Installing WordPress:
If you don't already have a WordPress blog installed and hosted on your own domain, you'll need to install it first. This tutorial will walk you through all the steps to get WordPress installed on your website. It is broken into the following sections:
[NOTE: Remember, having a blog on "wordpress.com" or your own domain that redirects to a WordPress blog on WordPress' domain (wordpress.com) will not work.]
- Fantastico: One-Click WordPress Installation
- Installing WordPress Manually (when Fantastico is not available)
Fantastico: One-click WordPress Installation
If you're about to install WordPress, the first thing you'll want to do is check to see if your webhost offers a service called "Fantastico." Fantastico is a program that may already be built into your web hosting control panel that will install WordPress automatically for you. Hunt around in your control panel for a link or button that says "Fantastico" or "Fantastico De Luxe." The following video will show you how to use Fantastico to install WordPress automatically:
Video: One-click WordPress install with Fantastico
If you installed WordPress using Fantastico, you can skip the next section about traditional WordPress installation, and get straight to installing ProPhoto.
Installing WordPress Manually
NOTE: if you installed WordPress using Fantastico, you do not need to follow these steps. Instead, skip ahead to installing ProPhoto.
Step 1: Download WordPress and upload it into the correct spot
The first step is to visit www.wordpress.org/download/ to download the most recent version of WordPress. Then, you'll need to unzip the file and upload it into the correct location on your web server.
If you want your blog in your root directory (that is, you want people to who visit your site by typing in "www.myphotoblogsite.com" to go straight to your blog, instead of them having to type in something like "www.myphotoblogsite.com/blog") DO NOT upload the entire folder that wordpress came in. INSTEAD, upload all the CONTENTS of the folder into your root directory, usually called "public_html" or "www".
If your blog shares a domain with your professional site, you'll want to RENAME the unzipped WordPress download folder whatever directory you want your blog to be in. Example: if your portfolio site is at "www.myphotosite.com" and you want your blog to be at "www.myphotosite.com/blog" then RENAME the unzipped WordPress folder "blog" and upload the whole thing into your root directory, usually called "public_html" or "www."
Video: Downloading WordPress and Uploading Files Correctly
Step 2: Setting up a mySQL database:
Once you've got WordPress uploaded in the correct spot on your web server, the next step is to create a mySQL (pronounced "my - ess - cue - ell") database for it to connect to. Blogs work by referencing a database which stores all your posts, comments, etc. WordPress needs a specific type of database, called mySQL. Almost all web hosting companies offer free mySQL databases, and they are usually very easy to set up.
To create a mySQL database, look around in your web hosting control panel for links labeled mySQL, or mySQL wizard. When you find it, all you need to do is
- create a new database (write down the name of the database)
- create a new user (write down the username)
- create a password for your user (write down the password)
- Finally, make sure that the user you created in step 2 is assigned to the database you created in step 1, and given ALL PRIVELEDGES.
This is actually much easier than it sounds. If you can't figure it out, call your web hosting technical support and ask them to walk you through the process of setting up a new mySQL database, and make sure you get the three vital pieces of information: database name, username (user must be given all priveledges), and password.
Video: Creating a mySQL database
Step 3: Editing and renaming the configuration file
Once you've got WordPress uploaded and your mySQL database created, you'll need to edit and rename the configuration file in your WordPress folder. This file creates the connection between your WordPress files and the database you set up.
The file you need to edit is called "wp-config-sample.php." You can either edit a local copy on your computer and then upload it again, or you can edit a copy on your web server using your file manager utility.
The "wp-config-sample.php" file is found in the main folder of your wordpress download folder. Open it up using TextEdit if you're on a Mac, or WordPad if you're on a PC. Do not edit it in any other programs as it may get corrupted.
The top lines are the only part you'll need to touch. They look like this:
// ** MySQL settings ** //
define('DB_NAME', 'databasename'); // The name of the database
define('DB_USER', 'username'); // Your MySQL username
define('DB_PASSWORD', 'password'); // ...and password
Where it says 'databasename' - put in your mySQL database name, where it says 'username' - put in your mySQL username, and where it says 'password' - put in your mySQL password.
Then, save the file. Next, RENAME the file "wp-config.php". (Forcing you to rename this file is WordPress' way of protecting you from overwriting this file when you upgrade.) Finally upload the edited and renamed file into the main directory of your WordPress install on your web server.
Video: Editing and renaming the configuration file
Step 4: Finishing the installation
When you've uploaded WordPress, set up a mySQL database, and edited the configuration file, all that is left is to visit the installation page to complete the installation. To do this, just visit:
http://www.myblogdomain.com/installationdirectory/wp-admin/install.php
Be sure to substitute your own domain (www.myblogdomain.com), and blog directory name (/installationdirectory/) if necessary.
If you've done everything right to this point, you will be prompted to enter a blog title and email address and to click "install wordpress."
If you see an error message that says "could not connect to the database" you have a problem with your "wp-config.php" file. Double check that you renamed it correctly, that it was uploaded into the right spot, and that all of the mySQL database info was entered exactly correct. If you find an error, fix it and try to connect again. In an small percentage of installs, you may have to edit the fifth line of your "wp-config.php" file that says 'localhost.' If your completely stuck, call your web hosting technical support and ask if you need to use something else other than 'localhost' for your mySQL database.
Video: Finishing the installation
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