To make it easier to bring up a new site, we have created a “starter site” that contains a standard set of themes, plugins, and configuration settings that make it easier for newbies to get started. The Starter Site gets you up and running quickly.

Here’s the high-level plan for creating a new Starter Site.

1. Update the base Starter Site.
2. Create the installation files.
3. Install WordPress.
4. Install the new Starter Site.
5. Configure the Starter Site.

Update the base Starter Site

<Point to how, probably Updating to a new version of WP.>

Create the installation files

<Point to how, probably “Backup and restore”>

Install WordPress

<Move this to a How to Install WordPress page; point to that page from here.>

There are 3 options for completing this step.

1. Install WordPress using an automated script provided by your web host.
2. Install WordPress manually.
3. Create an empty database using your web host’s control panel.

Option 1 depends on what your web host provides. It might be “Fantastico” or “Simple Scripts” or another similar script. This is an easy option, but has some flaws.

Option 2 is a bit more work, and requires you to follow directions carefully. It overcomes the flaws mentioned regarding Option 1. See “How to install WordPress manually” for details.

Option 3 is a good compromise for our purposes. It is the first step in the “How to install WordPress manually” ebook. After creating the database, you don’t need to do the WordPress installation because we’ll take care of that by using importbuddy.php.

Don’t do any real work on the raw WordPress site. It will be wiped out later.

Install the new Starter Site

The details of this step depend on which web host you are using. If you are using a web host that uses cPanel, such as HostGator, BlueHost, or Site5, these instructions will work. If you use a web host that doesn’t use cPanel, you’ll have to translate these instructions.

Somebody should have supplied you with a location for the two files you need to upload. The two files are:

• importbuddy.php
• starter-site.zip

Your site will be served from some folder in your web host’s file system. For cPanel hosts, the folder is probably /home/public_html/, where  “home” is short for whatever your host uses to identify your account with them. You should upload the two files to that folder.

You may use an FTP program to do the upload or use the Upload function in the File Manager of your cPanel account.

The instructions:

1. Make sure you know where the two files are stored.
2. Download the two files to your work station.
3. Upload the files to the folder on your host that serves your domain.
4. Run import buddy.php

Run importbuddy.php

Importbuddy.php is a “wizard” script that steps you through the process of turning a backup file into a WordPress website. It runs inside a browser. It might require a password to run the script, depending on how the script was created originally. The person who supplied the two files should have also supplied a password, if necessary.

1. In your favorite browser, navigate to http://yourdomain.com/importbuddy.php.
   This assumes that you have uploaded the two files to the right location in the previous step.
2. Enter the password, if requested.
3. <Follow the directions… > <We need more detail here to tell how to fill in the various slots in the wizard.>

Configure the Starter Site

See “Howto configure a new starter site“.