There are several ways to install the store files. Many hosting companies offer the cart in their hosting packages, which you can install but a manual file upgrade after that initial install is recommended in most cases. But if you are installing from scratch, you have a choice of using a web method and Telnet/SSH. Telnet/SSH install is best if your hoting account does not run inder your own ID or SUID as it is called in many cases. Other programs such as AdminPro may allow you to do installs as well, but we have not been able to test/try the actual install process in AdminPro. If you are not able to install the cart and/or compile wrappers after discovering the lack of support for such features, rather than spending hours upon hours of trying to figure it out on the installation of the files, we suggest that you find new hosting. It should only take 2 minutes if your are experienced and maybe 30 to 45 minutes for file install if a beginner and prepared with the proper tools and hosting tools (not counting developing cart look and product database). We list several companies that offer compatible hosting solutions.

Uploading the achived store files

Connect to your web account using your FTP software. Make sure that you set it to perform a BINARY transfer as you're sending up an archive. Upload agoracgi.tgz file into your web hosting directories. AgoraCart is not required to be in your cgi-bin on most servers, but some hosting companies require CGI scripts to run in your CGI directory (on most web hosts this will be named cgi-bin but many hosts allow you to upload anywhere. If you are unsure, upload it to your cgi-bin directory.

If you are not sure about what ID or SUID your scripts run under, now is a good time to download the Test ID script and run it. See Determine Your Hosting Account User ID for instructions on how to use the test file.

Also, as a note, if you can not uncompress .tgz files on your server, you will need to uncompress the .tgz file on your pc to the .tar version first and then upload the .tar version to your server space.

TELNET or SSH Installation

If you would prefer more control over your installation (and if your host allows!!) then you may wish to use your TELNET or SSH software to access your webspace and install the script by command line. Some hosting companies offer control panel SSH type access. Check with your hosting company to have this enabled or to see how to access this feature on your hosting account. If you do not have Telnet or SSH type access, skip this section and go to the Web Installation section listed below. You may also try AdminPro for your installation.

To start installation, login using your software lcient or the control panel version provided by your host, and change directories using the CD command ("cd public_html/cgi-bin" --without the quote marks-- and then press the enter key) into your cgi-bin (or wherever you uploaded the files to) and type the following command to uncompress your store:

tar -xzvpf agoracgi.tgz 2>&1

This will extract the files into a new directory called "store" for you and set all the permissions correctly.

If you cannot extract .tgz files, upload the .tar version instead (in binary mode and it can be uncompressed on your pc first from the .tgz file using winrar or winzip type programs) and then type the following command to uncompress the tarball file:

tar -xvpf agoracgi.tar 2>&1

Web Installation

At this point, make sure to change your FTP transfer mode to ASCII and upload the CGI install file which is available at Installer CGI file for TGZ installs or if using a .tar file use this installer instead: Installer CGI file for TAR installs into the same location as you uploaded the agoracgi.tgz or agoracgi.tar file.

Once you have uploaded the install file, change the permissions of this file to 755. Then open a web browser window. Now, all you have to do to install the store is to activate the install script on your server by visiting http://www.yourdomain.com/cgi-bin/installtgz.cgi (or the URL location of where the script resides).

AdminPro Installation - If running under nobody hosting accounts

Upload the .tgz or .tar file as indicated in the "Upload" section using but using the AdminPro upload functions. make sure to indicate it's an image as it needs to be uploaded as a BINARY file and checking the image box allows it to be uploaded correctly. If in doubt, use FTP upload instead.

Using AdminPro this time, upload the installer file Installer CGI file for TGZ installs or if using a .tar file use this installer instead: Installer CGI file for TAR installs into the same location as you uploaded the agoracgi.tgz or agoracgi.tar file.

Once you have uploaded the install file, change the permissions of this file to 755. Then open a new web browser window. Now, all you have to do to install the store is to activate the install script on your server by visiting http://www.yourdomain.com/cgi-bin/installtgz.cgi (or the URL location of where the script resides).

The advantage of installing the cart using this method is that adminpro will allow you to work with store files and edit them if your account is running under "nobody" status. The reason why is that the script will be given ownership to "nobody" and when you log in using FTP, you will be "somebody" and will not be able to edit most of the files & directories, change permissions, edit, delete, etc.