Heartless Adrenaline

Installing CuteNews

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CuteNews is a great way to update your site and interact with visitors through comments. Installing Cutenews is easy - finding the perfect tutorial isn't. That's why I've created this tutorial - to combine everything I've learned in my CuteNews installation experience for you, so that adding updates is easy.

This tutorial has 4 goals:

  1. Get CuteNews to install for you
  2. Improve (or start) knowledge of FTP, and how to use it
  3. Get CuteNews to work on your website (installing isn't the end!)
  4. Give you all the information you need without you needing to find another tutorial

What You'll Need

You will need the following items (skipping or replacement is not an option):

  1. A host that provides PHP and FTP (not Webs)
  2. The CuteNews .zip file from CutePHP (download it here - read on if you're unsure how)
  3. Basic knowledge of computers, webediting and navigation
  4. A computer - this tutorial uses a Windows computer (both XP and 7), so terms may vary

Setting Up

First and foremost, make sure that your web host provides FTP and PHP support.
You should have the downloaded .zip file from CutePHP, located here. If not, follow that link, click on "Cutenews.1.4.6.zip" below 'Download:'. Click on 'save.' You have downloaded the .zip file!
Go to your website editor, and create a new directory (a.k.a. folder) called 'cutenews,' or whatever you'd like. This tutorial will follow that directory as 'cutenews.'

Go to your hard drive's document manager (Windows Explorer for Windows) and right-click on 'Extract All.' Click 'Extract' again (or another similar term, such as 'Install' or 'Continue') until a new window pops up with an unzipped CuteNews.1.4.6. folder. You may now delete the zipped folder (not the new folder).

Relocating Files / FTP

Now, open your FTP client. Go to your FTP client by typing ftp://yourdomain.com into the URL bar. Ex., ftp://heartlessadrenaline.com. This should bring you to a directory-looking page. Like it says at the top, click on 'Page' and go down and select 'View FTP site in Windows Explorer' at the bottom (for other hardware directions, follow the instructions at the top of the FTP page. They should be based off of your computer type.)
Insert your username and password (the same you would use for your website editor login) and click 'login.' You should see a directory just like your website. It is your website, in FTP form!

This part can be tricky for certain computers. What you want to do is get the files from 'CuteNews' to the directory 'CuteNews' created in the first step. Move only the following files to your CuteNews directory:

Yes, alternatively, you can upload the entire 'CuteNews' folder straight to your domain directory and the same outcome will occur. However, make sure that the directory URL remains 'yourdomain.com/cutenews' not 'yourdomain.com/cutenews/cutenews.1.4.6./cutenews.' That won't work.


Click to view larger image.

Installation / Place on Your Site

You're almost done installing! Now just go to http://yourdomain.com/cutenews/index.php. If your directory name is different, fill that in for 'cutenews.' Follow the instructions given to install, and you're done with installation!

Now, you just need to get your updates onto your site. I'd recommend trying a test page first. Insert this code onto your page, where you'd like your updates (yes, your updates - not just comments!) to appear:

<?PHP include("cutenews/show_news.php"); ?>

Do not use:

<?PHP include("http://yourdomain.com/cutenews/show_news.php"); ?>

When you check your page, it should say 'Content Management Powered by CuteNews.' That means it works! If you need more help, go to yourdomain.com/cutenews/README.htm.

Adding Updates & Comments

Go back to yourdomain.com/cutenews/index.php. A yellow notice should appear. Follow its instructions.
This URL is where you will update your site. Comments are already included in the code. Click on 'Add News' to add an update! To make the layout and appearance more personal and desirable, go to 'options' and explore around. Note that any changes you make (ex. time format for comments [options >> comments]) will not be desplayed in earlier posts.

Once you've 'added news,' it should appear on your page with a '0 Comments' like! Congrats! You've not only installed CuteNews, but got it to work on your site, as well!

I hope that this tutorial made things easy, and that CuteNews will be a good program for you to use. Have fun!
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me here.