This guide is intended to help the un-experienced in PHP in particularly Phpvms to easily install and use this freeware software.

Transcription

1 This guide is intended to help the un-experienced in PHP in particularly Phpvms to easily install and use this freeware software. This is a proven product and any issues will go un-noticed by the beginner. You have heard the term "Pilot error" well this does apply here. Anything that can or will go wrong with the installation or use of its features will be a result of something you did wrong or something that isn't active on your server. So before you run to the forum un-hinged as I did once, understand ahead of time these people do not get receive any monetary benefits for helping you. So if you have an issue, please have all your information on the problem before you post. Be courteous, respectful and to the point. In other words don't ramble on. Too much information is not helpful. It is to be understood, I'm not a programmer, just a user like you, so this Guide for Dummies is intended to get you up and running and provide you with preliminary information to get you started. This is not a technical instruction on php or phpvms

2 What is phpvms? phpvms is the most popular, free, virtual airline software, with support for various ACARS applications (kacars, FSACARS, XAcars, FS Flight Keeper, and FSPassengers), AJAX-driven administration panel, complete with financial reports, schedule management and various other features designed for realistic operation of your virtual airline. So you wish to be a Virtual Airline operator. If your are an experienced VA operator you may skip this message. The success of your VA is dependant on a couple of factors. Your decision to go your own and experience the thrill of operating a VA is totally contingent on your personal investment into its development, management and your willingness to share the daily responsibilities of running your program. Phpvms is a complete Virtual Airline website package with all the tool you will ever need to manage and develop your virtual home in the VA world. For a complete list of features & downloads, please visit the Phpvms web-site Content: Section 1: Download the latest version of Phpvms from Section 2: Setup your host server and create database Section 3: Uploading to server and run the phpvms installer Section 4: Setting up site information Section 5: Administration panel Section 6: Skins Section 7: General information Section 1: 1.01 Downloading the latest version of Phpvms. Understand this file is in zip format. I suggest you create two folders in your document folder. Call the main folder phpvmsdownload. Inside this folder create another folder and call it phpvms. The zip content is not

3 in a folder, the files are loose. Now unzip the phpvms file content into the folder you made "phpvms" 1.02 It is a good idea to browse around the folder and get familiar with its content. There are two folders that are important to you the beginner. "Install" & "Lib" I will share more about install after you have uploaded to your server and setup a database on same. (Fig 1) 1.03 Click on the "Lib" folder and you will find additional folders. The only one that is of interest to you at this time is "Skin" (Fig 2)

4 1.04 Click on the "skin" folder and you will see (Fig 3) a folder called "crystal" the "crystalsidebar" folder is not included in the latest version. I will talk about this skin later. It is far more versatile then the "crystal" 1.05 There are two images that are of interest. "topbanner" & "h3" Topbanner is your logo. Whatever design you choose to represent your site must be contained within the boundary of the image size and you must (as a beginner) maintain the file extension. (.Jpeg,.png et cetera) You can design your logo and replace the Phpvms logo "topbanner" remember the rules. (Fig 4)

5 (Fig 5) 1.06 The "h3" is an Icon used on the site. Below is a snippet from my site showing the replacement of the "h3" icon? Again whatever you use, you must confine yourself to the image size and extension. The hat is the "h3" repainted or replaced with another image. At this time these two images is all you need to replace before you upload the phpvms folder to your server and you don't have to change "h3" this is your preference.

6 (Fig 6) 1.07 The balance of the images really can not be altered without changing some code for it to appear. The "crystalsidebar" skin on the other hand is user friendly but as I indicated above, it does not come with the latest version of Phpvms. The main advantage of the "crystalsidebar" is the number of pages is not limited; meaning link bars across the top of the page in "crystal" is limited. Having sidebars allows for presenting far more information via link bars. Section 2: 2.01 Setting up or prepping your server prior to uploading phpvms. Before I continue this is VERY IMPORTANT. You have made a decision to get into the VA Business (If your are an experienced VA operator you can skip this information) so if you are going to go through all the effort to make your VA dream come true, Please do not use one of the many free server host available, your just looking for a hornets nest of problems and incompatibility issues with Phpvms. There are several hosting packages available in the top ten list that are reasonable.

7 Powweb.com offers hosting and free domain for $3.88 a month for the first year, unlimited bandwidth and all the bells and whistles you need. Hostmonster.com & Ipage.com have the same package you just need to contact sales and ask them to match powweb.com price for the first year, they will. Ok moving on Whether you're securing a server or you're converting to Phpvms on your server, there is no order in this process. You can setup your database and then upload phpvms or visa versa. But you can not run the installer until the database is setup. This nest piece of information is for the new member of the VA community. Many of today's host service utilize the same control panel. I run three servers and they are identical. So let's setup your database. Before you jump into this, put a little thought into what you're going to do now and what you might want to do in the future. Have a game plan and keep records of everything you do. Ok, if you have your link to your control panel head there now. Scroll down until you see these options. Now, click on "Manage MySql" (Fig 7)

8 2.03 Ok, now if your control panel looks like this, the button I'm pointing to is "Add Database" Click on it. (Fig 8) 2.04 In the Database name, enter phpvms_prefex. Prefix can be whatever you wish. I will explain later. Enter a "User name" & Password. I suggest you don't use your site login information. Click on "Add Database" (Fig 9)

9 2.05 Ok, now your database is set. (Fig 10) 2.06 Unless there is something you wish to change, just click on "Set Permissions" Your done. Let's head back to your computer. (Fig 11)

10 Section 3: 3.03 Uploading to server and run the phpvms installer. I'm sure at this point I have to assume you have your FTP setup and your ready to upload "Phpvms" When I make these references, they are more directed to the new VA operator and not to the VA community at large. I'm basically trying to help those with prepping for the installation of Phpvms and setting up their base site. Understand, what you call your Phpvms installation folder has no bearing on the install. The illustrations I have included are just for reference and provide a visual aid. What is shown below is the server side of your FTP. Whatever program you use upload the whole folder to your server. In my illustration I call it phpvms. (Fig 11)

11 3.01 Now click on the folder and open it. In here you see a folder called "Install" click and open this folder. (Fig 12)

12 3.02 In this next illustration I have outlined the "Install.php". Please understand this is not an executable file. What you need to do is right click on this file and scroll down to properties "Click" open and copy the URL path to the "Install.php" (Fig 13) Highlight the location field and copy the complete URL to the installer (Fig 14)

13 Section Having done this, please paste it into your browser address bar. Before you hit go, let's pause for a moment so I can cover a couple possible issues. Just a recap, if you insist on using a free server host. You could experience a host of script errors so running to the forums and asking for help, you may have a long wait. It is important that when going to the forums for help. Indicate right off you are using a commercial host service or a free server host. It is a good Idea to look-over your folder before you execute the install. A quick browse to make sure the files was uploaded. Just compare the files in your PC folder to that which you up loaded Please hit go on your browser. If your upload looks good and all goes well the next screen you will see is below. (Fig 15) 4.03 Ok, this is very important you get this right the first time. "Database Name" Enter the name you gave your database when you set it up on the server. "Database Server" if you

14 were just running a static html site you could leave this as "Localhost" But because this is a 4.04 php application you will need the "MySQL" path from your server, basically it looks like this. "Username.hostnamemysql.com" this is one of my servers "username.powwebmysql.com". Database username & Database Password is the one you used to setup your database on the server. Don't change the Database Type, leave as MySQL. "Table prefix" this is important. If you intend to run more than one phpvms website on the same server, you need to enter a prefix to the "phpvms_" you can use the prefix you used for your database but I suggest you make it something unique. If you do not do this there will be a conflict between your main site and the additional sites. Each instance of this "Phpvms_" requires a unique prefix You can click on "Check database connection" sometime it will respond other times it won't click on "Next Step" The next step will show the database table installation. This is not a complete image, just intended to show you what to expect. (Fig 16)

15 Scroll to bottom click on "Continue" if all went well you will get this next screen. This is your Site setup screen. Your Administration user information. Fill out all fields. This screen is self explanatory.

16 (Fig 16a) If all went well your next screen is below. Where it reads "and then proceed to admin panel here, click on here. (Fig 17) Section welcome to the phpvms administration panel. (Fig 18)

17 Please note the red bar. You need to go back to your installer folder and either delete it (The installer folder) or rename it. You may have to zoom in on some of these images to read them. Ok, Lets have a quick look at the default "Crystal" skin. Your home page. On the left sidebar scroll down to "View your site" click. If you created a logo as I mentioned earlier then it would show at this time. What I didn't mention is your working on a white back drop. But you haven't done anything yet as your still reading this guide Notice the FrontPage and the text. This can be changed by going back to the admin panel and on the sidebar you will see a heading called "News and Content" Click on "News" this is your FrontPage edit. Now to the right click on "Edit" Now you're viewing the News edit page. This page only effects what is on the front page of the site There are rules you must be aware of. You can not have margins, you can left, right and center but no indents. You can not double space words in a sentence or double space paragraphs. If you do you will have little square boxes. You can change the complete text for your FrontPage here. In the subject box, where is reads "Welcome to Phpvms (in Orange) you can enter your heading. Note this is a one time change so get it right the first time because it can't be changed with the editor. The other content can be changed at anytime Please notice the position and spacing of the default text. Advanced users no what to do but you as a new user should maintain the default format Creating pages. Translated, if you want a page that is accessed by a link bar, just like the news editor creating pages is done from the admim "News & content" just click on "Pages"

18 again you need to remember the rules. At the top left you will see a task bar "Add Pages" & "View Pages" click on "Add Pages" looks just like the news page. Pages once created and enabled at the bottom will appear on your upper Nav bar. It's time for you to explore. (Fig 19) Section Before a close this guide I would like you to see an option to the default crystal skin. The earlier version of phpvms had two skins to choose from. "Crystal" & "Crystalsidebar"

19 6.02 This is the "Crystalsidebar" this is user friendly and makes for a beginner skin and a great user skin. You can change the entire look without changing any code. Just repainting the images in the skin image folder. Below is a repaint that took me all about 20 min. (Fig 20) (Fig 21) this is a 20 min repaint now a 5 min template.

20 6.03 The Crystalsidebar skin I'm sure is available from some source but if you can't find it, you can me at In the subject indicate "Request Crystalsidebar skin" Section 7 General information Just a couple things you need to know to avoid asking on the forums. In the Admin panel. If you create another airline, you can't delete it, the best you can do is re-named and disable. You can not delete aircraft, airports again all you can do is disable them. These are found in "Airline Operations" Well gentlemen, this is about as far as I can go. I do not have the knowledge to communicate advance options available in phpvms. If your fortunate enough to connect with someone to help you out. A couple of basic feature you would like is the Airmail Module, Who's on-line and having Award images show up as images in your profile and pilots list in lieu of text. I have it on my main site but not my subsite. Had it done for me but I can't do that for myself and I can't help you. But if you go to the phpvms forums and do some searching you can find a lot info. I hope for some of you this guide was helpful.

21 David (Bluemax) Zaleski