Answered Uncaught Exception: DateTime::__construct(): New Installation

Hello!
I attempted first to install MODX into my root (public_html) directory where currently there resides two folders. Each being SUB domains. No files in the root folder but one htaccess that is a simple php version directive created by the versions manager in my controlpanel. I made it write-able to MODX thinking that this would avoid errors after installation.
Moving forward.
After the initial setup of which went flawlessly, I landed on the administrator login page. When I successfully logged in, I was immediatley hit with the following error and a dead application:



* @version MODX 2.6.1
* @version PHP7.0
* @version MySQL cpsrvd 11.66.0.23
* Database client version: libmysql - 5.1.73
* PHP extension: mysqli Documentation curl Documentation mbstring Documentation
* PHP version: 5.6.30
==================================================================================
I should point out above that the default PHP version on my host is 5 and that I changed the version
for my public_html folder to PHP7 because PHP threw the same error when I attempted to install with PHP5 running. Additionally, The same error was spat at me when I installed to my local NIX machine.

And here I am after attempting to trace the stack back to the script that set the DATETIME constant
thinking that maybe I could tweek things a little in order to get past it. However that's when I decided to come here first. Hope I have provided enough information to get this corrected because I would much prefer to use MODX over the others. Thank you everyone!

That line is expecting a date/timezone in the form "Europe/Paris".

It tries to get the date_timezone System Setting in the modx_system_settings table in the DB. If it's empty, it used PHP's date_default_timezone_get(), which is unreliable.

Probably the best solution would be to go into the database, find the date_timezone System Setting in the modx_system_settings table, and set it to one of the values here: http://php.net/manual/en/timezones.php.

Manually delete all files in the core/cache directory after fixing the DB setting before trying to log in.

You should also look for that incorrect date/timezone setting in any php.ini files or .htaccess file at the MODX root directory or above it.

FYI, you will almost certainly want to use "friendly URLs" in MODX, which requires the MODX .htaccess file, which you get by renaming the ht.access file in the MODX root (which is ignored) to .htaccess. You can add the code from your current .htaccess file to the MODX one.

I would ignore the .htaccess issue until you get the Manager working correctly.

Welcome to MODX.

Ok all fixed!
Did'nt do any modifying to any tables in the DB. I went nosing around in the file system and found



and on line 48 is

of which was empty. In my case it needed

Closed the file, refreshed the page and the world seems normal again.

Thank you your assistance and have a great day!

I think that will be a temporary fix. Eventually, the System Settings cache will be refreshed and you'll be back in the soup.

While you're able to access the Manager, go to System (gear icon) -> System Settings. Find the date_timezone setting, double-click on the value field and set it to America/Los_Angeles. That will update the DB.

Same problem after upgrading php from 5.x to 7.1 on some hosting.
Solution of Bob worked perfectly!

ps. It always gives me a sense of security, knowing that if I look for solutions to a problem on modx ... I will find a post by Bob: D

Thank you Bob !
You saved my life, again.

I'm glad I could help.

Thanks everyone for the kind words.