Cannot create new site

I’m thinking this Codex guide https://codex.www.ads-software.com/Create_A_Network and then this one https://codex.www.ads-software.com/Installing_Multiple_Blogs should be helpful for you.

Here’s another helpful guide: https://themetrust.com/how-to-setup-wordpress-multisite/

Thanks to the mega power of The Google! ??

I used those resources to install and set up the multi-site installation. But it would seem I can use one database for both blogs, since there is only one wordpress installation.

When I try to customize the theme for this site, the right-hand pane that shows the site does not appear, only an hourglass. I can change the various theme customizations and save them, but when visiting the site, only the directory of artblog appears on a white background.

Index of /wordpress/artblog

The fellow at work I would usually ask to help solve your issue is currently out of the office. But, in regards to using one or more databases, this Codex guide does talk about using more than one database: https://codex.www.ads-software.com/Installing_Multiple_Blogs.

P.S., Did you setup your multisite to work with subdomains or sub-directories (i.e., https://site1.example.com or https://example.com/site1/)? If the latter, which sounds like a good guess given your URL listed above, did you enable pretty permalinks on your root site? More info here https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-tutorials/how-to-install-and-setup-wordpress-multisite-network/.

Actually, your original statement confuses me: “I have added the multi-site version of wordpress to my initial installation.” Did you mean to say you edited your current WordPress’ wp-config.php file to say:

/* Multisite */
define( 'WP_ALLOW_MULTISITE', true );

Then you went to Tools > Network to setup your network, right? Note that the guide I referenced above (i.e., https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-tutorials/how-to-install-and-setup-wordpress-multisite-network/) suggested you deactivate ALL your plugins before setting up your network.

P.S., The guide also makes mention that you “need Apache’s mod_rewrite module installed on your server to setup multisite network. ” But states that, “This module is installed and enabled on most reputable WordPress hosting providers.” So, that’s good to know!

I edited wp-config.php and .htacess as instructed. I deactivated plugins, etc., following the instructions.

I used the month and link permalink feature.

Oh, and in regards to themes, the same guide states:

By default, individual site administrators cannot install themes and plugins on their own. As the network admin, you can install plugins and themes for them and make those themes / plugins available to them. To do that you need to login to your primary site and go to My Sites ? Network Admin ? Themes.

On the Network Admin’s themes screen, you will see a list of currently installed theme[s] on your WordPress multisite. You can make a theme available to other sites by clicking on Enable Network under that theme. Similarly, you can disable a theme by clicking on Disable Network link under the theme.

This guide (i.e., https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-tutorials/how-to-install-and-setup-wordpress-multisite-network/) is very helpful. Heck, I might just try setting a multisite up myself!

Anyway, I hope something I have pointed to is helpful. As you can guess, I too am knew to the knowledge it takes to properly setup a WordPress multisite. That’s always taken care of by our Systems guy. Then I just test them. ??

The theme I want to use is network-enabled.

Thanks for all your assistance, but I am still stuck!

LOL, yeah, I had the same question regarding “pretty permalinks”. I believe that’s old school for what is found at Settings > Permalinks. Just be sure not to have it set to Plain aka, Ugly (i.e., https://localhost/wordpress/?p=123)!

What are the URLs for your two sites? And, let’s pretend they are:

https://example.com/site1/
and
https://example.com/site2/

If so, when you want to work with site 1, for example, you are pointing your web browser to https://example.com/site1/wp-admin/, right? And, of course, to work with site 2, you’d instead go to https://example.com/site2/wp-admin/, right?

Yet another P.S., the guide also mentions:

Another common issue is that when using WordPress Multisite with sub-directories, some users are unable to login to the admin area of their sites after they add the required code in wp-config.php file. To fix this, try replacing

define('SUBDOMAIN_INSTALL', false);

line in wp-config.php file with

define('SUBDOMAIN_INSTALL', 'false');.

I have no problems logging in to the admin and the two sites’ dashboards.

I can go to any of them after logging in. I can customize the original blog with no problem — I select customize and the options appear in the left-hand pane, and a visual of the actual site in the right-hand pane.

But when I try to customize the new blog, the options appear in the left-hand pane and nothing in the right-hand pane, so no matter what I might change, the new blog comes up with a white background page and
Index of /wordpress/artblog

I see. Hmm, well, you’ve inspired me to make a multisite of my own. I am using MAMP on my MacBook Air so I followed these instructions:

https://perishablepress.com/wordpress-multisite-mamp/

I will try to reproduce your issue but I am betting we’re going to need someone with more multisite experience. In the meantime, is there anyway you provide some screenshots of what you’re seeing?

P.S., For multisite or not, troubleshooting wise, you have deactivated all your plugins and switched back to the default Twenty Sixteen (or whatever) theme, right? Just to rule out the idea that your issue isn’t a 3rd party plugin(s) and/or theme conflict.