There are essentially three ways to install QuizCompposer on a server:

1. Use a file manager, for example, to copy the page install.htm with its associated script (install.py) to the DocumentRoot and the CGI directory and execute the latter via the former.
2. If you have direct access to the server (e.g. via ssh) use operating system commands (or a file manager) to create a directory containing the install files install.tgz, install.sh (from install.sh.txt) and install.var (from install.var.txt), use an editor to modify the latter according to the environment and execute the command:
   bash install.sh.
3. Copy this page (manualinstall.htm) and its associated script (manualinstall.py) to the DocumentRoot and and the CGI directory, then via this page or directly create a directory containing install files install.tgz, install.sh(.txt) and install.var(.txt), modify the latter and execute the install command with a button below.

As indicated, you can use your own mix of these methods.

If the first fails and you have only limited experience with UNIX/Linux commands using this page may be convenient. Its associated script contains (hopefully all) the commands you need. You should also find it convenient to use this page when updating to later releases of QuizComposer. (The order of the features offered by below has been chosen with this use in mind).

You are assumed to be the administrator of the current web-server and to be able to copy this HTML-page and its associated CGI-script (manualinstall.py) into the DocumentRoot and the CGI directory and to set appropriate access modes (644 and 700) for both directories and files using a file manager, for example. Before copying the files to the server it may be necessary to modify them slightly as explained in the following paragraph.

The FORM-tag of this page contains an ACTION-attribute the value of which starts with /cgi (presumably). It may be neccesary to replace the ACTION-attribute with /cgi-bin/ or something else for the server to be able to find and execute the CGI-script (see further down in the source of this page).

The CGI-script manualinstall.py requires a Python interpreter. The first line of the script may have to be modified depending on where the interpreter is placed on the server. The most common format of the first line is #!/usr/bin/python but for other possibilities look into the script.

When the files have been copied and before clicking any button on this page consider what password you want for limitting access to using this page. The password you type the first time will be the password to use "ever after". The script will be modified to be executable only with the password typed the first time (when the script contained an empty password). If you forget the password you must re-install the original (and possibly slightly modified) script with the empty password.

Before clicking any other button (especially the button marked INSTALL ...) enter a dot (decimal point) into the field preceding the button marked ls -l, then click that button. You should get a listing of the files in the CGI directory (into which the script is installed). Entering two dots and clicking the button again lists the files and directories in the parent directory of the CGI directory. Entering ../.. and clicking the button again lists the files and directories in the parent of the parent directory of the CGI directory. This is one way to get listings of files on your server. You can also use the "Display disk usage ..." entry and button to get overviews of your directories.

Depending on your server setup you might also be able to get such listings using absolute paths in the entry fields.

Use the makedir button to create an install directory for the installation files install.tgz, install.sh and install.var. It is recommended (in accordance with the other methods for installing QuizComposer) to first create a directory quizcomposerinstall.d in your HOME directory (for example), then in that the install directory itself with a name having the format yyyymmdd, for example 20110309.

Use the Wget button to transfer the install files from www.quizcomposer.dk to your install directory. Use the rename button to remove the extensions .txt from install.sh.txt and install.var.txt. Use the edit a text file button to alter the contents of install.var setting values in accordance with the environment of your server.

Before clicking the the button marked INSTALL QUIZCOMPOSER enter the path to the install directory containing the files (install.tgz, install.var and install.sh) for installing QuizComposer.

The install process for QuizComposer is rather complicated. Don't despair if if the process does not run smoothly the first time (due to bad entries for the install variables and/or problems with access rights etc). Consult a person with experience in administering a web-server with the bash shell command language. When the quiz server is up and running remember to alter any passwords known to others.

This HTML-page is copyright but you are welcome to modify it according to your needs.