Ai Writer - Administrator Setup Guide

Welcome to Ai Writer! This guide will walk you through the process of setting up your new Ai Writer installation. We have designed an automated installer to make this process as smooth as possible.

1. Server Requirements

Before you begin, ensure your server meets the following requirements:

• PHP: Version 7.4 or higher
• Database: MySQL or MariaDB
• Web Server: local PHP server, Apache, or Nginx
• PHP Extensions:
  • pdo_mysql (For database connection)
  • mbstring (For text processing)
  • openssl (For security)
  • curl (For external API calls)

2. Installation Steps

Step 1: Upload Files & Configure Web Server

1. Upload all project files to your web server.

2. Important: Configure your web server's Document Root to point to the /public directory of the project, not the root directory.

• For Apache: Ensure .htaccess is enabled (AllowOverride All). An .htaccess file is included in the public/ folder.
• For Nginx: Configure the location block to try files or rewrite to index.php.

Step 2: Access the Installer

Open your web browser and navigate to your website URL (e.g., http://your-domain.com).

• The system will automatically detect that it is not installed yet.
• You will be redirected to the Ai Writer Installer.

Step 3: System Check

The first screen will check your server configuration.

• If all checks pass (marked in Green), click Next Step.
• If any check fails (marked in Red), please contact your hosting provider to enable the missing extensions.

Step 4: Database Configuration

You will need your database connection details. Enter the following:

• Database Host: Usually localhost or 127.0.0.1.
• Database Port: Default is 3306.
• Database Name: The name of the database you want to use.
  Note: The installer attempts to create this if it doesn't exist, but it's safer to create it beforehand.
• Username: Your MySQL database username.
• Password: Your MySQL database password.

Click Install Database to proceed. The system will create the necessary configuration file and set up the database tables.

Step 5: Admin Account Creation

Create your primary administrator account. This account will have full access to the Dashboard.

• Full Name: Your display name.
• Email Address: Used for login and notifications.
• Password: Choose a strong password (minimum 8 characters).

Click Finish Installation.

Step 6: Completion

Congratulations! You will see a success message.

• The installer is now disabled for security.
• Click Login to Dashboard to access your new site.

3. Post-Installation

• Login: Use the email and password you created in Step 5.
• Security: Ensure correct permissions for the .env file (0600 or 0640).
• Configuration: Visit the Settings page in the Admin Dashboard to customize your site title, description, and other preferences.

Troubleshooting

• "Layout not found": Ensure all files were uploaded correctly, especially the views directory.
• Database Connection Failed: Double-check your database credentials in Step 4. Ensure the database user has permissions to create tables.
• White Screen / 500 Error: Check your server's error logs (often error_log or /var/log/apache2/error.log) for details.