Installing Prestashop

(The following information is mostly taken from the Prestashop WIKI but will be updated with more detailed explanations in the future).

1. While not strictly necessary, Prestashop strongly recommens that you first create a database for your store, or use the database designated by your hosting company for your domain. Consult your webhosts documentaion if you are not sure how to do this. Most Control Panels provide a database management function that makes it easy to create a new database. (When you create this make sure you make a note of your database name, user name and password)
2. Turn on GD Library functionality. On a default installation of PHP, the GD Library is turned off. However, most webhosts in my expereince have this turned on as many PHP application installations will require it. If you do not have the ability to access the php.ini file, talk to your webhost. The standard instructions are however:
   
   1. In the root directory of your PHP folder, open the php.ini file.
   2. Uncomment the line extension=php_gd2.dll (about half-way through the file, in the middle of a long list of extensions) by deleting the ;
   3. Save the file and then restart the services.
3. Go to Prestashop and download the PrestaShop e-Commerce solution software to your computer. (This is a zipped file)
4. Unzip the PrestaShop ZIP archive anywhere suitable on your hard drive.
5. Upload the contents (but not the folder itself) of the /prestashop folder to the root directory (e.g., http://www.mysite.com/) of your hosting server via FTP. You can also upload the files to a subdomain or a subdirectory you’ve created (e.g., http://www.mysite.com/prestashop/) if you wish to keep your root homepage separate.
6. While you have your FTP connected to your Web hosting server, make sure the following PrestaShop folders have ‘write’ permissions (also known as “CHMOD 777” – explanation of file permissions here) but do not apply these permissions recursively (to their subfolders): /config, /upload, /download, /tools/smarty/compile.
7. Now make sure the following folders have ‘write’ permissions and apply these permissions recursively (to their subfolders): /img, /mails, /modules, /themes/prestashop/lang, /translations
8. In a Web browser, launch the Installer by adding install to your shop’s URL (e.g., http://www.mysite.com/prestashop/install) and follow the instructions. make a note of the email address and the password you enter - you will need this to access admin.
9. Upon completing the PrestaShop Installer wizard, use your FTP software to navigate to your /prestashop folder. There, delete the /install folder and then rename the /admin folder for added security (for example, /admin123 or, even better, /xyz789). If later you forget the new name you gave the /admin folder, you can confirm its name via your FTP browser.

Congratulations! Installation is now complete and you can log into your product catalog.

Common errors

If your version of php is lower than the version 5 you will get the following error when you run the installer

Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_STRING, expecting T_OLD_FUNCTION or T_FUNCTION or T_VAR or ‘}’ in /web/micropower/www/install/classes/LanguagesManager.php on line 7

Prestashop requires PHP5

 

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