can't load plug-ins

[ssweeney44]

I have a new shared hosting account at godaddy. I want to set up a blog using Serendipity. I have loaded the Serendipity software but the event plug-ins I need to import my data won't load. I have re-installed software twice. Godaddy says S9Y product ask them.

So what next?

[garvinhicking]

Hi!

Can you describe, what you mean with "won't load"? What exactly are you doing?

Best regards,
Garvin

[ssweeney44]

check box to load the plug-in, click on save.

[garvinhicking]

Hi!

Please be more specific. What plugin to you click, which checkbox where?! Make screenshots, if you're too lazy.

Best regards,
Garvin

[ssweeney44]

I am not too lazy but I am not a tech. Before I waste your time, I am starting to get the feeling that this product is not for use by non-techs. Am I correct in that?

[garvinhicking]

Hi!

No, this product is absolutely meant to be used also by non-techs.

Please just understand my point of view: I want to help you. But before I can help you, I must understand what you are trying to do. This has not yet been clear by your description, I'm sorry.

Best regards,
Garvin

[ssweeney44]

I need to install an event plug-in called Serendipity in order to load my data from my old Moveable Type blog

I go to the page to add/configure plug-ins, I go the the event plug-ins, I check the box in front of the ones I want to install, including the one named Serendipity, then I click on the "save" button at the bottom of the page. The page recycles like it it going to do the save but when it finishes recycling, the save is not done.

[garvinhicking]

Hi!

I need to install an event plug-in called Serendipity in order to load my data from my old Moveable Type blog

Why do you think that? There is no plugin called Serendipity; Serendipity is how the Blog itself is called!

I go to the page to add/configure plug-ins, I go the the event plug-ins, I check the box in front of the ones I want to install, including the one named Serendipity, then I click on the "save" button at the bottom of the page. The page recycles like it it going to do the save but when it finishes recycling, the save is not done.

Ah, I understand. This is how the panel operates:

The page you see when you click on "Plugin Configuration" lists currently installed and active plugins. The checkboxes in front of the plugins need to be checked if you plan to move a plugin to a different sidebar or want to remove plugins.

This page itself does not add any plugins. If you want to add plugins, you first need to click on the Link "Click here to install Event Plugins" or "Click here to install Sidebar plugins". On the next page you will see a listing of available plugins, where you can click on the graphical install button next to it to install a plugin.

Then you will be redirected to that plugins configuration page to setup the plugin. Some plugins might not have options, in which case you will land on the plugin overview again.

From the plugin overview, you can click on single plugins to go to their configuration page again.


Now to what you seem to want to do, which is to import your Moveable Type data. For that you need to click on the menu item "Import data". There in the dropdown you select "Moveable Type" and click on "Go". On the next page you need to upload the Moveable Type data file (which you need to export from within moveable type), and then finally click on "Import now".

I know that godaddy has a serendipity version that is nearly 2 years old. You are suggested to download and use a recent version of Serendipity (1.0) which offers some improvements in the MoveableType import. Installing a recent Serendipity on your webspace is quite easy, if you have not yet done so. The installation documentation on www.s9y.org should be pretty extensive on this issue, if you need more help.

HTH,
Garvin

[ssweeney44]

thanks --

I looked at the documentation for installing the up-grade -- looks like that would be the first step. It's much too hard for a non-tech. I could do it but it would take days of work, with much blind guessing, error and frustration.

Is there a place where I can hire a tech who is actually versed in blog mechanics at a reasonable rate to help set up of new blog for me and with migration of my old Movable Type data to the new blog?

[garvinhicking]

Hi!

I looked at the documentation for installing the up-grade -- looks like that would be the first step. It's much too hard for a non-tech. I could do it but it would take days of work, with much blind guessing, error and frustration.

Really? What page did you look at? Upgrading is a step I've seen a non-tech friend perform within 5 minutes.

Its nothing more than just uploading a ZIP and going to the admin panel.

Is there a place where I can hire a tech who is actually versed in blog mechanics at a reasonable rate to help set up of new blog for me and with migration of my old Movable Type data to the new blog?

I could offer you to do that, if you like. My rate would be whatever you see fit for the task. If you want to do that, just contact me via PM or email and send me the FTP / Account details I need to access the data.

Best regards,
Garvin

[ssweeney44]

If your friend had no trouble with the following he/she is a lot smarter than me:

Before you continue the process, make sure that the PHP/Apache webserver is able to write to your serendipity_config_local.inc.php and .htaccess file, and that the directory templates_c/ exists and is writable. You can change permissions using chmod commands in your favourite FTP or SSH client.

Also make sure that your configured database users are privileged to execute ALTER TABLE, CREATE TABLE and CREATE INDEX commands

[garvinhicking]

Hi!

If your friend had no trouble with the following he/she is a lot smarter than me:

Before you continue the process, make sure that the PHP/Apache webserver is able to write to your serendipity_config_local.inc.php and .htaccess file, and that the directory templates_c/ exists and is writable. You can change permissions using chmod commands in your favourite FTP or SSH client.

If you have installed Serendipity and not used FTP tools to change permissions, this will not have changed. The note is just a reminder for people who might have touched files. Usually if you use FTP to upload a PHP/Web tool, one has stumbled accross the "permission" features.

Also make sure that your configured database users are privileged to execute ALTER TABLE, CREATE TABLE and CREATE INDEX commands

If you managed to install Serendipity once, this will also not change and it is a simple reminder for people who may have switched host or MySQL systems that they need to pay attention their privileges fit.

When writing a FAQ or upgrade, we always need to address both the novice and the expert users. It is hard to write distinct routines for both in one document without splitting it into sections that fits both. So we just try to write additional notes in there that the novice users might not need to check.

We are always looking for help to improve our documentation, so if you have an alternate suggestion on how to phrase this, your input would be most welcome.

Best regards,
Garvin

[ssweeney44]

FYI -- I tried to do the Serendipity up-grade and when that won't work, I tried a complete re-install. That didn't work either.

It turns out that with the go-daddy.com shared hosting that the hosting customer (me) can't not independently run software on the site.

So the only blog software that I can use with godaddy.com are those that they provide to me. This means that I am stuck with the Serendipity 0.8.2 unless S9Y.com gets godaddy.com to do the upgrade centrally.

[garvinhicking]

Hi!

Oh, that's sad to hear. I'm sorry.

But I am sure that Godaddy will much more likely upgrade Serendipity, when their users or customers make demand for that - not when the developers of the software do.

So, raise your voice on their support channels! Make them turn to a recent, secure and more powerful Serendipity.

Best regards,
Garvin