Brand new to serendipity and creating a blog

[jenstewart]

I have just signed up and begun my setup of my blog for my photography business. I have figured out several things such as the plugins and changing style templates. But I can't find where or how to change the colors of the templates to match my websites color scheme, and to possibly change the header bar, or upload my own picture header.

Right now my blog address is http://jenstewartphotography.com/serendipity/ I'd like to change it to http://www.jenstewartphotography.com/blog/

is this possible? And if so how?

also what does it mean to "Syndicate This Blog" and how does that work? I'd like a way for people to subscribe to my blog so that they are alerted of updates, is that what this does? If not, is there a way for me to implement that?

Sorry for all the questions, and I'm not sure if this is where I'm suppose to post them or not, I read through the FAQ and searched the forum and didn't come up with anything.

Thank you!

Jen Stewart

[yellowled]

But I can't find where or how to change the colors of the templates to match my websites color scheme, and to possibly change the header bar, or upload my own picture header.

Well, do you know HTML/CSS? If you do, you can change these to suit your needs rather simple: by editing the style.css for the template you're using. If you're not familiar with HTML/CSS, I strongly recommend getting into it, it's not that difficult

also what does it mean to "Syndicate This Blog" and how does that work? I'd like a way for people to subscribe to my blog so that they are alerted of updates, is that what this does? If not, is there a way for me to implement that?

It is, in a way. People can "subscribe" to your RSS feeds using a feed reader. Whenever you post a new entry to your blog, the feeds are updated and people notice this in their feed readers. I'm not really good at explaining this, please google for "RSS feed", you should easily find some information

There is, however, a plugin for s9y (serendipity_event_mailentry) which "allows users to e-mail a blog entry".

Sorry for all the questions, and I'm not sure if this is where I'm suppose to post them or not, I read through the FAQ and searched the forum and didn't come up with anything.

We're always happy to help (hope this helped a little ).

[garvinhicking]

Hi!

You can "move" the installation from "serendipity" to "blog", there is an extensive HowTo in the FAQ on www.s9y.org on how to move an install. Please have a look and tell us if you have issues!

HTH,
Garvin

[d_cee]

Hi jenstewart

If you are going to use the kubrick theme you'll find the header image in
templates/kubrick/images/
it's filename is 'kubrickheader.jpg'

You can download a kubrickheader.psd file from my themes site to easily put your own image in the header.

HTH
Dave

[jenstewart]

THank you for the help everyone, I will try those things, I appreciate it!

[jenstewart]

Hi!

You can "move" the installation from "serendipity" to "blog", there is an extensive HowTo in the FAQ on www.s9y.org on how to move an install. Please have a look and tell us if you have issues!

HTH,
Garvin

Thank you for the reply Garvin, I just read the FAQ, but I'm still lost. I'm not moving servers. It's still on the same server, I just want to rename it from www.jenstewartphotography.com/serendipity/ to www.jenstewartphotography/blog

Is there anywhere that has step by step directions. I'm new at all this, and things like

Second you must migrate the database. Use a tool like phpMyAdmin to create a db SQL dump file. Re-import that file on your new server.

and

On your new server, make sure that all the permissions are set like they were on the old provider. Especially make sure that the files serendipity_config_local.inc.php and .htaccess are read+writable by the server, and the directory templates_c/ and uploads/ is read+writable by the server.

Now edit the serendipity_config_local.inc.php file, you might need to insert the new DB user account data into that file. You also might need to edit your .htaccess file to set the new paths properly.

not only do I not understand what it's talking about, I don't know where to get access to edit those sections as it says. I'm sorry to be a pain, this is the first time I've done anything like this.

So much of the directions seem written assuming that the user has knowledge of the basics, but the reason I chose serendipity, was because it claims that it can be used by beginners (which it can, don't get me wrong, you just have to stick with the templates and go no further in order to stay out of confusion )

Thanks everyone!

[azel]

The easiest thing you can do is this: (with pictures!)

First: (you can skip this step if you don't have a whole lot of entries and don't mind recreating them.) Make a backup of your database through phpMyAdmin if you have access to this. This is where you can gain access to your database tables (where s9y stores its information). On the index page of phpMyAdmin, you should see something like this: http://aetheric-shade.org/uploads/phpma1.jpg

Click on Export.

Select which database you would like to export. http://aetheric-shade.org/uploads/phpma2.jpg
http://aetheric-shade.org/uploads/phpma3.jpg

Click the "Go" button on the bottom right to download a copy of your database file.

Second: Click on serendipity_config in your database http://aetheric-shade.org/uploads/phpma4.jpg

Click on Browse. http://aetheric-shade.org/uploads/phpma5.jpg

Change the noted lines http://aetheric-shade.org/uploads/phpma6.jpg
http://aetheric-shade.org/uploads/phpma7.jpg

So your new settings should say:

serendipityPath /path/to/blog/
serendipityHTTPPath /blog/
baseURL http://yoursite.com/blog/

Lastly: change your folder name in your FTP client from serendipity to blog

I hope that sounds easy enough and not too intimidating.

[jenstewart]

thank you so much Azel! It deffinatly SOUNDS less intimidating I will give it a try first thing tomorrow morning and see if I'm competent enough to do it

[judebert]

Azel, do you mind if I put that in the FAQ?

[azel]

I do not mind at all. I'm always happy to help.

[judebert]

It's in there! Unfortunately, I don't have FTP access, so I had to hotlink your images. Garvin, Jannis, perhaps you can fix that?

[azel]

That's fine.

Actually I can spend more time this weekend to make the images look nicer and the instructions easier to understand if that would help.

[jenstewart]

I use FileZilla for my FTP program. When I click on the serendipity file in my database under that all I can find that is similar to what you are saying is

serendipity_config.inc.php
serendipity_config_local.inc.php

I don't have a "browse" tab on my program, but I tried right clicking and choosing view edit, and what I get is a notepad file come up with computer jargon. I'm not sure where to find the addresses that you listed that need to be changed.

does anyone use FileZilla who can help me? Or anyone know what I can do?

[azel]

Ahh I see.

The changes that foremost need to be made are in your SQL database, which I believe should be accessible through your GoDaddy account's administration panel. I am not familiar with GoDaddy, but if it's like most other hosts, there should be some type of Cpanel where you can gain access to your SQL databases. phpMyAdmin is the tool that allows you to maintain your SQL databases. Sorry I was not clear on that before (I will rewrite that FAQ this weekend!).

You shouldn't make any changes to either of those files through FTP, as it could possibly corrupt your installation. The only thing you should change with Filezilla is the name of the folder where your Serendipity installation will reside, but I would recommend changing those lines in your SQL database table first.

[jenstewart]

Thank you Azel, I understand (I think). I went to godaddy, and to access your SQL databases it uses phpMyAdmin however, I tried to use it, and nothing came up. mine says "no tables found in database" I'm not sure what to do or how to set up my database correctly.