So you want to install MovableType version 3.2 and you're a bit intimidated. Well, you're in luck, because a) FutureQuest makes it very easy and b) I am going to show you how. I highly recommend FutureQuest as a host for Movable Type. The FutureQuest Community and Staff provide excellent support. Moreover, FutureQuest delivers excellent uptime results as well as safety and security. You simply can't find a better host.
I am really excited about this new version of Movable Type.
- It's a free update for any licensed user of MT 3.x
- There's a $30 discount for personal users
- All licenses support an unlimited number of blogs now
- The system overview is new, letting you manage all your blogs in one
place
- We've got the best spam protection and community management around
When you combine Movable Type with FutureQuest, you've got a great winning combination.
Before we begin, I started a weblog (or blog) called Specious Argument only a few months ago. You can see my splash page here:
http://www.speciousargument.com. And the weblog itself is here:
http://www.speciousargument.com/blog. Prior to starting this weblog, I had never FTPed (file transfer) or anything else before. I did read up on html and css, but reading only--no actual practice. My server knowledge was and is very poor. And I am still learning many of the basics. That said, I found installing my weblog reasonably painless. And once I had successfully installed my weblog, I added a link to the sidebar, added a new template, and created several entries. All in all, I found the whole experience reasonably straightforward. If I can do it, so can you.
You'll note that I do have a splash page and then my blog. You might wish to eliminate the splash page and just go directly to your blog. If so, you will have to modify the instructions slightly. But only slightly.
I started with Movable Type 3.16, then 3.17, and will soon be converting my current blog to 3.2. I am, however, installing a test version 3.2 from scratch as I write this set of instructions. I do have another test blog which I have upgraded to 3.2.
The are five basic steps we have to go through to install Movable Type. Luckily, they are all easy steps.
- Getting our software tools ready
- Getting Movable Type from SixApart
- Getting our folders and database on FutureQuest ready
- Preparing and uploading our files to FutureQuest server
- Initializing Movable Type
Getting our software tools ready
You are going to need a few software tools before you begin. You should have...
* WinZip (
http://www.winzip.com) or an equivalent software tool
* FTP Voyager (
http://www.ftpvoyager.com/) or any suitable FTP software
I like FTP Voyager because it was recommended by Nick Bradbury for integration with TopStyle.
I will provide a few specific instructions for FTP Voyager, though you can likely do the same with your software if it is different.
The intent with the next set of instructions is to tell FTP that it should upload most everything in Ascii mode with the exception of graphics. .gif files should not be uploaded in ascii mode.
1) Install and load FTP Voyager (bypass any logging on screens to get to the main menus)
1a) View | Simple Mode (make sure it is NOT simple mode)
1b) View | Options | Auto Ascii Extensions...make sure the following are listed or add
.cfg .cgi .css .dump .html .pm .pod .tmpl
1c) Tools | Transfer Mode | Automatic Ascii
* You will also need to use your notepad. I use UltraEdit
http://www.ultraedit.com/. But your notepad will do just fine.
Getting Movable Type from Six Apart
2) Go to the following location to obtain your Movable Type 3.2:
http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/
2a) Download to your PC, put in a directory and unzip it using WinZip in classic mode or another similar utility. The key is that once it is unzipped, you should see a file structure with subfolders.
Getting our folders and database on FutureQuest ready
Code Sample:
Blog Name: Blue Moon Test
Domain name: www.DarkSideOfTheBlueMoon.com
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In my example, a splash page will exist (you can easily modify my instructions for no splash page).
3) Using your browser logon into your FutureQuest Account.
3a) Using FTP Manager: create a FTP account with user name and password (johndoe & privateeyes)
3b) Using MySql Manager create
Code Sample:
MySql database: MySql
UserName: xdarksideofthebl (x + 15 chars[site name])
Host name: MySQL.darksideofthebluemoon.com
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3c)
Code Sample:
Database Name: xdarksideofthebluemoon-moon
password: privateeyes
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(I am going to use the same password throughout for convenience. This is a poor practice.)
3d) Go to your cgi-bin directory and create a subdirectory "mt" (w/o quotes)
3e) Go to "www" and create a subdirectory "blog" (applies only if you want a splash page, otherwise skip this step)
3f) Go to "www" and create a subdirectory "movabletype" (optional, this is a subfolder where we will place another Movable Type folder--mt-static--later. I like to keep all my Movable Type stuff separate. mt-static is where MT keeps its graphic files and documentation. "movabletype" subdirectory is independent of a splash page. If you're in doubt, include "movabletype" subdirectory, regardless of your decision to include a splash page.)
Preparing and uploading our files to FutureQuest server
4) Using Notepad or similar text editing software, we are going to modify mt-config.cgi.original. Although this looks very intimidating, it is actually a snap. To make this go more quickly, I am just going to provide the "answers" with some explanations. I will assume you can find the appropriate locations. Most of the changes occur toward the front of the file.
Removing the preceding hash mark makes the "stuff" active.
4a)
Code Sample:
CGIPath http://www.darksideofthebluemoon.com/cgi-bin/mt
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- easy, no?
4b)
Code Sample:
ObjectDriver DBI::mysql
Database xdarksideofthebluemoon-moon
DBUser xdarksideofthebl
DBPassword privateeyes
DBHost MySQL.darksideofthebluemoon.com
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4c)
Code Sample:
I like this because it slows down a spammer. He or she can only send in a comment once every two minutes. Others will have to wait for two minutes.
Skip e-mail address main
4d)
Code Sample:
StaticWebPath http://www.DarkSideOfTheBlueMoon.com/movabletype/static/
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As we discussed earlier, the "movabletype" subdirectory was optional. Just be consistent.
4e)
Code Sample:
HelpURL http://www.DarkSideOfTheBlueMoon.com/movabletype/mt-static/docs/
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skip template path
4f)
Code Sample:
SendMailPath /usr/lib/sendmail
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skip a whole bunch of stuff until you come to the next portion.
4g)
Code Sample:
DBUmask 0022
HTMLUmask 0022
UploadUmask 0022
DirUmask 0022
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You do have suexec so the prior settings should be activated.
4h)
Code Sample:
4i) Save your file as
mt-config.cgi (drop off the "original" stuff. Very important step!)
Now comes the fun part of uploading your files to the server.
4j) Find your subdirectory called "mt-static" on your hard drive. Copy it to "www/movabletype" subdiretory. You'll want to ensure that your images (gif files) are uploaded using binary transfer. Everything else is uploaded in ascii mode.
4k) Everything else is copied into your "cgi-bin/mt" subdirectory. Everything is uploaded in ascii mode.
4l) Select all cgi files and right mouse click to set their properties. They should be set to 755 (see MT installation instructions for graphic. The graphics are probably still being worked on, so they might not be in the manual yet. When I did this my permissions section was grayed out. I simply disconnected and reconnected. Then no problems.)
4m) Set "blog" directory to 755.
Initializing Movable Type
We're almost done, can you believe it??
5a)
Now enter the following URL into your browser:
Code Sample:
http://www.DarkSideOfTheBlueMoon.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-check.cgi
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You should pass with flying colors. If not, something has gone wrong. Most likely something was done incorrectly in your configuration file. Please go back and double check.
5b) Movable Type should load properly.
5c) Starting Up Movable Type
Code Sample:
http://www.darksideofthebluemoon.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt.cgi
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5d) Enter User Name: Melody Password: Nelson.
5e) Hit the link System Shortcuts and then Authors. Put your name and logon information there.
5f) Hit the link "Configure this weblog"
5g) Start filling things out. If you don't have a splash page, you will have to modify to suit.
Code Sample:
Weblog Name: Blue Moon Test
Site URL: http://www.darksideofthebluemoon.com/blog/
Site Root: /big/dom/xdarksideofthebluemoon/www/blog/
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5h) Set your time zone.
You are almost set up and ready to start. I encourage you to hit the left sidebar link Configure | Settings. Go through those on your own and adjust accordingly.
Before you begin, I highly recommend that you review a couple of articles on customizing your settings; I will point you to the articles. Having your setting properly set now will save you grief later.
Converting to PHP and Dynamic Publishing Pros and Cons.
http://www.elise.com/mt/archives/000451html_or_php.php
http://www.elise.com/mt/archives/001...s_and_cons.php
I think we covered off all the bases. I was surprised how easy it was to set up the database, and I was pleasantly surprised that there were very few configuration changes to make. FutureQuest really does make it easy for us.
Summary
If you find something wasn't quite right, let me know and we'll amend this document. But I am fairly confident everything should progress smoothly for you as these are the steps that I followed and it worked for me.
I literally did the steps as I recreated a test MT 3.2 blog from scratch. So as I went along, I wrote the instructions.
I hope this has been helpful to you.
If you found this tutorial helpful, I ask a small favor. In one of your early posts, please reference these set of instructions which can be found here:
http://www.aota.net/forums/showthrea...879#post137879
Code Sample:
http://www.aota.net/forums/showthread.php?p=137879#post137879
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And please reference FutureQuest as a terrific hosting site. FutureQuest's link is:
http://www.futurequest.net/
And if you feel so inclined, you can send me a link at
http://www.speciousargument.com/blog/ indicating you found my instructions helpful.
The reason for wanting links is that I want to have many Movable Type installations on FutureQuest. I think having a strong vibrant community will help everyone. We'll be able to learn from each and assist each other.
Again, if you find something that is not quite right, please let me know and I'll amend this document. The document should be good as I literally wrote it as I went along. But there is always room for improvement, so with your help we will strengthen this document to make it even easier for the next person.
Best regards,
Kevin
Linear Mode
