Installing SMF into XAMPP

[shade3134]

I'm a complete beginner and I want to test out various code on my forums without always having to replace and upload everything. What are the specific steps into installing SMF onto my computer? I extract it and there's an install.php file inside. No type of installation files. And from there where do I go to connect it with XAMPP? Also, where would I place the test .php files in order to see them in my browser? Thanks so much for the help.

[flapjack]

extract all the files to your \htdocs\ and open your web browser and type in:
localhost\install.php

[shade3134]

Thanks a lot for the prompt response! Though I am unsure what to put under, "MySQL database and host name/password". Are those for me to determine since I'm running this off of XAMPP?

[flapjack]

probably:
user: root
pass: (leave empty)

if not, check xampp website for default settings

[shade3134]

Thanks! It worked. From here do I do the coding from the .php file on my computer or do I do it from within XAMPP? I wanted to be able to have a file on hand, and just refresh my browser to see the changes instead of saving inside SMF and clicking home just to see what something does. Is that possible to get around?

[flapjack]

use any editor to edit given file within htdocs folder, when you save it hit F5 in the browser - that's it!
if it's the css file, you will need to use CTRL+F5 to overwrite cached css

[shade3134]

Cool! I think...Just to be sure, I can unzip a custom preset inside htdocs folder and play with the .php files to make changes seen on my XAMPP? If so, then how do I select that current view of the .css file in XAMPP over the default layout? I think I'm slowly grasping it..

[flapjack]

I don't understand, could you rephrase the question?

[shade3134]

Sorry about that. So I unzip the preset theme (in my case) into htdocs and open then .php file? From there I make a change to it and save. How do I see those changes? Do I have to have that custom theme selected already in SMF? Like....How do I see the changes....trying to think of a better way to put it. lol

[flapjack]

I think youre missing a point here. htdocs is your folder for SMF installation, you theme folder will be /htdocs/Themes/theme_name/
assuming it's index.template.php you want to edit, the file will be at /htdocs/Themes/theme_name/index.template.php
after you edit it, press save within your text editor, switch back to your browser and hit F5, the page will render again with the changes you made

the whole point of having xampp is you don't have to upload files after editing them to your ftp. after you are done with the theme, you will need to upload the whole folder to your webhost to see it in action

[shade3134]

I got you. Without making any changes to a custom theme, how do I view it?

[flapjack]

just type in localhost/index.php in your browser

[shade3134]

Yeah, it shows the default layout. I want to view the custom layout.

[flapjack]

change the theme in your Admin panel

[shade3134]

Whenever I click save, it doesn't do anything. It stays default. 

[flapjack]

you need to be more specific, I don't have the ability to read minds, click what, where and after doing what?

[shade3134]

Sorry about that, under 'configuration>themes and layout' I try to change my current theme by setting and saving a new one. When I hit save and go to the forum index, nothing changes.

[Bigguy]

I think file permissions might be messing you up. (Maybe)

[JimM]

You can change your theme from your Profile > Look and Layout Preferences.

To change the default for the entire forum, go to Admin > Configuration > Themes and Layout > Overall Forum Default

then Reset everyone to:

In order for the custom themes to be available, they would have to of been installed.