James' Blog

Permalinks

James — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:34:31 +0000

Using the 5 minute install directions, I made a remote install to mess around with WordPress remotely. Adding themes and plug-ins are extremely easy, so I am just fooling with the interface. My brother-in-law wants a portfolio site, so I am making him one in WordPress as well. I may or may not post the link: not sure if I should just post about one site in this blog. However, any lessons learned will definitely be posted here.

While changing themes, I decided to add a permalink to one of the pages; this is a similar concept to search engine friendly links in Joomla! However, when I did this, I got a 500 error on my server. From what I can tell, I should not have tried to add a permalink without first configuring the .htaccess file. I have read through this article 5 or 4 times, but still cannot quite figure out what I need to change in the file. Moreover, I cannot access my site backend due to my error. This is no big deal since I was just playing with the interface, so if I have to delete it all and start over, I am not too worried. I do want to figure out how to add permalinks and will continue to work on this.

UPDATE:

I have tried numerous things to make this work, but am still at a loss.

The root issue seems to be that whenever an .htaccess file is added to my server–with countless iterations–I get a 500 error; I even get an error when using the method from within the WordPress Dashboard (Settings>Permalinks): this method also creates an .htaccess file on the server. This makes me think my host does not allow them, although my contact at the company seems to think it is allowed. Therefore, I put in a trouble ticket on this issue today. The issues is hard to decipher since I don’t have control panel access to my account…

YET ANOTHER UPDATE:

This issue has to do with my host. I tried to enact permalinks using the method shown below on another host–hostgator–and was able to get it to work properly:

The lesson I learned is that if you try to enact permalinks in this manner and your site–and admin–have a 500 server error, your host probably does not like your .htaccess file created by WordPress. To get your site back, FTP to the folder your installation resides, make sure to enable ‘Show Hidden Files’ in your FTP client, and delete the .htaccess file. From there, your site and admin login will reappear.

WordPress local install

James — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:15:55 +0000

My machine already has a Webserver enabled and PHP/MYSQL installed, so I am not going to cover these points.

I have installed Joomla! locally before and had to do some troubleshooting to get it to work properly. However, installing WordPress was very easy and took the advertised 5 minutes to install. The following was my process, which are from the installation directions:

Download latest WordPress build
Created folder called ‘wordpress’ in ‘Macintosh HD > Library > WebServer > Documents’
Moved downloaded WordPress file from ‘Downloads’ folder to newly created ‘wordpress’ folder and unzipped the file
Opened up Terminal program, logged in, and created a database called ‘wordpress’ (create database wordpress;)
Opened ‘/wordpress/wp-config-sample.php’ using TextWrangler (text editing program) and saved it as ‘wp-config.php’. Entered database information into lines 19, 22, 25.
Put the following url in my browser: ‘http://localhost/wordpress/wordpress/wp-admin/install.php’

Platform

James — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:10:12 +0000

After going through class posts, viewing videos for the various CMS’s, and considering my “client,” I am going with WordPress. Moreover, I think the dearth of students also using this platform will help the learning curve.

Site subject

James — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 00:09:30 +0000

I was originally going to create a site for work that was data driven to help improve work flow. It would have had common laboratory tests listed with an AJAX interface for listing the tests based upon user input. This site seemed perfect for Drupal. However, while on the sideline during a basketball run I was talking to a friend that may have a better site idea for this class.

My buddy’s family has a foundation that gives money to various non-profit organizations. The whole family contributes to the fund, then they distribute the money to local charities. He would like the site to function as a way to get the word out about the foundation–for family members and other interested parties. Moreover, he wants to have a manner so that people can donate to the foundation on the internet. Also, he wants a place to have pictures, since the family gets together yearly to discuss the foundation and catch up with one another. Since there are many people involved with the foundation, a CMS seems like the perfect interface since anyone can edit content.

So, I know that Joomla! has a Paypal module for donations. Moreover, I know that there are Flickr modules for pictures as well for Joomla! However, I don’t really want to work with Joomla! right now; I feel like I should take this opportunity to learn a new CMS. Therefore, I am going to look around at WordPress and Drupal sites to see what options I have for my “client’s” desires.

Goals

James — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:12:05 +0000

This is my first attempt at blogging. I have to admit that I am not excited about this–at all–but will attempt to do it.

I think it is important to set the tone and statement of goals, so here they are:

All links provided will be thoroughly examined prior to posting them. Everyone can find semi-random information through search engines; however, my opinion of posted links is that they should always provide substantive, relevant content. Moreover, all links will open in a new tab.
Complete sentences, spelling, and proper grammar shall be used. I judge you–and the reliability of your content–when you fail to do so and I think you should do the same.
Posts shall be as concise as possible.