The above instructions do not work as simply as they are stated. I fear there has been a ton left out.
1) download latest YAF ZIP
2) install it as standalone web site (virtual folder) first and configure
DONE! -- Ran as stand alone and worked fine.Here is what I did: Vista OS, IIS7, SQL SERVER 2008 DEV, Visual Studio 2008 Pro
If you create a basic website with an App_Code directory and bin directory you cannot just follow the directions above.
1. Lets say you create a site called Site (creative i know). Also create two sub-folders yaf and Support.
2. Unzip yaf download into the yaf directory. Open Visual Studio 2008 and open website.
3. Set ~/yaf/install/default.aspx as your start page.
4. Open Sql Manager and create a database named yafnet.
5. Create a user at the database instance level named yafuser(this can be any user you like), set its default database to yafnet you can make it dbowner.
6. Open security under database named yafnet (the user should be there). *If not you did not do the above step correctly.
7. Now you must edit db.config to point to this database with the username and password you just created.
8. Now start the application: it now promts you on the startpage (install/default.aspx) to enter a password twice. *If you are like me it will EXPLODE here and tell you that ASPNET user needs to be able to modify app.config. But wait!!!! Vista does not use ASPNET user what should I do, reinstall my OS you say.....oh no. Just put that pass word in app.config under
<add key="YAF.ConfigPassword" value="yourpassword" />[/code] This will now run the scripts in the database.
8. Now follow the wizard to set up some config stuff and now you have a stand alone forums, wooohoooo. [i]Note: (Not a 3 min setup by any means like someone in these forums suggested but certainly not 8 hours) BTW I am running Vista as my dev machine i would think there is some tinkering that needs to be done for other OS's.[/i]
[quote]3) I place my YAF into ~/yaf (UNZIP yaf into that folder)
4) copy ~/yaf/App_Code into ~/App_Code
5) Merge ~/yaf/web.config with ~/web.config (I recommend to use WinMerge utility)
6) Configure Application settings, by applying keys:[/quote]
Followed verbatim -- does not work. READ THIS ---- This leaves out many details and this could not work in any way, even if you imagined it to.
1. You can unzip this into a directory you name Site -> yaf -- Done you did this above.
2. You must then copy all files from App_Code to Site -> App_Code
3. You also need to copy the bin files Site -> bin --- After this step you will stop a bunch of errors.
4. Then you must move web.conig, app.config, mail.config, db.config, and UrlRewriter.config up one level to ~/
5. you can then change the folowing lines in app.config
[code]<add key="YAF.Root" value="~/yaf/" />
<add key="YAF.BaseUrl" value="~/Support/" />
6. You may now add a default page to Support folder.
Add Lines:
<YAF:Forum runat="server" ID="forum"></YAF:Forum>
and
public void Page_Error( object sender, EventArgs e )
{
Exception x = Server.GetLastError();
YAF.Classes.Data.DB.eventlog_create( YafContext.Current.PageUserID, this, x );
YAF.Classes.Utils.CreateMail.CreateLogEmail( x );
}
7. Now you will be able to start up this as a new forum.
To the creators of YAF, I know documentation is difficult. I am a Systems Architect, I know how tedious it is, I do documentation all the time. But hear me out, your system is not bad it just needs some proper documetation to make it work well. I will try and see if I can work something up but these instructions should help most people starting out. Also, I have noticed a tone in alot of the forums....the tone is condescending. Who is your audience? Do you want this program to benefit developers only (very small population) or the masses whou would like to install and use the product (many people)? I know you guys are putting your heart and soul into developing this (and not getting alot in return $$) but I do think you need to determine who your audience is or atleast who do you WANT to target. A small audience is fine if that's what you would like. I tend to think free is for the masses, imho.