How to install MODx

Hello,
I just downloaded the MODx software but I can’t figure out how to install it!!! I have a Mac. Please help.

I suppose, you haven´t modified your Mac in any way before...

So... where your websites "live"... have a look at your finder and go to a folder named "Websites".
Add a folder here named "modx" (do this by pressing cmd + shift + n, then typing "modx" + enter).
Copy your downloaded copy of modx into this folder an unzip it.
Go to your system preferences by clicking the apple in the upper-left corner of your screen. There, click on "sharing".
Mark the checkbox saying "web sharing".

Now you might be able to call your local Apache by directing your Safari to http://localhost/modx.

Hope, that helps.

Cheers.

I would strongly suggest you create a local testing ground for MODx on your Mac before taking it on live servers.

You need Apache, PHP, and MySQL configured first. You can configure all of these separately but a more efficient way is by using MAMP. Get the free MAMP here: http://www.mamp.info/en/index.html

Install MAMP on your hard drive: it should go in the Applications folder. Once done you will have a folder within the MAMP folder called htdocs.  Download the MODx archive and make several copies of the archive. Give one of these copies a unique name like modx_test1 and place it in the htdocs folder which is in the MAMP folder.

Then launch the MAMP application. Using a modern web browser enter the address: http://localhost:8888/MAMP/ and you should see a "Welcome to MAMP" page. Click on the phpMyAdmin pane which will bring you to a page that will allow you to create a database. Do so and write down the database name you assigned and the password etc.

Once you have the database configured then try going to this address:http://localhost:8888/modx_test1/  You should then see the install page for MODx. Follow the install. You will need the database info from the phpMyAdmin session. The password for the localhost is usually root. Follow through this and you should be able to install MODx just fine. Be sure to write down all names and passwords along the way.

The great thing about using MAMP is its easy and you can create as many test installs as you like just by using fresh copies of the MODx installer archive. You can also see the folder structure for the various MODx files, snippets, CSS and templates etc. Knowing this file/folder structure is vital to creating the proper links when you begin creating custom templates and designs. 

Have fun!

Max

@burton70:
To be able to understand modx, you will need knowledge of some [-non human-] languages with spesific level:
[table]
[tr]
[td]VERY HIGH[/td][td] : [/td][td]html, css[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]HIGH[/td][td] : [/td][td]php[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]NORMAL[/td][td] : [/td][td]sql[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]LOW[/td][td] : [/td][td]javascript, ajax[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]VERY LOW[/td][td] : [/td][td]modx API[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]
(The order shows about the repetitive problem types while developing website on modx).
EDIT: move css higher, as max mention below. yes, modx encourages developer to always do ’tabless’.

I’m not a super developer.
But I’m realized after a while that those are the least requirement in here.
You can’t use this like WordPress.

Sorry if I sound like underestimate you in this first post.
You question is very ambiguous.

I think the main ingredient you need to get the hang of MODx is time.

If you spend some time reading and working with a test install you can build a pretty full featured site without having programming knowledge. There are template choices etc.

If you want to create your own custom design then you will need some xhtml and CSS knowledge. But there are many MODx users who know nothing about PHP and javascript but still build great sites. Having a more solid background in html, PHP, CSS, Sql, javascript etc makes it quicker and easier to use snippets and build custom pages but you do not absolutely need all of these skills to enjoy working with MODx.

Any decent CMS will require some study: there is just no way of getting around that fact. Rest assured MODx is worth the investment...

Max

I see no reason to use MAMP instead of those abilities brought to you by the built-in features of a MAC itself...
MAMP is a neat collection of an actual Apache, PHP and the associated MySQL-DB...
Install the most actual database brought to you by MySQL (you can find it here http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/mysql/5.1.html#downloads) and you´re done with your MAC to run a website.

And, yes, all you need to learn about some nice things like PHP, CSS, XHTML, MODx, life, ... erm... is time. And literature. Books and such things... maybe Google might help you... that´s for sure.
But helping those who aren´t that fit in the above mentioned things might be a great benefit. So... why not share any "wisdom" once gathered?

Just ask. It´s the most important thing to ask questions.

Thank you everyone for all your help...very much appreciated. I’m just getting started, so I know it’ll be a lot to learn but I’m very excited. I’m sure I’ll have alot more questions to come : )

Quote from: burton70 at Apr 19, 2009, 12:08 AM

Thank you everyone for all your help...very much appreciated. I’m just getting started, so I know it’ll be a lot to learn but I’m very excited. I’m sure I’ll have alot more questions to come : ) 

Good.
Never surrender!

You start showing the heart of a modxer. 
Let it be your way...
At least it pain less (not trully painless) than others.
Your mind is your "only" limit.
Just drop a line, this is what this forum for.

Quote from: Photowebmax at Apr 18, 2009, 05:33 PM

Then launch the MAMP application. Using a modern web browser enter the address: http://localhost:8888/MAMP/ and you should see a "Welcome to MAMP" page. Click on the phpMyAdmin pane which will bring you to a page that will allow you to create a database. Do so and write down the database name you assigned and the password etc.

Hello Photowebmax, when I go to create a database can I name it anything I want or something specific?...There’s probably going to be alot of stupid questions from this newbie so please bare with me I’m just getting started

Thank you

You can call the database anything you want.

You might want to get a notepad for MODx and write everything down.

Once you have MAMP working you can create several MODx installs. Try including the sample content (click the box during the install process) on one them. SOme folks find that playing with several installs (test sites) allows you to really experiment with templates etc.

As others have pointed out it can be useful to know various languages and web practices etc. I think the most useful is CSS. In order to make your own design concepts function within MODX a good working knowledge of CSS really helps. That being said MODx is very flexible when it comes to making a design work. I like to make a page design work on a purely static XHTML and CSS site sample first. Making sure the design validates and works on its own makes it easier when making it work within MODx in the long run.