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Please Help Me, I'm a Moron...

by SKWeaver
7 replies
I am looking for a simple, "brain-dead" way to automatically set up a self-hosted WordPress blog with everything pre-loaded (a theme, plugins and all settings). Is this possible?

Here's the application I have in mind. I want to create a basic WordPress blog that could be used by churches. I would install and customize an apporpriate theme as well as some basic plugins. I would also create a few standard pages that are ready to accept content.

Most small chuches don't have a web presence and certainly don't have an IT guy (or gal). So, I want to provide them with a turnkey, "plug and play" solution where all they have to do is:

(1) Install WordPress using Fantastico

(2) Run a custom program that would do everything else.

If I already have the blog set up the way it should be, could a program be written to copy my plugin and setting files to their hosting account so that all they have to do is add content -- and avoid the steep WordPress learning curve?

I'm hoping such a solution is possible -- but I'm not smart enough to know if it can really be done

Thanks, in advance, for your help!
#moron #wordpress
  • Profile picture of the author john_kennedy
    Forget Fantastico. Download a fresh set of files from wordpress.org. Also, get all your plugins and themes that you want. Once you have it all together, you can then unzip the files and insert the plugins into the wordpress folder on your computer. Put the plugins in the wp-content/plugins folder and the themes in the wp-content/themes folder.

    Now, when you want to setup a new site, just upload it to their public_html folder, ceate the database using phpMyadmin and run the install program.

    You only have to do step 1 one time. After that, everything is the same.

    John
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    • Profile picture of the author HomeComputerGames
      Originally Posted by john_kennedy View Post

      Forget Fantastico. Download a fresh set of files from wordpress.org. Also, get all your plugins and themes that you want. Once you have it all together, you can then unzip the files and insert the plugins into the wordpress folder on your computer. Put the plugins in the wp-content/plugins folder and the themes in the wp-content/themes folder.

      Now, when you want to setup a new site, just upload it to their public_html folder, ceate the database using phpMyadmin and run the install program.

      You only have to do step 1 one time. After that, everything is the same.

      John
      As john said should work.
      A problem you might run into is directory permissions. But you could create a Help page to deal with any basic situations that they might encounter.

      You could create an upload form where a person fills in their ftp login details and Server Root path. This could then upload the files that were compiled as John mentioned and take the person to the install page.
      Of course you would have a "How To" and "Help" for every field they needed to fill in.
      With a little more work you could generate an import of the MYSQL dump.
      I'm not sure on the details that would need be changed(domain,paths, etc.) but that could be dealt with as well as the config file. I would have to look at the install process a bit more in depth to know.

      If this is for what you say and a not for profit I would be willing to offer a bit of my time to help you out free of charge with no strings.

      If interested PM me and I'll see if I can be of assistance.....

      Ken Durham - Resume
      Signature

      yes, I am....

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  • Profile picture of the author Abledragon
    Yes - what John's set out will work perfectly - and once you've got the first one done - i.e. themes and plugins selected and set up in their correct folders - it will only take you around 10 - 15 minutes each.

    All you'll need to do is set up the database, change the database details in the config file, and activate the theme and plugins.

    Cheers,

    Martin.
    Signature
    WealthyDragon - Earning My Living Online
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  • Profile picture of the author SKWeaver
    Thanks, guys! I'm glad to know it's possible. I don't understand how to do the database creation with phpMyAmin, but that's OK. I'll get professional help with that. (I'm used to doing that in so many areas of my life!)
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  • Profile picture of the author HomeBizNizz
    You can't copy the database from another host to the new host
    if you are going to use it on a whole other domainname.
    Wordpress has a some sort of security block in the database.
    It's your URL to the blog that is put in there.

    You need to run the install,
    after that is to config and enable plugins.
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