How to Install PHP Scripts
Using An Ad Exchange Script as an Example

If you want to know how to install PHP scripts, or any script for that matter, the first thing you need to know, is that there is no need to be nervous. Many people see things and get frightened of the seemingly technical nature of the scripts. The scripts themselves can seem like gobbledygook, buy with few exceptions, changing the files themselves will not be necessary. And if it, is, then you will be told exactly what it is that you need to change.

Don't be scared!

The purpose of this tutorial is to run you through the steps required, using a script and a live site as an example. I will use graphic images where necessary, and I hope that you will see that there is nothing to be frightened of.

Tools You Will Need to Install PHP Scripts

There are a few things that you will need to install scripts.

To show you the full process, I think that it would be helpful to show you the notes that came with this particular script. I can then explain how I interpret what the programmer intends for you to do.

These instructions are very concise, and not very detailed. I think that they assume quite a bit of knowledge on the part of the programmer. That being said, in my experience, most install instructions are usually more detailed than this, and probably easier to install. So, if you can install this script, then you can install most anything I think.

So, let's take a look at the first instruction

This seems straight forward enough. Your script would have been delivered in some sort of compressed form, probably a zip file. Let's take a look at the file that came with this particular script.

The file itself is called 15_BBFutura.zip, and if you double click on it, you will see that it has two zip files included with it, resell.zip and template_pack.zip.

Most PC's these days posses some kind of utility that allows you to extract files from compressed archives, like these zip files. There is a tutorial on getting a Winzip free download and using it here.

Of the two files in this particular archive, the one that interests us, is the resell.zip. Let's open it up and take a quick look.

Important!

Please note the column on the extreme right hand side, headed 'Path'. The zip file contains items located in specific places. This is common practice, and usually means that some files with the collection of program files that you are installing. need to have certain files in a place relative to where they are. IF you look to the bottom of the list in the picture, you will see that some files are located in a folder called '/admin'. which is underneath the location of the files at the top of the list.

You will need to unzip these files onto your hard drive somewhere. There location is unimportant, as long as you know here to find them. Let's say that you have created a folder called 'myscripts', and have chosen this as the root location for the files that you are about to unzip. It is vital, that you preserve the path settings, so that when the files are unzipped, there is a folder called 'admin', (in this case) underneath the other files. If you have used Winzip to do this, there is a radio button to check, which will ensure that this occurs.

How to upload files for free.

Creating the Database

Ok, so we now have to set up a database and edit a file. Don't panic, it's not hard.

Create a database in MYSQL

Now, we have add this database information to the scripts, so they know what to open and how to open it. If you look down the list of files that you unzipped onto your hard drive, you should see a file called connect.php. This is the bit where you have to edit a script itself, but don't worry, it's not as hard as it sounds.

The file has a 'php' extension, so we know that it is a script. If you do any web page development, then your favourite text editor may already be registered to deal with files of this type. Just double click on the file and you are away.

If you are unsure, then simply right click on the file, select 'Open With' from the drop down menu, and select 'Notepad', the default Windows text editor. Or use any text editor that you like. Just make sure that you do not use a file like Word, or Wordpad. These programs will not save the file as a text file by default, and will probably just give you problems with what we want to achieve here. Simpler is better.

The file should pop up in your editor. It is a simple file, and what you should see is the following.

I have emboldened the four items that need changing. Where is this information? Recover the names that I asked you to remember from the last section. You did remember, didn't you ..... ;o)

Here are the links to the places where you should have picked up this informatiion.

MySQL Database name

MySQL User name and password.

Hostname: You shouldn't need to change this, I have never had to.

Username: Taken when you created a user in the database. Simply overtype the word "bbfutura_futura", with your user name. Please keep the double quote marks.

Password: Overtype the name "1agrange" in the example with the user password you created. Again, please make sure that you preserve the double quotes.

Database: Overtype the name "bbfutura_futura" with the name of your database.

In all cases, please check that the details of the database that you type here are the same as those held on your server. Most cases of failure are because of minor errors at this stage.

Once you are satisfied with the changes, you can save the file. Please make sure that it is saved as a text file, and that you have kept the same name (connect.php).

Setting file permissions

Setting Up The Tables With A Pre-defined File

Ok, now we get to create the database proper. All that we have done so far, is to create a skeleton. Now we need to add all of the tables in which the information that is added will be held.

The full details of this process are in sql query examples.

Running The Program

Hopefully, this is straight forward. You should now be able to access, run and taylor the script online, to suit yourself.

Running A Crontab

There is a short tutorial this with a crontab example.