silverface

Forgot one detail that may be important in the initial post and this one…or it could be irrelevant…but since I don’t know and it appears to NOT be related to WordPress other than trying to run when I try to install WordPress:

What happens each time installation has blown out (first because I was trying to run what I *thought* might be the right startup file(s); next when I was directed to the correct subdirectory and install.php file) is that for about 10 seconds before things go *boom* my screen shows Adobe “GoLive” (??) is starting up. My Adobe experience (I have CS2, which is fine for me as I only use Photoshop and Acrobat (newer versions don’t have features I can’t live without)

Does that drop any more breadcrumbs on the trail?

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…now an on-topic thanks & plea for additional advice:

Thanks – I think php files, unfamiliar icons and abbreviated naming conventions (i.e. “wp-admin/install.php” – I’m used to seeing things like “In the unzipped WordPress folder locate the subfolder (or subdirectory…) wp-admin, which contains the file “install.php”. double-click the file to get started with the installation process.”
Probably too many years of staring at C:/wpadmin/install.php – type wording (and as noted, without the “dash” in the folder name).

So – got past that, thanks.

But now I hit roadblock #2 when I tried to install it – “Error: PHP is not running
WordPress requires that your web server is running PHP. Your server does not have PHP installed, or PHP is turned off.”

..except I’m not ON my webserver, and won’t be until I upload the site for beta testing. Not sure how to handle (or if I NEED to handle) this “Catch-22”.

My interpretation is that I need server software in order to install site creation/maintenance client software that will not be on the server until it’s 90% complete, tested and functional.

My server/hosting folks recommended using WordPress in lieu of NVU/Kompozer (which I’ve used to maintain/modify sites – I’ve never started from scratch). Is it possible they are so used to working with servers that they don’t know an “average Joe” doesn’t have the necessary “tools” to create a site using www.ads-software.com?

I guess I need php – although even after reading some descriptions I’m not sure WHAT I need specifically. First I found this “code example”:
<?php
namespace Foo;
class Bar {
public function Bar() {
// treated as constructor in PHP 5.3.0-5.3.2
// treated as regular method in PHP 5.3.3
}
}
?>

Then this “Sanskrit”:

“The module includes many popular PHP extensions, among them:

* the MySQL and PostgreSQL databases
* the cURL library for various communications protocols
* the GD image creation library (with PNG, JPEG, PostScript Type 1 and TrueType font options).
* the expat XML parser and WDDX support
* XSLT transformations
* LDAP access
* the IMAP client library
* mcrypt encryption functions
* GNU gettext

The distribution comes in a Mac OS X Installer package and is completely self-contained, there are no external dependencies beyond what is delivered by Apple in a regular Mac OS X installation. It does require that you have applied all available Software Updates for the current OS release.”

Have I bitten off far more than I can chew, given that I have no programming experience other than VERY basic HTML?

I’m totally baffled AND under a tight deadline to get SOMETHING – just a home page with a logo would be OK, but not great.

Thanks – Jim