Web design, web site, Stanislav Kirilov - web designer

Published on 16 August, 2009 in Magento Tags E-commerce, Installation

You may come across some problems while installing and configuring Magento for design. Recently, I had to start a project and to deal with those difficulties, so I thought that I could help other web designers to prepare everything that is necessary for starting the design.

You can also read the following interview from one of the best people in the field, who are talking about what kind of system is used for e-commerce, why they use it and what other system they have worked with.
Have a nice reading: E-commerce preferences from the best – Interview

1. Preparing the server

I guess that most of you are using ready-made applications like WAMP, which give everything which is necessary for installing most of the CMS-s without any problems of difficulties. A Few people use a personal configurated server with Linux, on which to test and install. In fact, it is good, considering that the environment under which everything will work, is equal to the original, but in our cake Windows is doing a great job too.
I had to install a newer version of Windows and I choose Vista x64, under which everything works perfect. Until now, I have met problems only with WAMP, but I was used to it anyway. It turned out that it is incompatible to Vista x64 and I had to choose something else for server. Accidentally I got into – XAMPP, which installed absolutely everything and was a perfect alternative for me.
Read all system requirements for Magento.

2. Downloading Magento

You could get Magento absolutely free of charge from the official website. It’s a matter of preference which of the two versions you would choose. The downloader offers only the files which are necessary for downloading, and in the Full Release are included all files.
Don’t forget to download the Samle Data as well, because it contains a sample content of Magento, which would facilitate you during creating the design later.
 

3. Decompression and uploading to a server

Decompress all the files in the main directory or under directory, which you will use for Magento. For XAMPP this is /xampp/htdocs and for WAMP is /wamp/www. If you’re using linux server, the name could be different but in most cases it’s public_html. Don’t forget to decompress the Sample Data as well, and more specifically the folder /media from the archive into the /media directory in Magento. You need this because in that way the products’ images will show.
 

4. Removing the error with localhost

Before starting installation, it is necessary to make one important change, because if not, you may have problems with logging in the admin panel later. You have to edit the file:
\magento\app\code\core\Mage\Core\Model\Session\Abstract\Varien.php
You go to line 77, you have to see “// set session cookie params” and all you have to do is erase or comment the last tree lines of the code and to erase the comma after getPath()

        // set session cookie params
        session_set_cookie_params(
            $this->getCookie()->getLifetime(),
            $this->getCookie()->getPath()
            //$this->getCookie()->getDomain(),
            //$this->getCookie()->isSecure(),
            //$this->getCookie()->getHttponly()
        );

You make this to avoid any possible problems with cookies, which appear in localhost in attempt to login in the admin panel.

5. Importing data base and file permissions

If you’re using Linux server, make sure that you have given appropriate permissions to the main and all the directories in Magento – CHMOD: 0777. If you are with Windows and you’re using XAMPP/WAMP you won’t have such problem.
After that open phpMyAdmin or the place where you’re managing your database and create a new, which you would be using for installing Magento.
After that you should import the file magento_sample_data_for_x.x.x.sql, to load the sample database, which you would use later with the design.
 

6. Installig Magento

Open the browser and go to Magento’s directory (example: http://localhost/magento). If you have done everything so far correctly, an installation page for magento should open.
 

Follow the steps right until the end of installation. Afther the step “Configuration” you have to wait a little bit to finish. If you leave the encryption key field empty, at the end magento will automatically generate one for you and it is good to write it somewhere because if you decide later to move the current information on another installation for Magento, you would need this key.

7. Magento, ready for design

Congratulations, you have an installed Magento with a sample data base, which you can use for creating templates.
 

 
It would be helpful to download Designer’s Guide to Magento in which you would find everythig necessary to start making templates for Magento.