First real draft. I think this works for techies who know how to do the individual steps.

Assumptions:

At HostGator, when we create a new hosting account a bunch of files are automatically copied to public_html for the new domain. These include an index.html file, versionchecker.zip, and possibly more. If these are not already there, you must upload them by hand. The index.html file is a very simple page saying “Welcome to your new site hosted by ExpertWebSupport.”

Version Checker is a key plugin that helps you install Semiologic Pro. You can get versionchecker.zip from the semiologic site. (But you need a semiologic account to do that.) That link also tells you about Version Checker and how it works.

These instructions vary depending on whether you have a “New Site” or a “Legacy Site.” (See How to Install and Go.) For a Legacy Site, you must use a temporary URL. (e.g., http://74.53.25.146/~username/) For a New Site, you may use the normal URL. (e.g., http://domain.com/)

This also assumes that if you have a New Site, you have already set the nameservers at your registrar to point to your hosting account.

Do this

1. Open XWS Development Resources (in courses.expertwebsupport.com).
2. In another tab, open Customer links and more. (Under HostGator resources.)
3. Update this page to add links for the new customer. (Update this resource button.) You’ll use the links later.
4. Scroll down to a recent customer addition.
5. Copy and paste links from a similar customer. If “New Site,” copy a standard customer (one line). If “Legacy Site,” copy a legacy site customer (2 lines).
6. Edit the links. When you’re done you should have links to the site, to the site’s cpanel, and to the site’s wp-admin page. One line for “normal” URLs; one line for “temporary” URLs if it’s a Legacy Site.
7. Save and display this page. (Use the Save and Display button at the bottom.)
   • Log in to cpanel for the domain. Use the correct link that you just created in 3.3. Open this in a new window, keeping “Customer links and more” available for later.
   • Go to Software / Services > Fantastico.
   • Select WordPress (Blog section). [Note: Only newest version of WP is listed. How do you select older vesions?]
   • Create a new installation.
     Conventions:
     Domain: the domain you’re creating
     Directory/folder: {Leave this empty to install in the top level of the domain, which is the standard config. Or put in the name of the folder into which you want to install WordPress if this is a non-standard install.}
     User: admin0
     Pwd: Use current convention for admin pwd.
     Nickname: Administrator
     Admin email: [email protected] (for new sites) or [email protected] (for legacy sites).
     Site name: Leave the default which is the domain name.
     Description: “Tag line for the site.”
     Click the create site button.
     On the next screen, email the installation details to [email protected] for new sites, or [email protected] for legacy sites.
   • If this is a Legacy Site, change URLs for the site to the temporary ones.
8. In cpanel’s home page, select Databases > phpMyAdmin.
   This takes you to a phpMyAdmin screen.
9. Select the database for WordPress. It is probably named xxxadmin_wrdp1.
10. Click the Browse icon (column 1) for the wp_options table.
11. Find the “siteurl” option. Normally, page 1, id# 2. Use the Edit button (pencil icon) to change this option.
12. Remove the “normal” URL and put in the Temporary URL for the site. Copy this URL for use later.
    WARNING: You must NOT have a slash “/” at the end of the URL in this field.
13. Click Go to save.
14. Find the “home” option. Normally, page 2, #38. Edit it.
15. Paste the temporary URL here too. Same Warning as above.
16. Click Go to save.

That’s it. You are done with the “change URLs” task. There isn’t even a logout from phpMyAdmin.

Next tasks:

1. In the cPanel File Manager, go to public_html, find versionchecker.zip.
2. Move that to the /wp-content/plugins/ folder.
3. Extract the versionchecker.zip file. Then delete the zip file to clean up.
4. Still in the File Manager, go to public_html. Rename index.html to be index_orig.html.
5. Log in to the WordPress admin screen using the admin0 credentials you created above.
   If New Site, use the normal URL. (e.g., http://domain.com/wp-admin/)
   If Legacy Site, use the temporary URL. (e.g., http://74.53.25.146/~username/wp-admin/)
   These should be available on the XWS Dev > “Customer links and more” page, which should be in an existing tab or window.
6. Go to Plugins, and activate Version Checker.
7. Go to Settings > Semiologic API key and enter a license key.
   Temporarily, you may use the XWS key; but you should get the customer legal by purchasing a Semio license very soon. See the List of API keys. See also How to purchase a Semiologic license.
8. Go to Tools > Semiologic. You should see a “Mass upgrade” or “Mass install” button. Use that to install the Semio Pro plugins.
9. When the plugins are done being installed, there’s a button at the bottom of the page to “Install the Semiologic Theme.” Click that button.
10. Go to Appearance > Themes. Activate the semiologic theme.
11. Delete the Default and Classic themes.
12. Visit the site. It should look like a new Semio-based site. Debug if there’s a problem.
13. Go to Users. Create the standard set of WP users.
14. We have a “clone site” that has a bunch of WP settings already set. We can pull in those settings. Here’s how.
    1. Go to Plugins. Activate “Semiologic Cloner.”
    2. This makes Tools > Cloner available. Go there.
       That screen asks for which site you want to pull from. Copy and paste these values.
    3. Site URL: http://sandbox.expertwebsupport.com/wptoclone/
    4. Site Key: 15878781174ae2321727c53
       • Pages > Add New. Create a Home page. Title = Home. Content = Put Home page content here.
       • Pages > Add New. Create a News page. Title = News. Content = Placeholder for News page.
       • Settings > Reading. Static home page = Home. Blog page = News.
       • Posts > Add New. Title = Sample Post. Content = Sample post to show where posts show up. Delete when you have a real post.
       • Visit the site. It should look like a “ready to go” site.
       • Tools > Backup. Set up automatic backup, at least weekly. Daily if that seems right.
       • Log out of the admin0 user account.
       • Log in with one of the other administrator accounts that you created above, to make sure that’s working.

The installation is now done.

Next step is to send email to the customer explaining next steps.