in navigate to the database area of the cpanel account. This may look different on your server depending on the theme … but the image below shows you what it looks like on many webhost Cpanel accounts.
You can use the database wizard to step through the process – but if, for some reason, you don’t have the wizard on your CPanel, click on the mysql database icon and write the name of the database you want to use for your site in the window provided. You can use any name you want to here. Click on the Create database button and you should receive a success message telling you that the database has been created.
Navigate back to the mysql database page and scroll down to where the Create new mysql user input boxes are.
The username and password you put in here are really up to you, but for your Joomla site security its advisable that you use the random password generator if you have it on the page.
After clicking Create New User you should receive the success message and you should then be able to navigate back to the mysql page and scroll down the page again. Take a note of the username and password – as we will need this later.
You now need to assign the user to the database. So where it says “Add user to database” select the database and the user you have just created and make sure they appear in the top and the bottom drop down boxes.
Once you have the new user and new database in the select boxes click add.
The next screen you will see is the “User Privileges” settings. Assign full or all privileges to the user and click “make changes,” submit or add user or whichever submit button you have there. You should receive another success message telling you that your user ha been added to the database. You need to pay close attention to the names they use here as the database prefix and user prefix will be needed when filling out the information in the next step.
STEP 8.3:
You are now ready to enter the information into the fourth installation screen. It gives you the option of choosing whether to use mysl or mysqli – in most cases you will choose MYSQL.In the label where it says host name you need to write the name provided by your host for your hosting plan. In most cases this should be localhost but on other server environments this may be different. (I always use “localhost”)
In the username and password field enter the details from the previous step. Don’t forget to put in the prefix to the database. Next is the database name field – grab the name of the database and put it in that field – when ready press next.
STEP NINE:
The next page is where you configure the ftp settings for the site. The ftp layer was brought into J1.5 as way of helping out with file permissions in some server configurations. Using it is optional and can be initiated later on when using your site. So you can either fill out the details and click next or simply click next. (Don’t hassle with this one . . . simply click “next.”) 😎
STEP TEN: – IMPORTANT
The next page is the sample data page and when using the quick start packages its really very important to install the sample data.Fill out the site name, email, admin name and password and then scroll down to the button that says “Install sample Data” and click it.
You should get a success message shortly afterwards which means all of the content from the demo site has been loaded into the database you created.
STEP ELEVEN
After clicking next you should reach the final page that tells you that you have successfully installed the package. There are two links on the top right hand corner that will take you to the front end and back end of your site but before you do that you need to remove or rename the instllation file in the Joomla directory. Navigate to the folder on your server and delete or rename.
(I usually delete … but it’s completely up to you)
J1.6/J1.7 NOTE:
As I mentioned initially, the most notable difference (i’ve seen) between the J1.5 and J1.6/J1.7 quickstart installation process is that – with J1.6/J1.7 – when you reach Step Eleven, you can simply click a “remove installation folder” button rather than having to manually delete the folder from your server account. (Not a big ole’ difference if you ask me – moreso one of convenience).
FINISH: Once you have reached this step, you should successfully be able to navigate to the front end of your site and see the template set up exactly the same way as the demo site.You are now free to edit, change and add to the site to personalise it and start to market your Joomla web presence.
SUPPLEMENTAL VISUAL RESOURCE:
As I’ve always found (for myself) that seeing a process performed – visually – always helps me to better understand and learn to do it myself. Therefore I’ve provided you with several resources for just that purpose … which I hope will assist you to see and better understand how the quickstart installation process works. (This is how I learned, incidentally) 😎
NOTE:
While some of these discuss uploading files to a localhost server, the principles/process remain the same for uploading to the public-html folder on your webhost server account.
I hope this has been helpful to you. Feel free to provide any constructive feedback you may have.
Hello Tom,
Thank you so much for your work on this tutorial. I don’t think that using the Demo Builder as guide in an already Joomla installation will give us the final touch of your template. It would be very useful if you include this tutorial in the content of the file that we download the template. I will use your tutorial now, but I will need to repeat a lot of work. Nevertheless, that’s nothing if I get the exact demo template, using your tutorial. Thank you so much!!
<em>@boizan 278064 wrote:</em><blockquote>Hello Tom,
Thank you so much for your work on this tutorial. I don’t think that using the Demo Builder as guide in an already Joomla installation will give us the final touch of your template. It would be very useful if you include this tutorial in the content of the file that we download the template. I will use your tutorial now, but I will need to repeat a lot of work. Nevertheless, that’s nothing if I get the exact demo template, using your tutorial. Thank you so much!!</blockquote>
I do hope the tutorial helps you . . . be sure to let us know if following the tutorial worked for you.
Hello Tom,
The tutorial worked out wonderful for me! I don’t think I will consider any other way to install a JA Template. To see such a beautiful product after only less than five minutes it is marvelous. I got error 2 during the addition of the database info, but later I opened up the file configuration.php located on the installation folder and edited it with the information of the database that I had created, after that the process went through smoothly. Thank you so much for the great job!
<em>@boizan 278895 wrote:</em><blockquote>Hello Tom,
The tutorial worked out wonderful for me! I don’t think I will consider any other way to install a JA Template. To see such a beautiful product after only less than five minutes it is marvelous. I got error 2 during the addition of the database info, but later I opened up the file configuration.php located on the installation folder and edited it with the information of the database that I had created, after that the process went through smoothly. Thank you so much for the great job!</blockquote>
Very pleased that the tutorial was of use/benefit to you.
ALL OUR BEST with your continuing website development !!!
Great Job on the Tutorial! Just finished reading it, nice pics and it reads well. This is a must read for Newbies like me. The light bulbs are on now….
thanks for the tutorial, however, if I already have a joomla 1.5 installed, also the travel 1.5 template, but I need to use the quickstart contents so it looks more like it the demo version, and being able to modify settings as convenience, what do I need to do? do I need to move all contents under the quickstart folder into the public_html folder into the hosting with joomla already? what about the administrator password? should I exlude the administrator folder while copying?
thanks for the tutorial, however, if I already have a joomla 1.5 installed, also the travel 1.5 template, but I need to use the quickstart contents so it looks more like it the demo version, and being able to modify settings as convenience, what do I need to do? do I need to move all contents under the quickstart folder into the public_html folder into the hosting with joomla already? what about the administrator password? should I exlude the administrator folder while copying?
thanks a lot for your posts! regards!</blockquote>
My first question would be . . . If you want your JA Travel install to be a virtual clone of the demo, then is there any reason why you cannot simply wipe the current installation clean and start fresh WITH the quickstart+sample data installation?
Thanks! yes I would like it to look the closer posible to the one that the demo builder creates, so I can slowly understand how to configure all great things it comes with.. and simply hide those not needed for a moment..
The reason why I cannot just run a fresh start installing everything that comes with the quickstart package, is because I do not have control or access rigrhs to remove and install joomla on the server hosting my site, since Im using a hosting service that handles this tasks, but running scripts.. and they already said they just wont doit! I explored the contents of the quickstart package, and kinda look like i could just copy all public_html into my hosted public_html, bu something tells me I wach out first! thanks a lot! rgds
<em>@rcerrato 286510 wrote:</em><blockquote>
The reason why I cannot just run a fresh start installing everything that comes with the quickstart package, is because I do not have control or access rigrhs to remove and install joomla on the server hosting my site, since Im using a hosting service that handles this tasks, but running scripts.. and they already said they just wont doit! [/quote]
Might I inquire as to who your webhost is? This “restriction” sounds completely outrageous to me.
You should have the ability to configure your webhosting server account (virtually) any way you want.
I explored the contents of the quickstart package, and kinda look like i could just copy all public_html into my hosted public_html, bu something tells me I wach out first! thanks a lot! rgds</blockquote>
This would not work because there is also database information that needs to be added as well.
Again, in my opinion, the best way would be to wipe the slate clean and start fresh with a new installation – this time following the steps within the Quickstart + sample data installation tutorial.
Understood, and thanks, I rather keep their name not exposed since they have given me a great service in other areas, and for a great price too.. im going to keep installing, configuring, setting all contents and features I already have on my current site, even if it takes me quite several weeks to make it look like the demo builder.
Thanks for clarifying the copy process, feels good I asked before! 🙂
Dear TomC,
thank you for your clear explanation! I’ve worked with Joomla templates quite a lot, but I never got to installing a template this way…. Very easy like this!
There’s one question though:
I keep getting ID-numbers in the URL. Is that normal? I changed to .htaccess (just like I always do when I work with a template). This is the first Joomlart template I use (JA Methys). It doesn’t look right….
I just recently purchased web hosting. I installed Joomla 3 and used the generic template. But I bought a new template and used the Quickstart package.
There are two databases…one that came with the purchase of the hosting account and once I just created while attempting install of the new template
This is basically what I did
Downloaded the Quick start Package
Extracted the files and folders
Upload the contents of the zip file to Hosting service into the public_html
Created a database in my hosting server
When I load the website, it loads using the generic / default template that comes with Joomla 3 and not the new purchased template
Anonymous 8 years ago.
