J1.5:Use Joomla! 1.5 on your own computer

The "J1.5" namespace is an archived namespace. This page contains information for a Joomla! version which is no longer supported. It exists only as a historical reference, it will not be improved and its content may be incomplete and/or contain broken links.

It may seem a little weird to run a website on a computer by itself which is not seen over the internet. It is, however, very useful to be able to learn and experiment on your own machine - not least because you can view the backend and also the files.

Background

Experience needed

Not everyone using this Manual will have enough experience to feel comfortable doing this. You need to know a little about computing, for example:-

• Know where to find files on your computer and be able to create folders
• You can download something from a website and save it in an appropriate place
• You will not panic if you do not understand a concept!

Experienced developers and people with programming experience will be fine. If in doubt - follow the instructions and try it!

Links to Joomla!'s Quick Start Guide and an introduction to the sample data

The instructions here make use of the very useful Quick Start Guide. Make sure you look at this as well as this tutorial.

http://help.joomla.org/ghop/feb2008/task048/joomla_15_quickstart.pdf This has help with installation and creating your own content.

and

http://community.joomla.org/august-2008/article/522-introductory-learning-joomla-using-sample-data.html This has details about the sample data and what you can learn from it.

Summary

There are three basic stages in doing this:-

1. Downloading and installing some software that Joomla! needs to use to run locally. This is a web server called Apache, a database called mySQL and a scripting language called PHP. There are a few other things as well - which are downloaded together as one package called XAMPP.
2. Downloading and installing Joomla!
3. Configuring Joomla!

Download and install XAMPP

To run Joomla! on a Windows desktop or laptop you need to download and install some software. This includes a web server called Apache, a database called mySQL and a scripting language called PHP. The point of this to to configure your own machine to behave as if it were a server with the difference being that the result is not visible over the internet and is thus confined to your own computer. This is very useful for learning new things and even developing a new web site.

Download sites for using a Mac or Linux with documentation.

Warning: If you are not familiar with downloading software - don't be put off by unfamiliar vocabulary on the download website!

Before download

Make sure you have a separate folder for the download.

Use Windows Explorer

1. Create a folder (called something meaningful like Downloads) beneath the top level of the directory. (Depending on how your computer is set up - this will be C:\Downloads)
2. Create a new folder at the top level called XAMPP - this is where the software will eventually be installed. (Depending on how your computer is set up - this will be C:\XAMPP)

Download XAMPP

Click here for the site for Windows download with some helpful documentation.

This is a page with links to downloads as well as instructions for installation.

Find the heading - Jump-off point

Under Download - Click on XAMPP

Choose the Basic Package -

Click on EXE for the dowmload

In the window that opens

Click Save File

In the Save In box - find your Download folder

Click Save

Install XAMPP

This extracts the software and installs the files. In Explorer the type of file will be Applcation

Run the file - Right Click and choose Open or Double-click the file name

Browse for the folder that you have created (for example C:\XAMPP)

Click Install

The process gives you a XAMPP Control Panel on the desktop. If this does not open - then double-click it.

Apache and MySQL need to run as services (indicated by Svc in the Comtrol Panle)Make sure the following are set:-

• Apache is Running
• Apache Svc is ticked
• MySQL is running
• MySQL Svc is ticked

Now test it

• Type in the site's address in your browser - which is http://localhost/

If it has not been successful - you will get a message saying 'Unable to Connect'.

If it has been successful - there will be a splash page with a choice oflanguages.

• Choose your language

You now see a welcome page. Installation has been successful and you can move on to downloading and installing Joomla! itself.

Configure Joomla! and install the example data

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--Lorna Scammell December 2010