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  • Installing PrestaShop

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  1. Download the PrestaShop archive and unzip it on your computer.
  2. Create a database for PrestaShop on your server.
  3. Upload all the files from the unzipped archive to your server.
  4. Open the files' location in your browser; you should be redirected to the /install/ folder.
  5. Using your MySQL access codes, follow the instructions from the installer's screens.
  6. Once installed, delete the /install/ folder and rename the /admin/ folder to something unique to you (for instance, {{/4dm1n/).
  7. Check that everything works:
    • Visit your website
    • Connect to your back-office (the admin folder that your renamed), using the access codes you set during the installation process.

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You can download the latest version of PrestaShop at http://www.prestashop.com/en/downloads. This page presents you with an informal form, which helps the PrestaShop team better know its users. Whether you fill the form or not, click the "Download" button to display the download page.

Tip

Version 1.5 of PrestaShop is still being finalized is of this writing. You download a preview version at http://www.prestashop.com/en/developers-versions.

You have only one choice: the latest stable version, ready for all websites.

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You should now have a hosting space at your disposal, and a folder on your hard-drive with the uncompressed PrestaShop archive. This step makes you upload the PrestaShop files on your hosting space. This is done using a FTP client, which you should have installed while reading the previous chapter of this guide, "What you need to get started".

Connected Connect to your hosting space using your FTP client, by using the connection details provided by your web host. Once connected, it is time to transfer the PrestaShop files from your computer to your server.

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  • Your host:
    • Some hosts may require you to place your files in a specific folder, such as /htdocs, /public_html, /web, /www, /yourdomainname.com, etc.
    • Other hosts' FTP server will simply log you directly into the proper upload space.
  • Your needs:
    • If you want your shop to be the main website for your domain name (i.e., http://www.myprestashop.com), upload PrestaShop at the root folder of the upload space (which may depend on the host).
    • If you want your shop to be in a sub-folder of your domain name (http://www.mywebsite.com/shop), you must first create said folder through FileZilla (right-click and choose "Create directory"), then upload PrestaShop in that folder.
    • If you want your shop to be in a sub-domain of your domain name (http://shop.mywebsite.com), you must first create said sub-domain. This depends on your host: you might be able to do it simply by adding a new folder with your FTP client, or you might have to create the sub-domain through your host's administration panel. Read youyour host're hosts s support documentation first. Once created, browse to the sub-domain's folder, and upload PrestaShop there.

On FileZilla's left side, you should now have the local folder where you keep the uncompressed the PrestaShop files, and on the right side, the destination location. If you haven't done it yet, uploading is simple: select all files and folders from the local folder (use Ctrl-A), and either drag & drop them to the remote folder, or right-click on the selection and choose "Upload" in the context menu.

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To access the next step, you must check the "I agree to the above terms and conditions" box, then click "Next". If you do not explicitly agree to the license, you cannot install PrestaShop.

Step 2 & 3: System compatibility & system configuration

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The second page makes a quick check of all the server parameters on your host, and if nothing wrong is found, takes you directly to the third step.

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This page checks that everything is OK with your server configuration: PHP settings, permissions on files and folders, third-party tools.

If anything goes wrong, the installer stops you here, enabling you to see the few technical details that need fixing, be it changing the PHP configuration or updating the file permissions.

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Info
titleCHMOD

Changing file/folder permission on a Unix/Linux system is called a "CHMOD", after the command of the same name (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chmod – you can find an explanation of file permissions here: http://www.elated.com/articles/understanding-permissions/).
Giving them "write permission" is called "doing a CHMOD 755" or "a CHMOD 775", depending on the host.

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Choose the prefix for your tables. "ps_" is the default, resulting in the PrestaShop SQL table having names such as "ps_cart" or "ps_wishlist"; but if you need to install more than one instances of PrestaShop on the same database, then you must use a unique prefix for each install.

Installation type

Two modes are available:

  • Simple mode: a blank and empty PrestaShop will be installed. It will have no modules, no theme, and no demo products/categories: you will have to build it all yourself. This is great if you know what you are doing.
  • Full mode: PrestaShop will be installed with a theme, more than a hundred modules, and some demo products and categories. This is great for newcomers, as it helps you learn how to use PrestaShop... and can of course server as a good basis for your own store, after removing the demo products and categories!
E-mail delivery set-up

PrestaShop relies heavily on e-mail for notifications, both for the shop owner and its customers. This form enables you to test whether the current server configuration lets you send e-mail using PHP's mail() function. If this is not the case, then check the "Configure SMTP manually" box in order to configure your own mail server. Note that this is reserved to advanced users.

Click "Next" , and the installer will start filling the database with tables and data. This might take a few minutes in the slower server.to continue.

Step 3: Shop configuration

This is where you can already start customizing your shop: give it a name and a logo, indicate its main activity, and indicate the personal information for the shop owner (which has legal binding in most countries)...Note that the logo

You can choose to install default a bunch of demo products. This is great if you are discovering PrestaShop, as it helps you learn how to use the various features... and can of course serve as a good basis for your own shop, after removing the demo products and categories!
If you know what you are doing and do not need sample products, choose "No".

As for the logo, you should note that it will appear:

  • On all of your store's pages.
  • In your back-office.
  • In all of the e-mails sent to your customers.
  • In all of your contract documents (bills, return authorizations, etc.)

It is highly recommended to not keep the default PrestaShop logo, for obvious reasons.

You can also choose to use PrestaShop simply as catalog, which will disable all purchase and payment features, even if temporarily. This is useful when you are setting your shop up for first time, as it insures that no purchase can be made until you are ready to let people shop on your site. You can remove the catalog mode later, in the "Preferences" > "Products" sub-tab.

The page ends with a couple of "Additional benefits", which are modules that are specially promoted in the installer. You can choose to install them or not.

Click "Next": Click "Next", and the installer will start filling the database with tables and data. This might take a few minutes in the slower server.
Once it is done, your shop is online!

Completing the installation

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  • "install" folder.
  • "readme_*" files (the 5 of them).
  • "CHANGELOG" file.

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Congratulations! Installation is now complete.

Log in to the PrestaShop back-office and start filling out your products catalog and configuring the many settings to suit your tastes and needs.

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