What is PrestaShop?
PrestaShop is a free, feature-rich, open source e-commerce solution. You can run stores in the cloud or via self-hosting with the help of PrestaShop.
1. Downloading the installation Archive
All the installation files can be found on the official PrestaShop website. First of all, you need to go to the official website to download the installation files. Then you need to extract the installation archive to your computer.
You will see a folder that contains the installation files of PrestaShop once the extraction process is finished. In the same folder, you will also see an HTML file that will redirect you to the PrestaShop documentation.
Now you will have to upload all the files contained in the extracted folder on your hosting account which will create a new empty database.
2. Uploading installation files
For this step, FTP service is needed. You will require the FTP service in for uploading the installation file or you can use cPanel File Manager.
Now the question arises as to where to upload the installation files arises. Well, this depends completely on your preference on the accessibility of the application.
For instance, if you wish that your application should be available through your domain name then you have got to upload the files in the folder “public_html”.
But if you wish that your application should be available through a subdomain or a subfolder then you have to upload the installation files in the corresponding folder that is generally inside the public_html folder instead of on uploading directly to the public_html folder.
3. Creating a Database
Now you need to create a database by visiting cPanel and then navigating to MySQL databases.
As an alternative, you could use the MySQL Database Wizard. After all this, you will be able to obtain the username as well as a password for the database. And be sure to note them for further reference.
4. Starting off the PrestaShop Installation
Now you will have to remember the location where you uploaded the installation files.
This is important because if you uploaded the files directly into the folder named “public_html” then the installation interface can be accessed by adding the “install/“ string just after your domain. For instance, yourdomainname.com/install/
Or in case you happened to have uploaded the installation files in any subfolder, then you can access the installation interface by typing your domain name and then the subfolder name and finally the install/ string. For instance, yourdomainname.com/subfolder/install/
5. Installation
Installing PrestaShop is very easy.
First, you will have to choose your language.
Next, you will be presented with the License Agreement which you need to agree to in order to advance further.
Then a compatibility test is run in order to check if all the requirements are met or not. You will be advanced to the next step if all the requirements are met, and you click Next.
Now you will have to provide some ‘Information about your store’ and ‘your account’. The username and password under the ‘Your Account’ section are required at the time of login.
Next, you will be required to fill five database related fields. However, the first field is already filled and no change is to be made in it.
The next field reads ‘Database name’. Here you need to provide the name of the database that you have recently created in this tutorial.
Remember that I told you to note down the login credentials for the above-mentioned database? The username needs to be input here in the third field that says ‘Database login’.
In the next field, that says ‘Database password’, you need to fill the password corresponding to the username provided above.
You have to change the next and the last field, that is ‘Tables prefix’, if you want to have some specific prefix for your database’s. Or leave it as it is it that’s not the case.
Then click on the button that reads ‘Test your database connection now!’ If all works well then a message saying ‘Database is connected’ will be displayed just below the button. Then click on the Next button located at the bottom right corner to start the installation.
As soon as the installation process is completed, a new page will appear which contains the info required to access the store. Options for accessing your store from the front end or back end will also be available right there as ‘Front Office’ and ‘Back Office’.
Special Note: PrestaShop, like other e-commerce hosting platforms, requires a dependable, reliable, top quality hosting service in order to allow your business to grow, and provide your customers with a great shopping experience. Consider using a hosting service that specializes in e-commerce: here is HostAdvice’s list of the Best ecommerce hosting services.
Note: Don’t forget to delete the install folder after installation
Yay! You are now ready to use PrestaShop.
That all for this article. We hope our article helped you
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