Detailed Install Guide?

[Bill.Ramby]

I was using the SMF classic theme. Somewhere I missed that I had to use a TP specific theme. All the more argument for a guide.

I have put my forum back to it's original state for the time being. I plan to try again this coming weekend.

[IchBin]

TinyPortal will automatically alter the SMF default theme to work. If you want to have any other theme is must be altered to work with TP. There are quite a few themes here that are already working with TP.

[borgBOB]

This is the guild as it stands now, Thanks to PhilH and zuma.

Can we get this post copied into a new thread perhaps?

And YES, a TinyPortal modified theme must be used to access the funtionality of TinyPortal.

  Re: Installation Guide - SMF v1.1 Beta 3 and TP0.72_180805
ÂÃ,« Reply #4 on: September 10, 2005, 19:42 ÂÃ,»   

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Phil, here's a fresh draft based on your edits above plus what we've learnt about an incomplete 777 job being the source of all evil.
I just tested doing a complete 777 job on the whole SMF directory via FTP and this works equally well as via PM. So I've included this for those who can't get an FTP connection via PM - there's a fair bit of this reported on the SMF forum.

I haven't numbered the steps this time so it's easier to edit.


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Installation Guide

SMF v1.1 Beta 3
TinyPortal 0.72b_180805

Server types Shared, Dedicated and VPS
Safe Mode OFF

Important Note for existing SMF installations with data and/or modifications.

Please back up your data and modifications before installation of Tiny Portal. These installation instructions have been thoroughly tested on a clean install of SMF v1.1 Beta 3 with no data or modifications of any kind. But they have NOT been tested with modified boards. Before starting on the installation of Tiny Portal, make sure you will be able to fully recover if something goes wrong by reinstalling your SMF, your data and mods.

Installation of SMF

If not already installed, install SMF according to SMF documentation.

After installation you should be automatically logged in as Admin.

Go into the Admin Panel > Forum Errors Log and confirm that you have no errors.
If you have errors, find out what’s causing them and correct them before proceeding with your Tiny Portal installation.


Set permissions for all directories and files to 777

There are two ways to do this:
- using a feature in the SMF Package Manager
- using your server Admin Panel or FTP software. 

Using the SMF Package Manager

Go to Package Manager > Installation Options > Cleanup Permissions > Select  All are files writable and click on "Go"

Then fill out the FTP Information Required screen using the following guidelines.

The FTP screen will appear like thisâ€Ã,¦

FTP Server: localhost             Port: 21
Username:   
Password:   
Local path to SMF: (there will be a suggested starting path here)

It’s a case of experimenting to find out the exact information your server requires.

Try this firstâ€Ã,¦

Just fill in your FTP Username and Password and click on Proceed

It may work, or it may come back with an error


Quote
550 /smf-install-directory/: No such file or directory

And fill in a suggested path in the Local path to SMF field.

Click on Proceed to try again.

If it still doesn’t work, try entering ftp://your.domain.com in the FTP Server: field

FTP Server: ftp://your.domain.com      Port: 21
Username:   
Password:   
Local path to SMF: (there will be a suggested starting path here)

If it still comes back with an error, you will need to seek assistance in the SMF forum to find out the correct information
OR
use the method described in the next section.


Using Your Server Admin Panel Or FTP Software. 

Use your server Admin Panel or FTP to chmod ALL directories and files including the root directory of your SMF installation to 777.

Your FTP software should contain a checkbox or similar which allows you to chmod the SMF root directory and ALL sub directories and files in one operation.

Important: If some directories and files in your SMF installation are not set to 777, you may encounter errors. Please BE SURE all directories and files are set to 777 before proceeding.


Install Tiny Portal in Package Manager.

Click on Download Packages > Package to Upload: Browse (to Tiny Portal zip file on your HDD)

Then Tiny Portal will appear and click on [Apply Mod] link on the right hand side of the screen.

Now you should see a big list of actions headed - Installation actions for "TinyPortal"  Be sure it says "Test successfulâ€Ã, on the three source mods at the bottom



Quote
33. Execute Modification index.php Test successful
34. Execute Modification ./Sources/Load.php Test successful
35. Execute Modification ./Themes/default/index.template.php Test successful


If it doesn’t, don’t proceed. You will need to check your file permissions are set to 777 using chmod via your FTP software.

At the bottom of this long list, click on Install Now. Then you should receive this message from SMF


Quote
Extracting Package
The package was installed successfully. You should now be able to use whatever functionality it adds or changes; or not be able to use functionality it removes.


And this message will appear above the forum name at the very top of the screen.


Quote
Tiny Portal v0.72beta
Settings table was created.
--> default values were added to the settings table.
Blocks table was created.
--> default values were added to the blocks table.
Variables table was created.
Articles table was created.
Done. Please restart your forum.


Restart your forum and start using it with the SMF Default theme then check your Forum Errors Log. If it is still empty you can install TP themes. 

Tiny Portal Bloc Theme installation

1   Download your preferred TP theme from BlocZone.
2   In SMF, go to Admin > Themes and Layout > Install a New Theme
3   Click on Browse and find the theme you downloaded in step 1
4   Select the file eg mercury11.tar.gz â€ââ,¬Å" and then click on Install
5   Answer OK to the popup asking "Install a New Theme?"
6   It should now say "(your theme) was installed successfully"
7   Now click on Manage and Install in the horizontal menu.
8   Select your theme from the drop down box labelled Overall forum default:
9   Click on Save


Configuration of Tiny Portal

You will see an additional button has appeared on the top horizontal menu called TPAdmin. Click on this to enter the TP Admin Panel where you can set up  the leftbar, rightbar, centerbar, menus, blocks, articles and other features.


Possible Error messages

Most errors seem to be caused by an incomplete installation due to files or directories not being set to 777.


Quote
Fatal error: packageinstall(): Failed opening required '/home/httpd/vhosts/ your_domain.com /httpdocs/ smf_dir /Packages/temp/./tp_install.php' (include_path='.:/usr/share/pear') in /home/httpd/vhosts/ your_domain.com /httpdocs/ smf_dir /Sources/Packages.php on line 499

You may be able to recover by thoroughly rechecking your CHMOD settings are all 777 and then in SMF, re-enter the Packages menu and click on Apply Mod again.



Quote
Fatal error: packageinstall(): Failed opening required '/home/httpd/vhosts/your_domain.com/httpdocs/smf_dir/Packages/temp/./tp_install.php' (include_path='.:/usr/share/pear') in /home/httpd/vhosts/ your_domain.com /httpdocs/ smf_dir /Sources/Packages.php on line 499

This error generally occurred after clicking on Install Now - even though it said â€Ã...“Test successful â€Ã...“ in the list of actions to be performed.

If you do encounter this error, you may be able to recover by manually checking all file permissions are set to 777 as described above. Then in SMF, re-enter the Packages menu and click on Apply Mod on the TinyPortal line down below.

If any errors persist, please make a clean install of SMF and try again. 

[Bill.Ramby]

Thank you very much! I will give it a shot this coming weekend.