What You Need to Know Before Using a CMS

Now let's take another look at that folder we opened in the beginning, and see why all this preparation was necessary.

CMS Package files as they appear on your computer

The files in the html folder above will be uploaded via FTP, to the public_html folder on the Internet, shown in the view below.

View of top level folder in web hosting file system

This is what is inside of the html folder on your computer.

View inside the public_html, or "root" folder of the file management system on the Internet web host - with the contents of the html folder, shown above, included.

This is where all the files of code for your CMS program are kept. Starting out, you will most often deal with blocks, modules, or themes. Later, when you need to upgrade files you will need to make adjustments to files in the admin, modules, and blocks files most often.

Notice the "config" file in that html folder. This small section of code is what makes hundreds of files operate correctly and interact with your web hosting file system, your database and the CMS program.

Sample of Config settings from PHP-Nuke System

###################################################

$dbhost = "your database host";

$dbuname = "database user_name";

$dbpass = "database_password";

$dbname = "database_name";

$prefix = "CMS_database_prefix";

$user_prefix = "User's_database_prefix";

$dbtype = "database_type";

$sitekey = "slkjfaioi=43isn989780923SINGKSN";

$gfx_chk = 6;

$subscription_url = "link where customer goes to subscribe";

$admin_file = "name of admin file";

$tipath = "path to the image files

$nuke_editor = 1;

$display_errors = false;

/****************************************************************/

/*

This bit of code has to be set correctly, or your system won't work. Many of the variables are self explanatory when you look at the description contained within the quotes. Some you won't have to change from the default.

Variables will be slightly different depending on which CMS you choose. The instructions for properly setting this code are in the README and Install files.

README and Install files should be read, twice, before attempting to do anything with your new CMS package. Different packages put the directions for installation and initial set up in one or another of these files. Some packages put some of the information in both files. The specific directions for how to configure your version of the CMS to work with your database are also included in these files. Find the files in the same directory as the html folder, or in a documents (docs) folder.

Reading these directions won't guarantee that you have no problems during the install, but you will be more familiar with where to look for your mistake if and when problems do occur.

CAUTION: don't make any changes to your original CMS files per README or Install directions while configuring your system. Make a copy of the original and complete your changes there. This way you get a "do over" if something goes wrong.

Construction of the web site will be covered in part two. You won't want to miss it!