Need Some Advice Please

[GerryM]

Problem Description:
Hi All,
First things first. Great site.
I'm new to message boards. I've done a couple of sites and I'd like to add a message board to one of them. Are there any on-line tutorials or wizards available that a newbie like me can use for creating a board. I'm looking at up to 6 forums and along the same style and operation as this one. I'd like to be able to create and test it on my own PC prior to going on-line.
ANY tips or advice would be very welcome (Taking into account I have never worked with message boards before, and have a limited budget).
Thanks in advance,
GerryM

[Peter Duggan]

I'm new to message boards. I've done a couple of sites and I'd like to add a message board to one of them. Are there any on-line tutorials or wizards available that a newbie like me can use for creating a board. I'm looking at up to 6 forums and along the same style and operation as this one.

Installing and configuring a board is surprisingly easy so long as your server meets the requirements (PHP 4.1.0+ and MySQL 3.23+), but we're here to help if you need help.

I'd like to be able to create and test it on my own PC prior to going on-line.
ANY tips or advice would be very welcome (Taking into account I have never worked with message boards before, and have a limited budget).

I'd suggest starting by heading over to our sister site at simplemachines.org for a look at [Unknown]'s Guide to Installing PHP and MySQL. (or its alter ego at http://unknown.network32.net/tutorial.basic-server). Everything you need is *free* and many folk run test servers on their home computers.

[GerryM]

Been thru the tutorial, but I'm no further on. Installed a server from my W98SE disc but dont know how to access it. Wherever it is, I cannot find any icon to run it. The other parts of the tutorial memtion files that I dont have. I've downloaded the relevat parts but the files I'm told to look at aren't there. It looks like this is going to be a save-up-and-pay job. I did hope there would be one single package that could be downloaded and used, without the need to rename, move, or whatever.
Thanks anyway.

[[Unknown]]

GerryM, don't give up so easily.  What is the first file you're missing?  Did you choose PWS or Apache?

-[Unknown]

[GerryM]

I've got to the PWS. Took a bit of time. For some reason it didnt open in the system tray, but thats sorted out. As for missing files, I dont know which I shoud have or where. One that I do know I couldnt fid was php.ini....... (Dont recall the rest of it). The links from the tutorial are not the idiot guide they may be meant to be. Either that or I need the MEGA idiots guide.

[[Unknown]]

Heh, well, it says to look for php.ini-recommended, and rename that to php.ini.  Did you do that?

-[Unknown]

[GerryM]

I tried "Find Files and Folders" to locate it. Nothing. Did find one text file that says it should be renamed. When I tried to rename it as php.ini, I was told it already exists. However, where it is I do not know. It doesnt show up on a search.

[GerryM]

I have found that file, and made some progress with the other stuff. I've got as far as looking for a directory calles "sapi". Unfortuately it does not exist on my PC. I'll have to scrap YaBB. I cant sit here forever trying to get this working. The software is not as simple as it appears. I'll find someone that knows about BBs to do one for me.

[[Unknown]]

GerryM, I'm sorry you feel this way.  I'm still more than willing to help you out, if you'd like you can contact me via aim, msn, y!, or even Jabber. ([Unknown]@jabber.org, I think.)

If you don't have the sapi directory, you probably use PHP 5.0.  While this is the latest "release," it isn't the most stable, nor the one the guide was written for.

Most people set YaBB SE up on a server that has already been installed - and that part is easy.  Other forum software would be just as difficult, because with them you still have to install the web server, MySQL, PHP, and the like.

-[Unknown]