Installing Joomla in learning environments - In this article, I describe the benefits of Joomla learning environments, list the software packages you'll need to build your own, and provide step-by-step instructions on installing the software on local computers and USB thumb drives.
When I was getting started with Joomla, I spent the majority of my time working on my learning environment. During this period, I tested a variety of plugins, figured out how to select a template and customize it, formulated a backup plan, and decided how to organize my help sites. While I am familiar with Joomla now, I still use my learning environment to test upgrades and new features instead of trying them blindly on my production sites.
I believe you will also benefit from setting up a learning environment on a spare computer or a USB thumb drive if you don't have a spare. A learning environment is a private space where you can get familiar with how Joomla works and try things that might go awry, look bad, or even "break" Joomla. If you really mess up, you can install another instance and try again. When you figure out how your web-help sites should look and function on your learning environment, you can easily recreate a final, formalized setup on your production environment.
The first step in building a learning environment is installing a server package with Apache, PHP, and MySQL on a computer or USB thumb drive. A number of these packages are available for different operating systems. I know some writers in the corporate world use Macs, and a few may even work with Unix operating systems, but I suspect the vast majority of you work on Windows-based PCs - especially if you use one of the two major help-development tools available for creating online help.
If you are one of the many professional writers working on a Windows-based operating system, you'll find a server package called XAMPP Portable (formerly called XAMPP Lite) easy to install and use. Others are available, but I have been using this one for many years without issue. XAMPP Portable is a scaled-down version of the full XAMPP package. It includes Apache, PHP, MySQL, phpMyAdmin, and a few related packages, and takes up less space than a full XAMPP installation. In addition, you can install XAMPP Portable on USB thumb drives.
Note: For a list of additional server packages, see the Installing Joomla locally article on the Joomla documentation portal.
In the following sections I explain how to download and install XAMPP Portable version 1.8.2-5. While a more-current version is available (1.8.3-4), I was unable to install Joomla on it - I gave up after three failed attempts. I assume there is a compatibility issue, but this is just a guess. I know Joomla installs on XAMPP Portable 1.8.2-5 without issue, so I'm documenting it here to be safe.
To download XAMPP Portable:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/xampp/files/XAMPP%20Windows/
Prior to installing XAMPP Portable on your computer or USB flash drive, note the following:
Note: If you run into issues during or after the installation process, check the XAMPP for Windows support forum for solutions.
To install XAMPP Portable on a computer or USB thumb drive:
If you selected a USB thumb drive, the default installation path is the root of the drive (for example, E:\). Type a folder name, like xampp, after the drive letter (do not install XAMPP Portable directly on the root of your thumb drive), like the following example:
You can manage the MySQL and Apache services from the XAMPP Control Panel. When starting the services, start MySQL first, followed by Apache. When stopping them, stop Apache first, followed by MySQL.
To start the services:
http://localhost
The XAMPP splash page appears.
If you installed XAMPP Portable on a USB thumb drive, remember to stop the MySQL and Apache services before removing the thumb drive from your computer. You’ll also need to start them each time you insert the drive.
To stop the services before removing a USB thumb drive:
To start the services after inserting a USB thumb drive:
After installing XAMPP Portable on your computer or USB thumb drive, you are ready to install Joomla. In the following steps, I explain how to download the Joomla software, extract it into a folder in the XAMPP directory structure, and start the installation process. I also reference the Joomla installation instructions on the documentation portal to avoid duplicating them here.
To download the Joomla software:
To install Joomla:
http://localhost/JoomlaFolderName
Where JoomlaFolderName is the name of the folder into which you extracted the contents of the Joomla installation package. For example:
http://localhost/joomla
The Joomla installation wizard launches and the Main Configuration page appears in your browser.
http://docs.joomla.org/J3.3:Installing_Joomla#tab=Start_Install
When you finish the installation process, you are ready to start learning about Joomla. The Getting Started with Joomla! page on the documentation portal is a good place to start.
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