In this section of the tutorial, we will review the process of installing SocialEngine manually on your account. You may need to complete that once only, but we will introduce you to the entire process so you can get a better understanding of it and complete it on your end easily.

Further reading:

SocialEngine Configuration Tutorial

Social Engine Backup and Restore Tutorial

Step 1 Get SocialEngine license

SocialEngine is a paid product and you need to have a valid license for your domain so you can install it on your account. You can get your SocialEngine lisence from your web host if they are an official SocialEngine reseller. Alternatively, you can also purchase such a license via the official SocialEngine website.

Once you purchase your license, you need to access your SocialEngine account dashboard and to download the script.

Step 2: Prepare files for the installation

The next step is to extract the files of your SocialEngine script on your local computer. Make sure that you extract the files within a folder that you create prior to the process. This will ensure that all of the files are correctly placed into the folder you created and you will not forget any at the time of the upload to the server.

Up until this moment, you will have a folder on your local computer that contains all of the SocialEngine files and folders. It is time to upload them to the server and more precisely, to the location on the server where you would like to install SocialEngine.

You can upload the files via FTP or directly using the File Manager service within your cPanel account.

Note that you will usually upload the SocialEngine script within the public_html/ directory of your account. If you do so, the files will be accessible through the main domain set on your account. For example, if your domain is example.com and you need to install SocialEngine directly on it, this means that you need to upload the files within the public_html/ directory. However, if you would like to install the script in a subfolder called “social” and access your website via example.com/social/, this means that you need to create a folder called “social” within the public_html/ directory of your account and then upload the SocialEngine files in it.

Step 3: Run installation

The last step of the process is to run the installation script of SocialEngine. It will request some information about the new installation and then complete it for you automatically.

To initiate the script, you need to access the location, where you have uploaded your SocialEngine script. The first screen will request the license for your purchase and you can see that information within your account at the official SocialEngine website.

Next, the system will perform an environment check in order to determine if the server matches all of the SocialEngine requirements. You will not have any issues throughout this step so you can simply click on the Continue button to proceed.

The third step of the SocialEngine installation will request the database details that will be used on your website. For that purpose, you need to create a new database and a user assigned to it with full privileges.

The system will check if the database details are correct and inform you about that. Simply click on Continue to proceed or enter the database details again if there was an issue.

The next step is to configure the administrative account on your website. This account will be used for the actual development of your website and the way it is configured. This is important part of the process so make sure that you keep a note of the details that you set here.

The installation of SocialEngine is now completed. You can proceed to your new website and enjoy!

Further reading:

SocialEngine Configuration Tutorial

Social Engine Backup and Restore Tutorial

An upgrade of the SocialEngine core is recommended when you notice that there is a new release available. Each new SocialEngine version introduces a number of bug fixes and extended functionality for your website. In this tutorial, we will review the process of upgrading the SocialEngine core easily. If you follow our instructions carefully, you will also have a backup copy of your working website so you can restore it if something goes wrong with the upgrade.

Step 1: Create a full backup

The first step of the process is to ensure that you have a working copy of your website as a backup. If something goes wrong with the upgrade of your SocialEngine installation, you will be able to restore your website to a working state. This is the reason why we always recommend that you generate a full backup of your website before major changes like an upgrade of the SocialEngine Core.

The actual upgrade process is as easy as a game with SocialEngine. You simply need to follow the instructions and the system will complete it for you automatically.

Step 2: Download the upgrade package

The first step of the process is to download the upgrade package of your SocialEngine installation. You can do so via your Control panel at the official SocialEngine website. It is located at the bottom of the list of available downloads.

Alternatively, you can simply contact our Technical Support team and they will gladly create a backup of your website and then upgrade the SocialEngine Core for you. The process will be handled by our SocialEngine specialists so you will not have to worry about the actual upgrade or errors on your website after that.

Step 3: Initiate Upgrade

You can proceed with the actual upgrade process of your SocialEngine website. For that purpose, you will have to access the administrative area of your website first. Navigate to the Manage tab and then Packages & Plugins.

Click on the Install New Packages button, which will allow you to upload the upgrade package.

Select the Add Packages button and locate the upgrade archive from your local computer. The system will start uploading of the package and then extracting it. You will see a progress bar and messages on the screen for that purpose.

Once the extraction is completed, you will be presented with a list of all components on your website that will be upgraded during the process. You need to select them all and then click on the Continue button at the bottom-left corner of the screen.

The system will display a list of the actual changes that will be performed on your website. The files that will be modified will be presented there as well. Review that information carefully and then click on the Continue & Overwrite button to proceed.

Choose a connection type for the process. This can be set to existing FTP account or to None if you do not have such created for your SocialEngine installation.

Click on the Continue button throughout the next steps. They are informative and you will not have any issues on them. Once the upgrade process is ready, you will be presented with a successful message on the screen.