Drupal 7 (or 6) - Install and Setup DAMP on your Windows PC or MAC - Video with outline

Last updated April 20, 2012. Created by D6 to D8 - arch... on August 12, 2011.
Edited by lscook, michellepace, DSquaredB. Log in to edit this page.

DAMP, also known as (aka) the “Acquia Drupal Stack Installer”, and aka “Acquia Dev Desktop”, includes everything you need to install Drupal on your Windows PC or MAC computer. DAMP is available for both Drupal 7 (D7) and Drupal 6 (D6).

And since Acquia's Chief Technical Officer is Dries Buytaert, the creator of Drupal back in 2000, I highly recommend DAMP as a way of running Drupal on your computer.

DAMP = Drupal, Apache, MySQL, and PHP.

• Drupal: DAMP initially installs the “Acquia Drupal” version of Drupal known as a Drupal distribution (Disto), but you can later install any number of additional sites using Drupal “Core”. Or you can install additional Acquia Drupal sites, or any other Distro.
• Apache: This program is the “server” program that mimics a webhost's online server.
• MySQL: This program creates and manages the “DataBase” for your sites. In essence, all of the content that you add to your site is stored in a database specific to each site.
• PHP: Since Drupal is programmed in the PHP programming language, you need this php interpreter.

The following details are specific to D7. However, much of what follows applies to D6 equally well.

Contents

1. Video - Introduction
2. Know your browser's file download location; or changing location
3. Download DAMP
4. Install DAMP
5. DAMP must be running
6. Using the default Acquia Drupal site
7. Additional Drupal sites - Introduction
8. Creating an additional Acquia Drupal site via DAMP's “New...” button;
9. Creating Drupal Core or Other Drupal Distro sites - Introduction
10. Download Drupal Core or other Distro
11. Un-Compress the Downloaded Drupal Core or Distro file
12. Note Aside: Freeware Recommendations
13. Rename the Uncompressed “Archive” folder
14. “Import” Drupal 7 Core or other Distro into DAMP
15. Browser-Based Final Drupal Installation Setup of Non-Original-Acquia Sites
16. "/?q=user" - Alternate Emergency Site Logon Process
17. Deleting DAMP Sites

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1. Video - Introduction

The following FREE 4-minute video quickly shows you how to download, install, and setup DAMP; download and import a new “Core” version of Drupal as opposed to the “Acquia Drupal” version installed by DAMP; and runs you through the browser-based setup of your Drupal site.

Go to Drupal 7 Essential Training (Link opens in a new tab/window), see the heading “Introduction”, and click the link “Getting a Drupal Site Up Fast”.

Unfortunately the other videos in this series with additional installation and setup details are not free, but the outline below will add details from those additional videos as well as additional relevant details.

Note aside: I do recommend the video series “Drupal 7 Essential Training” from Lynda.com.

As I am a beginner, that D7 a-to-z video series with Mr. Thomas Geller, based on D7 core and only a few key additional Contributed (contrib) modules, taught me more about D7 during the week I spent on it than 8 months on drupal.org. ($25 USD/ month subscription to a wide range of computer training videos)

Although that video series is a year old, it is still 95% accurate with the only difference I have found being a change in one of the contrib module user interfaces (UI)...
... for Views, I think it was,
... I forget exactly at the moment.

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2. Know your browser's file download location; or changing location

Since you will next download DAMP, and you will later download Drupal Core, it is important that you know where files are stored when you download them using your browser.

If you do not know the default location for files that you download with your browser, go to Google (Link opens in a new tab/window) and enter the keywords below into the search field-box. Substitute the name of your Browser for “your-browser” (firefox; internet explorer; etc.) and substitute your Operating System for “your-operating-system” (windows xp; windows vista; windows 7; mac; etc.) before searching.

default file download location your-browser your-operating-system

To learn how to change the default location for files downloaded by your browser, add the keyword “changing” to the set of Google keywords above in the search field-box before searching.

I use FireFox, and have it set to always ask me where to save downloaded files.
(“Tools” > “Options”. Tab: “General”. Heading: “Downloads”: Radio-button “Always ask me where to save files”.)

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3. Download DAMP

DAMP is the Acquia Drupal Stack Installer that includes everything you need to install Drupal 7 on your Computer: Drupal, Apache, MySQL, and PHP.

1. Go to the Acquia 'Downloads' page: http://acquia.com/downloads (Link opens in a new tab/window)
2. Find the heading Dev Desktop.
3. See the Drupal version you desire (D7 or D6), and note that Windows is the default choice but that you can change each field-box to MAC if you like.
4. Click the Big Orange Button "Download", and save the file to your computer.
   
   You might be able to optionally "Run" the installation file without downloading it, but I never do. I always temporarily save installation files on my desktop. That way, if I have to interrupt an installation, I do not have to return to a website to reacquire the file download link.

[Note: Strangely today, 2011.08.12, although Drupal 7.7 Core is readily available, the stack installer file name begins with "7.4.4-...". No problems, no worries.]

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4. Install Damp

1. Navigate on your computer to the location where you saved the Acquia Dev installaton file, and click (double-click) the file to start the installation of “Acquia Dev Desktop”.
2. You can leave all of the default choices as they are during the installation process for either Windows or MAC; but you will need to add a username, password, and email address in one window.
   1. Welcome to the Acquia Dev Desktop installer: Click Next >.
   2. Select components: Leave default “XMail server”. Click Next >.
   3. Overview: Click Next >.
   4. License agreement: Yes. Click Next >.
   5. Choose installation location: Leave defaults.

      • The installation process is going to install DAMP at the location indicated by the first field-box “Dev Desktop stack location (Apache, MySQL, etc):”.

        You can install it in a different location on your computer by clicking on the folder-icon on the right, and navigating to the location of your choice.

        • Windows XP - C:\Program Files\acquia-drupal
        • Window Vista, Windows Seven - ??
        • MAC - /Applications/acquia-drupal

      • The installation process is also going to install a modified version of the D7 Core known as “Acquia Drupal” at the location indicated by the second field-box “Site location:”. Essentially, this is the location for all of your Drupal files and folders that comprise your site with the exception of the database files.

        If you do not intend to use “Acquia Drupal” for your site, then you can just leave this location as per the default.

        If you intend to use this “Acquia Drupal” installation for you site, I recommend you make note of this the site's installation location since you will most likely want to access these files later.

        Or you can specify a different location for this installation. Either type in the location of your choice, (DAMP will create it if it does not already exist), or you can navigate to a pre-existing folder location on your computer by clicking on the folder-icon on the right. Highlight an existing folder name and click the button “OK”. You will need to add a back-slash character (“\”) and a new folder name to the end of the path displayed in the field-box if you want DAMP to create a new folder for your site if you did not create a new folder for that purpose ahead of time.

        Regardless: Whatever location is specified in this “Site location” field-box will need to be the permanent location for this Drupal installation because if you later move it, the “Acquia Dev Desktop” will no longer run and you will have to reinstall DAMP (according to my limited experience).

        Default installation location:

        • Windows XP - C:\Documents and Settings\USER-ACCOUNT-NAME\sites\acquia-drupal
        • Window Vista, Windows Seven - ??
        • MAC - /Users/USER-ACCOUNT-NAME/Sites/acquia-drupal
      • Later after the completion of this Acquia Drupal installation process, you will later be able to install any number of new D7 sites completely independent of this initial Acquia Drupal installation without a problem; and at any location of your choosing on your computer.
      • Again: Do Not, in the future, remove or move the “Acquia Drupal” site installation. If you do, the Dev Desktop stack will not start.

      Click Next >.

   6. Port: You can leave the defaults.
      1. “Apache web server port:” - If you leave the default, the address in your browser's address-bar will be in the form of “http://your-site-name:8082”.

         In the case of Windows only (reportedly it is not possible with MAC per Thomas Geller), if you change the “Apache web server post:” number from “8082” to “80”, the address in your browser's address-bar will be in the form “http://your-site-name” (without the “:8082”).

         Either way will work just fine for Windows

      2. “MySQL database port:” - I leave the default: 33066

      Click Next >.

   7. Drupal settings: Complete the field-boxes.
      • These settings are only for the initial “Acquia Drupal” site installation.
      • These settings do Not relate to the database, and will Not relate to additional Drupal sites you can install later including any number of additional “Acquia Drupal”, “Drupal Core”, or, similarly to Acquia, other packaged Drupal installations known as “Disto”s.
      • Whether or not you intend to use the “Acquia Drupal” installation site later, to proceed through the DAMP installation process you must now enter a Username, Password (twice), and E-mail address (for “Updates” notification, among other things) for the Acquia site.
      • With Drupal 7, each of the above settings can be changed later at your site.
      • If you do Not intend to use the “Acquia Drupal” installation site later, I recommend that for your E-mail address you use: void@sample.com to avoid the possibility of your getting emails notifying you of available updates for a site you do Not use (sample.com is a world-wide designated Dead site).

      Click Next >.

   8. Review your information: Click Next >. (..unless you want to change something you see on this page; in which case, click the button “< Back”.
   9. Ready to install: Click Next >. The installation takes several minutes; at least. Eventually...
   10. Congratulations, you're done!: Leave default “Launch...”. Click Finish.

The “Acquia Dev Desktop Control Panel” window should now appear.

The circles to the right of the “Apache Web Server” and the “MySQL Database Server” should each be GREEN.

The “Acquia Drupal” site is completely installed and ready to use. You do not even have to go through the typical browser-based installation steps required by any other Drupal site installation method.

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5. DAMP must be running

To view or work on your Drupal site on your computer, DAMP, or more specifically the “Acquia Dev Desktop Control Panel” window, must be running, and the circles to the right of the “Apache Web Server” and the “MySQL Database Server” must each be GREEN. If they are not both green, click the right-hand column's top button “Start Acquia Drupal Stack”.

The “Acquia Dev Desktop Control Panel” window will be running immediately after you install DAMP, however, if you close that window or restart your computer, you will need to restart DAMP.

No desktop nor quick launch icons are created when the “Acquia Dev Desktop” is installed, so in the future to start the stack “Control Panel” window,...

Starting DAMP in the Future: “AcquiaDevDesktopControlPanel.exe”

• Windows XP:
  “Start” > “All Programs” > “Acquia Dev Desktop” > “Control Panel”
  The file to start DAMP's Control Panel is located at...
  C:\Program Files\acquia-drupal\AcquiaDevDesktopControlPanel\AcquiaDevDesktopControlPanel.exe
• Windows Vista, and Windows Seven:
  “Start” > “Programs” > ???
  The file to start DAMP's Control Panel is located at...
  ??? [Search for “AcquiaDevDesktopControlPanel.exe”]
• MAC:
  ???
  The file to start DAMP's Control Panel is located at...
  ???

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6. Using the default Acquia Drupal site

When you installed DAMP, you automatically installed an “Acquia Drupal” version of Drupal. Acquia Drupal is a packaged Drupal installation known as a “Drupal Disto” (Distro means “Distrubution”) that contain not only the “Drupal Core” set of site files and standard Modules, but also additional “Modules” that compliment each other.

“Acquia Drupal” is known within DAMP under the name “localhost”.

Unlike every other Drupal site you might create, the Acquia Drupal site requires absolutely no installation. It is ready to go.

1. Open the “Acquia Dev Desktop Control Panel”. Both of the circles to the right of the “Apache Web Server” and the “MySQL Database Server” should each be GREEN. If not, click the right-hand column's top button “Start Acquia Drupal Stack”.
2. Set “localhost” as the name in the field-box in the right-hand column just under the button “Go to my site” (if it is not already). Do this by clicking on the downward-pointing-arrow to the right of that field-box, and clicking “localhost”.
3. Click “Go to my site”.

Acquia Drupal's bizarre addon module location

“Acquia Drupal” is similar to Drupal Core, but just as all Drupal Distros include the entirety of the Core files and folders plus additional Modules, Acquia Drupal presently installs seven additional Modules.

Typically addon modules are installed in [your-drupal-root]/sites/all/modules, and this is in fact the location where future addon modules will be installed if you install them using the D7 automated installation process that only requires you to input the modules's download location URL.

Strange to me is the fact that Acquia Drupal's seven additional-to-core modules are located at [your-drupal-root]/profiles/acquia/modules; which is to say that they are Not installed in the normal standard recommended location that addon modules are generally installed after your site is up and running.

Implied by this is that when it comes time to update the Drupal 7 core, for example from D7.7 to D7.8, you will have to download the Acquia Drupal disto for D7.8 from Acquia; and you will not be able to simply use the new D7.8 version of the Core from drupal.org.

The Acquia Drupal installation profile's addon Modules List

I have not used Acquia Drupal and so I know little about it.

The following may or may not be of value to you.

“Acquia Drupal” installs seven additional-to-core Modules (note that some of the Modules per-se actually contain multiple modules within each, and this is common with many if not most of the modules that you will later install).

Acquia Modules installed at [your-drupal-root]/profiles/acquia/modules

1. Acquia Network Connector
   • Acquia agent
   • Acquia search
   • Acquia site information
2. Apache Solr
   • Apache Solr Access
   • Apache Solr frameword
   • Apache Solr search
   • Apache Solr Taxonomy
3. Chaos Tool Suite (aka CTools)
   • Bulk Export
   • Chaos Tools
   • Chaos Tool (CTools) AJAX Example
   • Chaos Tool (CTools) Plugin Example
   • Custom content panes
   • Custom rulesets
   • Page manager
   • Stylizer
   • Views content panes
4. Facet API (on the Modules page in the “Search Toolkit” section)
5. Mollum (on the Modules page in the “Other” section)
6. Pathauto (on the Modules page in the “Other” section)
7. Token (on the Modules page in the “Other” section)

You can “Import” newer versions of thee Acquia Drupal distro if they become available.

In the event that the Acquia Drupal distro is substantially added to or changed in the future, you will be able to “Import” additional instances of “Acquia Drupal”, but you will need to download that newer Distro from Acquia at http://network.acquia.com/downloads (Link opens in a new tab/window).

By default, that page starts with Drupal 6, so click the tab &ldqup;Acquia Drupal 7.x” if you use D7.

You will have to click the left-hand column menu choice “Acquia Drupal Full Install”-- either the *.tar.gz or *.zip format.

Then follow the instructions below, beginning with Download Drupal Core or the other Distro to learn how to “Import” the newer Acquia Drupal distro into DAMP.

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7. Additional Drupal sites - Introduction

DAMP supports unlimited additional Drupal installations.

You can:

• Immediately “Install” additional sites using the version of Acquia Drupal that you downloaded with DAMP.
• Download and “Import” a newer Acquia Drupal distro version if and when it becomes available.
• Download and “Import” Drupal Core.
• Download and “Import” other Drupal Distros.

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8. Creating an additional Acquia Drupal site via DAMP's “New...” button.

You can create additional instances of the Acquia Drupal distro version that you got with your original download of DAMP.

1. Start Damp. See DAMP must be running above for details.
2. Check that both Drupal Stack buttons are GREEN.
3. Click the right-column button “Settings...”.
4. Click the Settings window's top tab “Sites”.
5. Click the Sites-tab right-column button “New”.

6. New site: Site name: Give your new site a name. This will be the name of the folder that all of your new site's files and folders will be housed within.

   See below for my Site folder name choice recommendations.

   I highly recommend you take careful note of this the site's installation location as indicated next to “Site Path”.

   This is where your Drupal site folder and all its subfolders will be created on your computer. This location should be considered a permanent location because I do Not know how to change it later.

   You will likely want to access these folders and files later, so make note of its location now so you will know where they can be found.

7. Click “OK”.
8. Close the “Settings” window by clicking either “OK” or “Cancel”.

Just like with the original Acquia Drupal site installation, you will not have to go through the normal browser based initial setup process of you new Acquia Drupal site. The configuration items needed were incorporated in the above steps.

To start using your newer Acquia Drupal site:

1. In the “Acquia Dev Desktop Control Panel” window...
2. ...in the right-column just under the button “Go to my site”...
3. ...click on the downward-pointing-arrow to the right of the field-box
4. Find and click the name of site you want to use.
5. Click the button “Go to my site”.

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9. Creating Drupal Core or Other Drupal Distro sites - Introduction

Using Drupal Core or other Distros (aka “Installation Profiles”) for your site

Instead of using the preinstalled Acquia Drupal distro version for your site, you can “Import” into DAMP any number of different additional Drupal versions including the basic Drupal version known as “Core” with its standard set of core modules; or you can import into DAMP any number of different Drupal Distro installation profiles with their addon modules intended to compliment each other.

Core

Drupal Core is a complete set of website building files, but you are likely going to want to later add additional features with addon Contributed (Contrib) Modules.

Distros

All of the Distros will include Drupal Core plus additional modules.

Each Distro is designed to have a site serve a specific purpose, such as, for example, an eCommerce or a non-profit site. As such, each Distro will contain a unique set of addon complimentary Modules intended to be a one-stop solution to save you having to hunt down the best modules for your own site's needs.

I suggest you go to the Drupal.org page Installation profiles (Link opens in new tab/window) if you are interested in a pre-packaged site with Core extended features via security tested modules.

Contrib Module Security is assured given that any Contrib module must get security approval before it is listed at drupal.org (d.o) in the Module section at Download Modules at Drupal.org [http://drupal.org/project/modules]. (Link opens in new tab/window)

Distro Security:To the best of my knowledge, the Distro Installation profiles (Link opens in new tab/window) listed on drupal.org (d.o) will have passed security tests for any of their addon modules that are not among the modules freely available at d.o.

So be aware that while you might find other Drupal Distros outside of d.o, and while the Distro's creators might have no malicious intent, possible security holes in their addon module software is an issue you need to be aware of to keep your site secure (when it goes online).

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10. Download Drupal Core or other Distro

Assuming that you want to create a site using a version of Drupal other than the “Acquia Drupal” version that installed with DAMP, you will have to find and download another version.

Then you will need to un-compress the downloaded file.

You will then be ready to “Import” it into DAMP.

This is also the process you could use to “Import” a newer version of Acquia Drupal (presently D7.7) if, for example, a newer version of Drupal such as D7.8 comes out-- newer than the Drupal version that came with whatever version of DAMP you originally acquired.

Download Drupal Core

Go to the Drupal Core download page: http://drupal.org/project/drupal (Link opens in new tab/window).

Go to that page's bottom and find the heading “Downloads”, and see the the sub-heading “Recommended releases” for the recommended stable versions of Drupal. The development releases are only intended for those who want to test a more recent version of the Core in its developmental state, but which is not necessarily stable enough for public release.

The links “tar.gz (zzz MB)” and “zip (xxx MB)” are each links to single files. Each file contains the exact same set of compressed Core files and folders. They are simply different types of file compression. I recommend the tar.gz file link particularly if you are using Internet Explorer (IE) as a browser since I remember reading somewhere that IE forces a change in *.zip file extensions upon downloading them.

To download the Drupal Core compressed *.tag.gz or *.zip file, since the file is a compressed “archived” file, simply clicking the link should start its download regardless of what browser you are using; as is the case with my using FireFox.

But for future reference, anytime a webpage link is to a file that you want to download, (as opposed to being a link to another webpage page)-- be it an *.mp3 file, a text document, etc. or even an archive file...

RIGHT-mouse-click either the “tar.gz (zzz MB)” or “zip (xxx MB)” link, and in the drop-down menu that appears,...

• if you use FireFox click "Save Link As...".
• if you use Internet Explorer click "Save Target As...".

Download any other Distro

Use the instructions above as a guide to download any Drupal distro you might find. I have no experience with them, but the process for downloading and using them should be essentially identical to using Drupal Core. Distros on drupal.org (d.o) are at Installation profiles (Link opens in new tab/window).

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11. Un-Compress the Downloaded Drupal Core or Distro file

Choose or create a location for your Drupal site(s) files and folders.

You can place the files and folders for your Drupal site anywhere you want on your computer.

However, you should assume that whatever location you choose will be a semi-permanent location since that is the location that DAMP will look for it; and newbie that I am, I do Not know how to modify DAMP to use a different location if you should choose to move those sites' files and folders.

If you use Windows, I recommend that you create a top-level folder outside of the Windows operating system folders, such as C:\00, and create another sub-folder “sites” within. C:\00\sites

Using Windows XP as I do, I personally ALWAYS avoid using the “Desktop”, the “MY Documents” folder and its sub-folders; or any other location in the directory c:/Documents and Settings. The reason is that in the event that the Windows operating system becomes corrupted and needs to reinstalled, I do not want to risk losing my files within assorted Windows folders that might be deleted during a Windows operating system reinstallation.

I simply create shortcuts on my Desktop and in the My Documents folder; shortcuts that lead to the appropriate folders within C:\00.

Place the downloaded Core *.tar.gz or *.zip file within the folder you want to use to store your Drupal site(s).

For example, place the file in the folder at C:\00\sites\NEW-ARCHIVED-DRUPAL-FILE (assuming you have created that location).

Again, for ease of access to all of your Drupal sites, you might wnat to create a shortcut on your Desktop-- a shortcut to the “sites” folder.

Un-compress the Core *.tar.gx or *.zip file using either your operating system's archive utility program, or download and use a free one.

As I understand it, if you are using MAC, Windows Vista, or Windows 7, then you need only click (double-click) the *.tar.gx or *.zip file (or whatever type of archived file you may have gotten a Distro in) to begin the process for un-compressing it into the same folder in which it resides.

If clicking the archive file simply opens up a window that shows you its contents, then close that window.

In the case of my using Windows and the archiving program WinRAR, clicking the *.tar.gz or *.zip file simply opens it for viewing, and does Not in fact de-compress it.

I have to RIGHT-Click the archive file, and in the drop-down menu that appears, I have to hover upon the WinRAR icon. Then an additional drop-down menus appears; and I have to click “Extract here” to de-compress the file.

If clicking the file initiates a window asking you what program you want to use to access it-- because you are using Windows XP for example, and you do not have a file archive utility installed-- search Google: freeware archive utility (Link opens in a new tab/window), and find a free program (freeware) suitable for your operationg system. Download it and install it.

Although I use WinRAR, I do recommend “7-Zip” (Link opens in a new tab/window) as a FREE solution since I have heard good things about it for years. (Download the *.exe version for Windows)

The de-compression of the Core *.tar.gx or *.zip file will create a folder named similarly to “Drupal-7.x”.

And hopefully it will have been located precisely such that if you navigate into it you will see a folder named “includes” (among others) located at C:\00\sites\Drupal-7.x\includes. If not, move the Drupal-7.x folder that contains the folder “includes” into C:\00\sites (for example).

You can now delete the archive file that you downloaded if you like.

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12. Note Aside: Freeware Recommendations

For a very wide range of freeware recommendations, the very greatest website that I know of, and that I have been using for the last six-years, has recently changed names to something I can never remember. But I am not worried.

It was originally called “46 Best Freeware Programs”, or something like that.

Now I find it everytime I want it by typing into Google, 46 free and I always get back to it because it is at the top of Google's list.

Gizmos Freeware Reviews - <www.techsupportalert.com> (Link opens in new tab/window). See. It is hard to remember.

46 free: That is what I remember; but gizmo works equally well at Google for finding it.

END Note Aside.

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13. Rename the Uncompressed “Archive” folder

If you downloaded Drupal core, then the extracted folder is named similarly to “Drupal-7.x”. If you downloaded a distro, then the extracted folder will likely have a different name.

Although you could use this folder named such as it is, I recommend you rename this folder to something akin to the name you will eventually use for your online site. (Eg. my-new-drupal-site)

In particular, my Drupal sites online are in sub-folders of my main domain, and so the name I give to the uncompressed folder appears in visitors' address bar as...

http://MY-MAIN-DOMAIN.com/my-new-drupal-site

The choice of folder name has Search Engine Optimization (SEO) implications when it is a domain's sub-folder.

If you plan on using the Drupal site as the top level of a domain, then your choice of folder names now is not really important since its name will not appear in a visitors' (including Google's) address bar. [As I understand it]

I do not know all of the exact “character” limitations regarding your renaming this folder as it relates to DAMP; nor do I know exactly what limitations your webhost will in the future impose upon you when trying to use that folder for your online website; yet, I can recommend the following.

Site folder name choice recommendations

• For use with DAMP, the folder name can begin with either an alphabetic character (a-z), or a numeric character (0-9).
• Use lower-case only. As a hard-fast rule, I only ever use lower-case alphabetic characters for folder and file names particularly if I am going to link to them online. The use of upper-case alphabetic characters might work with DAMP (I have Not checked), but online domain name creation utilizes only lower-case characters. Essentially, I have always avoided possible conflicts by Never using upper-case characters for file and folder names.
• The hyphen character “-”, aka the dash character, can be freely used. I recommend it Not be used as the first character, however, and I recommend you Not use more than one dash in-a-row (Ie: Not “--”); although admittedly I do not know the true extent of those limitations. ...Better safe than sorry. As I understand it, however, Google treats “bestwebsiteever” and “best-website-ever” equally.

• Do Not use the underscore “_” character. The use of the underscore character within the folder name will work with DAMP, but online Domain names can Not use it-- even if online subfolders do allow it. If you plan to use your site later as the top-level for a Domain, and since I do not know whether you would have a conflict as a result of using the underscore character after you have uploaded you site for use online as the top-level of a Domain, I simply recommend you not use the under-score character.

  Additionally, if your site will reside online in a sub-folder of your main domain (as all of my Drupal installations presently are), and if Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a concern to you, “best_website_ever” would only be shown in a search by Google if the person searching used that exact expression including the underscores.

• Do Not use the name “localhost” since that is the name used by the original default “Acquia Drupal” site installation.

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14. “Import” Drupal 7 Core or other Distro into DAMP

1. Start Damp. See DAMP must be running above for details.
2. Check that both Drupal Stack buttons are GREEN.
3. Click the right-column button “Settings...”.
4. Click the Settings window's top tab “Sites”.
5. Click the Sites-tab right-column button “Import”.

6. In the “Import site” window under the heading “Codebase:” line “Site path:”. Click the button “Browse...”.

7. In the “Browse For Folder” window, navigate to the location of your renamed Drupal archive folder.

8. Highlight that folder in the top portion of the window by clicking it once; and then click the button “OK”.

9. Back in the “Import site” window under the heading “Database:”

   • Note that the radio-button for “I have a MySQL Database dump file for my site” is choosen by default. The “Dump file” field-box is associated with that radio-button, and is for a pre-existing Database file.

   • Click the radio-button “create new database”.

10. “New DB name:”. Enter a name in this field-box.

    I recommend using a name beginning with a lower-case alphabetic character, and then using only lower-case alphabetic characters, numerals, and the under-score character.

    Former restrictions: Previously when I used MySQL online at my webhost through the webhost's Control Panel (CPanel) interface, the database name was restricted in length to 7-characters; and I could only use lower-case alphabetic-characters, numerals, and the under-score character. Today those restrictions are gone.

    I do not know what if any complications you might incur in the future on your webhost, but if you name your Database now according to my former restrictions, you are more likely to avoid problems later when you try to transfer your database from your computer to your webhost.

11. Under the heading “Domain” line “Server:” Enter a name.

    You can use the same name that you used when you renamed the uncompressed folder above.

    See above for my Site folder name choice recommendations for a few clues as to what characters you might want to use or avoid.

12. The “Subdomain:” line can be left blank as it is by default.

13. The “URL path:” line can be left blank as it is by default.

14. Note the line “Site URL”. This is the address that will appear in your browser's address bar when you are at your site's home page; and it is based on the name you entered into the “Server” line just above.

    You will Not have to remember this URL Nor will you have to enter it into your browser since you can easily get to your site later via the “Acquia Dev Desktop Control Panel”.

15. Click the button “Import”.

16. The import process takes a little time, and will eventually open your browser to your site's initial Drupal installation window.

    Back at the “Acquia Dev Desktop Control Panel”, the “Settings“ window will still be open.

    Close the “Settings“ window by clicking “OK” or “Cancel“.

If necessary, you can now close the browser window or even restart your computer worry-free.

To finalize the Drupal installation, follow the instructions that follow here.

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15. Browser-Based Final Drupal Installation Setup of Non-Original-Acquia Sites

The browser window that opened after the final step of “import”ing a new version of Drupal into DAMP (in the step just above) is the typical first page you will see for every new Drupal site that you create. The only exception to the following setup steps is if you created your site using the version of Acquia Drupal that shipped with whatever version of DAMP you originally downloaded and installed.

If the browser window that should have opened after the last step of “Import” above is closed for some reason, you can reopen your site to that page in your browser by:

1. Start Damp (If it is not already running). See DAMP must be running above for details.
2. Check that both Drupal Stack buttons are GREEN.
3. In the right-column under the button “Go to my site”, click the downward-pointing arrow to the right of the field-box.
4. Find and click the name of your site so that it displays in the field-box.
5. Click the button “Go to my site”

The final browser-based installation setup steps for your Drupal site.

If you are wondering, "Are we there yet?", then your thoughts mirror mine; and the answer is, "Yes."

1. “Select an installation profile” page.

   The first window “Select an installation profile” has only two radio-buttons. “Standard” (default), and “Minimal”.

   These two choices simply control which set of Core modules will be initially “Enabled” right now.

   “Standard” does Not enable all of the core modules, and “Minimal” will simply not enable some of the modules that Standard otherwise would.

   As with all modules in Drupal, you will later be able to enable or un-enable each of them individually. So I recommend you...

   Leave “Standard”. Click the button “Save and continue”.

2. “Choose Language” page:

   Presently, the Drupal 7.7 Core installation has only one radio-button. “English (built-in)”.

   Click the button “Save and contiune”; OR...

   If you click “Learn how to install Drupal in other languages”, you will be exploring territory I have not fully explored.

   The page that loads if you do click that link, however, does have a link at its bottom “Continue installation in English” that does the same thing as if you had clicked “Save and contiune” on the former English page.

3. (Possibly, or Not) AJAX Error Page

   Do not worry if you next briefly see a page with the words (or similar)...

   The installation has encountered an error.
Please continue to the error page
An AJAX HTTP request terminated abnormally. Debugging information follows. Path: http://test3334:8082/install.php?profile=standard&locale=en&id=1&op=do StatusText: ResponseText: ReadyState: 4

   That AJAX error page is common, and it should quickly go away. You might even have missed it if you blinked.

4. “Configure site” page:

   All of these items can be changed later if you desire. (The Red-asterisk indicates a field that you are required to have non-blank)

   • “Site information”

     The site information can be changed later by clicking the administrative menu button “Configuration” at the top of each of your site's pages; and then, under that page's heading “System”, clicking the link “Site information”.

     • “Site name *”

       The default site name here coincides with the name you used in the “Import” process above in the “Server” field-box; and you might notice that this default name is part of your site's URL in your browser's address bar.

       At this point, however, this “Site name *” field-box will only control the text characters that display at the top of all of you site's pages in the “Header”.

       Change the Site Name to any name you would like to have displayed in your header

       It will be possible to turn this site name off and on later-- either globally, or on a theme-by-theme basis.

     • “Site e-mail address *”

       Assuming you are connected to the internet, your DAMP site is fully capable of sending out e-mails, and this will be the “From:” e-mail address listed on all outgoing email.

       At this point, since your site will not be accessed by others, the e-mail address you enter here is not critical. You will simply see it as the “sender”

       • on test e-mails you generate, or..
       • on “Update Notifications” (assuming you leave that option enabled in a moment-- as described further below.)

   • “Site maintenance account”

     The Site maintenance account details can be changed later by clicking the administrative menu button “Hello YOUR-USERNAME” at the top of each of your site's pages; and then clicking the tab “Edit”.

     • “Username *”

       This is the site's “Super-user” (aka “user/1”) login name. It is CRITICAL that you remember this name.

       User-1 is the only user that will always have complete access to every possible configuration option without having to be given specific permission.

       Some module permissions will later have to be enabled for user-1, but user-1 will always have access to those permissions as needed.

       Your username will display on your site exactly as you enter it here. You can use both upper-case and lower-case alphabetic characters in this displayed name.

       Later if you want to login to your site, you can do so using either case of the alphabetic character. In other words, you can login using lower-case characters even if your username employes upper-case characters.

     • “E-mail address”

       Your DAMP site is fully capable of sending out e-mails assuming you are connected to the internet.

       This is the e-mail address to which all notices to you will go.

       Enter a valid e-mail address of yours since this is e-mail address that will be used to send you your password if you forget it.

       This e-mail address will also be helpful to you later as you test certain functionalities of your site.

     • “Password *”

       Password characters are case-sensitive; which is to say that “a” is Not the same as “A”.

       An 8-character password would take an average of approximately five-thousand years for someone to stumble upon if they were to hand type entries.

       A Bot-program from Belize could do it quicker than that, but in all sincerity, you should be in good shape if you always use at least 8-characters.

       Do not you use your pet's name if you are inclined to talk about your pets in chat rooms.

       Do not use any common word Nor any name that correspondes to you directly.

     • “Confirm Password *”: This entry must match the Password above in precise fashion including “case”.

   • “Sever Settings”

     The server settings can be changed by later clicking the administrative menu button “Configuration” at the top of any of your site's pages; and then, under configuration page's heading “Regional and language”, clicking the link “Regional settings”.

     • “Default country”

       I really do not know what this does. Sometimes I change it from its default of “None” to “United States” just to see what might happen, but I have never noticed any difference between the two.

     • “Default time zone”

       Although Time is my mortal enemy, the time of day is irrelevant to me.

       Actually, that statement is my way of distracting you from the fact that I do not know the far-reaching affects of this setting. Although I presume that this time setting determines the time as I see it for everything on my site, I do Not know how this setting affects other potential users on my site when they are in different time-zones.

   • “Update Notifications”

     This setting, as well as additional update settings, can later be adjusted by clicking the administrative menu button “Reports”; and then clicking the link “Available Updates”; and then clicking the tab “Settings”.

   • “Check for updates automatically”.

     This box should always be left checked so that your site will let you know when updates are available for not only your Drupal version, but also the site's modules and themes.

     This setting is controlled later on the “Modules” page by having the Core module “Update manager” either enabled or un-enabled.

   • “Receive e-mail notifications ”

     This setting, as well as additional update settings, can later be adjusted by clicking the administrative menu button “Reports”; and then clicking the link “Available Updates”; and then clicking the tab “Settings”.

     That page will be unavailable, however, if you have the Core module “Update manager” un-enabled.

   Click the button “Save and continue”

5. “Drupal Installation Complete” page.

   This page should read “Congratulations, you installed Drupal!”.

   Click the link “Visit your new site”.

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16. "/?q=user" - Alternate Emergency Site Logon Process

If you log-out or if you delete your browser cookies (which logs you out) while your site is either in 'maintenance mode'; or if you log-out after you have set the “User login” block to not display, you will not have a link to re-Login.

To login again, ...

1. Go to your site's home page.

2. In your browser's address-bar, add the following 8-characters to the end of your site's home page URL.

   / (forward-slash; if there is not already one there; do Not use two forward-slashes in-a-row), ?, q, =, u,s,e, and r.

   (HOME-PAGE-URL/?q=user)

3. Press the key-board key “Enter”.

Note: In you have previously set your site to 'Enable clean URLs', then you only have to add /user to the end of your site's home-page-URL.

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17. Deleting DAMP Sites

Warning: Do Not delete or move the original Acquia Drupal site first created when you installed DAMP If you do, DAMP will not run.

If you delete from your computer the folder containing the Drupal installation, or move it, or in any way change the path to that folder (For example located on Windows XP at C:\Documents and Settings\USER-ACCOUNT-NAME\sites\acquia-drupal), then the “Acquia Dev Desktop Control Panel” will no longer start.

You can delete the “acquia_drupal” database, and DAMP will still run, but why play with fire unnecessarily.

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