Installation Help Needed, I'm lost...

Post here for help with installing or upgrading mojoPortal pre-compiled release packages. When posting in this forum, please provide all relevant details. You may also want to review the installation or upgrading documentation.

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Post here for help with installation of mojoPortal pre-compiled release packages

When posting in this forum, please try to provide as many relevant details as possible. Particularly the following:

  • What operating system were you running when the bug appeared?
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  • What version of .NET do you use?
  • What steps are necessary to reproduce the issue? Compare expected results vs actual results.

You may also want to review the installation or upgrading documentation.

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9/14/2010 6:59:49 PM
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Installation Help Needed, I'm lost...

OK, after spending two days getting SQL Express installed on my development machine, and another day going through the many choices of eCommerce solutions available, I have decided to give Mojo a try.  However I am a bit confused with the installation directions, what the heck do these steps mean?

1. Create your db and db user
2. Open user.config.sample in a text editor and save as user.config
3. Set the correct connection string in user.config
 

"Create your db and db user"???  Is there not a db already created for the site?

"Open user.config.sample in a text editor and save as user.config"  What?  Why can't I just rename the file to user.config?

"connection string"?  What?  A little clarifying is required here, what would the connection string for SQL look like?

 

I'm an old vbScript and ASP developer trying to learn .NET and am not yet up to speed with all the new methods of installing applications like Mojo, is there any good installation notes available to clear up these things?

Thanks,

9/14/2010 7:14:42 PM
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Re: Installation Help Needed, I'm lost...

Mark,

 

I came from the same background as you, lo these many years agone; let me see if I can help with an explanation.

MojoPortal doesn't create the database automatically, and on many servers, you have to create your db and db users separately.  If you're using SQLExpress, you can just use trusted connection, but on a production server, that won't be feasible.  By doing these steps, you create the info you'll need to insert into your connection string.

Even in traditional ASP you needed to create a connection string to the db server; in .Net, you set the connection string in the web.config or user.config files.  User.Config simply lets you abstract your settings a little further.  Yes, you could change the file name, and then edit the info - whatever order works best for you.

My favorite source for connection string formats when I have a case of the mind-blank is www.connectionstrings.com - it's great for remembering the right format per environment.

Hope this helps you out a bit!

9/14/2010 7:31:09 PM
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Re: Installation Help Needed, I'm lost...

Mark,

Since you want to just quickly setup Mojo for evaluation, i would suggest to download and install the SQL CE version. That version doesn't need any database and user setup, it creates all it is needed. Uses SQL CE database.

That will get you up and running fast.

 

Costas

9/14/2010 9:50:54 PM
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Re: Installation Help Needed, I'm lost...

Costas,  I spent 2 days getting a copy of SQL Express installed on my machine, (don't ask, the installers kept failing for various BS reasons), the last thing I want to do is try to install another version.  Besides, I know for a fact that the hosting server will need a copy of the SQL .mdf file in order to function correctly.  So I'm stuck with what I got.

Indigo, when I create the db, am I going to need to create the tables and such or will Mojo do that dynamically?  Umm... wait, where am I creating this db?  Inside of SQL Manager???  (forgive my ignorance, I haven't used SQL since 2001)

 

Thanks guys!

9/14/2010 10:20:58 PM
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Re: Installation Help Needed, I'm lost...

Wow - that's definitely a lot to catch you up on, then!  Just create a blank database - mojoportal will run scripts to populate it.  Which version of SQL Express are you running?  It's not a huge difference - just log into the SQL Server Management Studio, right-click on the local server and select "Create Database". 

 

There's a whole series of videos on the site here that will step you through all of this - I do recommend going through them, as they'll help you understand each step of the process.  Good luck!

9/14/2010 11:24:11 PM
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Re: Installation Help Needed, I'm lost...

SQL Express 2008 so I'm told...  I believe it was installed with VS 2010 Express when I finally gave up trying to use the SQL Installers, but it is there and running.

Any particular naming convention I need to adhere to for the db and usernames?   I spent the last 9 years using nothing but Access for simple db work and forgot all about the "sa" and instances stuff.  Whats worse is that now I am 10 years older and a few thousands beers later this stuff doesn't come as easy anymore.  I'll be watching videos for the next couple hours...

9/14/2010 11:58:41 PM
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Total Posts 355

Re: Installation Help Needed, I'm lost...

OK, that's a good place to start.  Once you do this a time or two, it'll come to you much more easily.  One of the nice things is that SQL is much easier to use now, and .Net 4.0 has tons of time-saving features and options.  You'll be so happy that so many things that you once wrestled with painfully are so much simpler and more robust now.

Enjoy those videos - popcorn and caffeine are your friends!

9/15/2010 12:16:46 AM
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Re: Installation Help Needed, I'm lost...

Yeah, I use to do a lot of applications in VB6 so I knew it would be a somewhat easy transition to VB.NET, but the asp.net migration is a little slower, so many new things to consider.

"popcorn and caffeine"... lol, for me it will be peanut M & M's and a cold beer.  I'll let you know how it goes.

9/15/2010 5:20:01 AM
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Re: Installation Help Needed, I'm lost...

Mark,

 

With the Mojo SQLCE version you have nothing to install as a database. Nothing.

9/15/2010 5:42:48 AM
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Total Posts 18439

Re: Installation Help Needed, I'm lost...

Mark,

Before you get too far along I want to make sure you understand that the WebStore feature included in mojoPortal is very limited. It is not a general purpose ecommerce solution at this point. It is suitable for selling download products but has no shipping calculations and therefore does not really support shippable products and is in general very limited in features.

Also, while cagliostro is correct that the SQL CE version of mojoPortal is easier to install, the WebStore feature is not implemented for SQL CE and is not available in that version.

Best,

Joe

9/15/2010 10:52:56 AM
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Re: Installation Help Needed, I'm lost...

I have Mojo for NET 4.0 running on my little laptop with XP Pro and IIS5 under SQL Express now that I had a few moments away from the screen, once I took a look at what was needed it became clearer. 

Thanks to everyone for your help, it really did help!  While Mojo is not what I am looking for in an eCommerce solution, it will find a place in my site plans later.

9/15/2010 12:27:59 PM
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Total Posts 355

Re: Installation Help Needed, I'm lost...

Glad you were able to figure things out.  MojoPortal is a great CMS product, but not so much with the e-comm.  For a fantastic open-source e-comm solution, I suggest nopCommerce.  As of this time it's still free, and a very robust e-comm solution.  I've used it for clients, and have nothing but good results.  There are a few folks who've combined mojo and nopCommerce in their website offerings - I haven't done so yet, but I'm considering it.  Good luck!

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