I have just recently finally managed to host my blog locally, after having some grateful assistance from Wardelldesign.com (experienced blogger). Despite appearing to do the install correctly, there were a couple of things I wasn’t aware of/didn’t think of/ really didn’t know and so, ran into some trouble, despite consulting many a blog & online tutorial. I thought I would create my first local posting highlighting them and hopefully providing some necessary clarity aimed at amateur bloggers.

After initially, downloading WordPress 2.9.1, unzipping it inside htdocs (file created in XAMPP, setup usually on the C: Drive), the WordPress folder was created, the database was setup and managed by installing the windows version of XAMPP live (this manages the mySql successfully). I still couldn’t get the blog live. All my files ran perfectly locally, through localhost but when I uploaded through FTP to my site nothing happened. My problems were a result of:

• It appears, the WordPress pack itself, didn’t install the default theme (check this) which is essential in the first instance. What you do after that in terms of styling is up to you but initially, those files have to be present for the blog to show. I used a template for quickness and just adapted and removed parts I didn’t require through .css – which still needs more tweaking.
• Godaddy.com does not run mySql on the localhost like some servers do, the XAMPP runs this and the PHP on the server once set up. You still have to set up a database yourself (remembering to keep your details during setup as you’ll need them later for use in the wp-config.php file) mentioned more clearly next.
• Ok, the WordPress pack, when unzipped has a wp-config-sample.php file which is inside the wp-admin folder, this you have to amend with the database details and then save as wp-config.php in that same file (wp-admin inside htdocs). Your file structure should look something like this. Most of the tutorials tell you to name the database, ‘WordPress’ (you may need to ignore that). Your database name is whatever you choose during the setup with Godaddy, so unless you choose and specify ‘wordpress’ in the wp-config.php file, you’ll have to amend that accordingly. If these details are incorrect, the whole blog fails to connect to the database and you’ll receive repeated messages!!. Many of the online WordPress tutorials don’t explain this adequately intricately enough for the inexperienced developer. My details were incorrect (and so was my password but that was a stupid oversight as apposed to ignorance) and having followed the tutorial closely, I was told incorrect information to include in this file. Hence WordPress, as mentioned above couldn’t access my database. You will also most likely need to check to make sure the file has the closing PHP tag, checking the very end of the file for (question mark & closing wickety thingy-me-bob). Without brackets – this would be (?>). Here is the file in .txt format.

Additionally, If you want your blogs URL to be similar to mine, http://mikedeveloper.com/blog you need to upload your files to the root of your server through your FTP client and rename the wordpress file, simply, ‘blog’. This file will contain all the files from the initial unzip of the download in the WordPress folder, simply rename it. Goes without saying finally, always use a strong password for anything is adviseable, including your FTP account & WordPress

I hope this is of some use to ‘someone’ – I was almost there in my attempts but got frustrated and it just shows you how attention to detail has to be maintained.

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