Installing pmwiki

[#1]

I am trying to install pmwiki on my web space but have virtually no knowledge of php. 
The instructions say to put the whole directory on the server and then access the pmwiki.php file in order to set it up. I've copied that part of the instructions below but they are in full at http://www.pmwiki.com/wiki/PmWiki/Installation

Quote

In most cases PmWiki will do this for you. Open a web browser to the pmwiki.php script on the server (i.e., not the one on your local computer or accessed using a file://... URL). PmWiki will then analyze your system configuration and provide instructions (if needed) for creating the wiki.d/ directory which will be used to hold the pages created for your site.

I seem to be falling at the first fence as my browser just brings up an open with dialogue and won't open the page in Firefox or IE.
It all seemed a little too straight forward. Any help greatly appreciated.
Rob

[#2]

Hello. Have you put the folder on your ccgi? Php-files wont work on the www space. If yes, did you set the chmod of the php-files? If chmod is not set the php-files wont work.
ccgi-tutorial here: http://usertools.plus.net/tutorials/id/18
chmod-tutorial here: http://usertools.plus.net/tutorials/id/3 (or search the forum for chmod).
Hope that is what you are looking for. Have a nice day

[#3]

Hello,
Very good point ffupi!
I'll attempt to quick guide this very well thought point.
CCGI :: FTP Session
You appear to have a little know how with FTP I assume to have uploaded it somewhere on ISP PrRovided Space.
Just setup a new session to connect to-
Hostname / IP : ccgi.host (Examples: plus.net, freeonline.co.uk, f9.co.uk...)
Username : Portal Username (Same as your PlusNet/FreeOnline/Force9 Portal Login)
Password : Portal Password (Same as your PlusNet/FreeOnline/Force9 Portal Login)
If you find FTP uploads certain things with the incorrect mode you may want to experiment with S-FTP,
as I have found it more reliable for FTP on the WWW Space and CCGI Space,
in which case I suggest WinSCP.
It shouldn't be too much rocket science I think you can handel that.

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If you have Uploaded to the CCGI Space, then continue to read this post.
If not please reply and we (I or ffupi I guess) will try and help with getting you up with the CCGI Platform.
Permissions
Check, that and check that you've allowed execution of all the PHP files by doing

username@cshellXX:~$ fixphpperms.sh -c

chmod's 755 all .php files from the current directory down.
If you're wondering - How do I do this?
Do not fear, PuTTY is here!

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PuTTY
First, obtain the PuTTY Installation ( I presume you're running Windows ).
PuTTY Downloads.
PuTTY :: Connecting
Click:
Start => "Program Files" => PuTTY => PuTTY (I think it's that)
You'll be greeted with the Main PuTTY Window.
Insert the following:

Hostname / IP : ccgi.host (Examples: plus.net, freeonline.co.uk, f9.co.uk...)

(*Optional* Check the "Never" Radio Button - just means the window doesn't close if the connection closes)
PuTTY :: Login
You'll be asked to Accept an RAS Key (Encryption Key).
click "Yes" (/ Type "y/yes").

First Prompt| "login as:"
Username : Portal Username (Same as your PlusNet/FreeOnline/Force9 Portal Login)

Second Prompt| "password:"
Password : Portal Password (Same as your PlusNet/FreeOnline/Force9 Portal Login)

You'll then be greeted with ASCII Art, and the Terminal.

username@cshellXX:~$

PuTTY :: UNIX Command Line

Quick guide;

ls	list.
cd	change directory.
pwd	print working directory.
cat < filename	output file to stdout.
vi	VI Guide

I did the following to get it to work.

		username@cshellXX:~$ cd pmwiki
		username@cshellXX:~$ fixphpperms.sh -c
	

Then fireup your Web Browser, hit in - http://ccgi.username.host/pmwiki/pmwiki.php
and off you go!
That should be enough for you to then command your way around,
You'll need to look up the specific Docuementation if you find any other errors.
I hadn't encountered any running this as it was out of the box.
Hope it all works out!
Jim,

[#4]

Wow what great info! Many thanks guys! If I can't sort it using that I'm a complete nobber. 
That is stuff I'm doing for a charity f.o.c so I'll get onto it later.
I'll let you know how I get on.

[#5]

Done!!!!!
Many thanks for the walk through Jim it worked first time following your instructions.
http://ccgi.robfrost.co.uk/pmwiki/pmwiki.php
Now to configure it. Any tips or tricks welcome.
I assume once I set it up it is fairly simple to transfer it all to the charity's server.
Thanks again
Rob

[#6]

Oh no problems Rob. 
As for configuring it * ::)* haha!
Glad it all worked though
I think I might use that light Wiki on my Website as another space for adding Developer Documentation.
In that case,
I maybe able to help you in the near future once I modify it to work with my Website
Jim,

[#7]

Thanks Jim.
Configuring is great fun it is powerful software.
I now have another problem. The charity's server doesn't support php so I am going to have to leave it on my plusnet server and point the domain there. In the instructions one of the methods says it "Requires Apache's mod_rewrite module." Does Plusnet server have this?
This is the page with instructions:
http://www.pmwiki.org/wiki/Cookbook/CleanUrls#index_file

[#8]

mod_rewrite is supported although it does depend on what exactly you want to do.
Also remember php files are not protected on your ccgi webspace.

[#9]

Quote from: Peter

Also remember php files are not protected on your ccgi webspace.

Hi again Peter and thanks. What are the implications of php file not being protected? Should I use another server or something?

[#10]

If you have an admin area written in PHP which the package protects just using .htaccess/.htpasswd then it won't be protected on the CCGI server. If your admin area uses its own authentication screen & MySQL database for access then you will be OK.

[#11]

Thanks Peter
I need to find a new server for it now anyway. Do you have any recommendations of an inexpensive place to host it securely?