Joomla 1.5 RocketLauncher Installation

RocketTheme features the exciting and very popular RocketLauncher custom Joomla! install option. With the RocketLauncher Joomla! installer, you can instantly create a Joomla! site complete with custom content that is a perfect replica of our demo sites that has been professionally tuned to look its best, all with just a few clicks. The RocketLauncher package consists of a full 1.5.x Joomla! install, complete with all of the demo images, content, modules, and extensions. By running the installer, your Joomla! site will be set up with all everything needed to create an exact implementation of the demo site automatically. The RocketLauncher packages are available for all template releases from 2007 to present.

This guide takes you through the necessary steps to install the Rocketlauncher for Joomla! 1.5.

Download RocketLauncher

The initial step is to download the Rocket Launcher itself. The packages are contained within the download section on the RocketTheme website where you find the templates and extensions. Each RocketLauncher pack is located within the corresponding template section, for example, the Versatility 4 Rocket Launcher pack is situated in the Versatility 4 Download Section.

Once in the appropriate section, select the download button for RocketLauncher. A pop-up will appear allowing you to save the package to your computer. It is best to download it to an applicable folder such as RocketLauncher or Rocket Theme for organizational purposes.

Extract the Rocket Launcher package

Now that the RocketLauncher package is downloaded, we need to extract the archive locally. A range of tools can do this such as 7-Zip. The process is almost identical with all extractors.

1. Right click on the RocketLauncher package
2. Select one of the options for extraction - there are usually different options, but it is easiest to extract the archive to your desktop.
3. Select Extract
4. Wait for extraction to be completed

Uploading the extracted Rocket Launcher package

We can proceed to the upload step. The idea behind this is to use an upload tool or FTP client such as Filezilla. For our demonstration, FireFTP, an extension for the browser Firefox is going to be our FTP client.

• Open the FTP client.
• Select Manager Accounts
• New
• Insert your ftp host address, usually, ftp.yoursite.com
• Enter your ftp username
• Enter your password
• Click Connect
• Locate the extracted packaged on your computer in the left pane
• Open the extracted folder and select the files inside
• Drag and drop the selected files into the right pane which is your web server

The speed of transfer varies with hosting server speed and your internet connection speed. It is best to upload the extracted folder to the public_html or in some servers it is called the httpdocs directory.

Creating The Database

While you are uploading the files to your server, it is time to create your MySQL database. The database is where your Joomla! files and images for your site are stored. You need to login to your hosting account cPanel to create your database. Normally you would use phpMyAdmin to create the database. Be sure to save your information from your database because you will need it when you install Joomla! Please contact your webhost if you need help creating your Joomla! database.

Installing the RocketLauncher

Once the Joomla! files have finished uploading, we can now run the Joomla! installer to install the RocketLauncher onto your web server.

• Start the installer
  Enter the following link into your web browser, changing the names to reflect your domain name and title of the uploaded Rocket Launcher pack.
  
  http://www.yoursite.com
  
  You will then be presented with the initial language page to Rocket Launcher. Read through the documentation and select your default language from the list. Then choose the next button.
  
  
• Pre-installation Check Page
  The next step of the installer is the Pre-installation Check page. This is a check list of all the variables to make Joomla! work on your website. You must make sure that all variables are green.
  
  For information on the error message, browse the Joomla! forums
  
  
• License Page
  The next page is about the license for Joomla. It is best to read to understanding the GNU GPL license for Joomla.
  
  
  
  Once you are finished reading the terms of the license, choose Next
• Database Info Page
  The following page is where you enter your database information for MySQl. You will need to have your
• Host address, usually localhost
• MySQL username, which you can get from your hosting provider
• MySQL password, which you can get from your hosting provider
• Database name, which you can get from your hosting provider
• MySQL table prefix, if this is your first Joomla site, keep it the same but if you have multiple installs of Joomla, change this.
  
  

  Once that is complete, select next.

• Admin Settings Page
  

  On this page, you can enter your ftp details, although it is not a required step.

  
  
  
  

  Choose Next

• Main Configuration
  

  This is where you enter the title of your site, your admin e-mail and password. Write this information down so you do not forget it. Now, in order to get your new RocketLauncher to look like our demo site, you must click the Install Sample Data button!

  
  
  
  

  Choose Next

• Finished
  

  Congratulations! Joomla! is now installed. The final step is to use your ftp client and remove the installation folder. Once you do that, you can begin editing your site.