How to Get Started with Platform Pro

[seanriley66 0]

I've got a functioning WP website and am trying to upgrade via purchase of Platform Pro. 1) unlike most software, the download was not straightforward and carried me to choices among scores of files?? Which to pick? 2) unclear whether I import old WP info and site into Platform Pro OR vice versa.

[Rob 547]

Platform Pro comes with two parts, so download BOTH. You upload both to your wp-content/themes directory and from WP's Appearance settings > Themes, you activate the PlatformBase. Before you begin designing your site, I strongly urge you to visit http://www.pagelines.com/docs where there are many excellent videos and instructions on how to do just about anything. Additionally, as you progress, this forum will provide you with outstanding help and guidance. You don't have to import anything. PlatformPro overlays Wordpress, just as any theme does, but unlike all the others, it's capable of drag and drop design, incredibly easy customization. You'll never have to edit a style.css again as all the CSS you want to add is pasted to a box and entered dynamically. I'm not a salesman, but a client, like you, and have had great success with it.

[seanriley66 0]

Thanks, I have watched the first video tutorial, but I am stuck at uploading the Platform Pro theme via Appearance setting. WP screen says to upload ZIP files, but my downloaded Platform Pro folder does not seem to contain any Zip files (???) Trying to upload the other files in the folder, I get the mssg: "Incompatible Archive" (???)

[antonella 1]

If you do not have the files platformpro.zip and platformbase.zip, go back into your Pagelines Account, go to My products, and download both of these again. These are the files you would upload in Appearance > Themes > Add New > Upload. As mentioned above, upload these both, but then activate Platformbase as your theme.

[Rob 547]

The reason I suggested you FTP the unzipped files to your site was that you may be having a permission or ownership problem based on your server's settings when using the built-in file upload. Not every served is capable of unzipping files or installing uploaded files in that method. There could be file size limits, restrictions on unzipping files or a plethora of other hold-backs placed by your hosting company for security reasons. It could be as simple as the settings of your server. FTP will be sure to work.

[seanriley66 0]

OK, I did that, from the Accounts Page downloading the platform.zip and platformbase.zip, as directed but the files still do not show up in my downloads folder -- or anywhere on my Mac via search. There's lots of Platform PHP files but no ZIP. FYI, I'm running Mac OS X.5.8. Maybe I'll try the FTP method, though I'm only semi-tech savvy and am not familiar with that.

[catrina 103]

You need to unzip the zip folders first in order for the files to be available. Have you already unzipped them using a zip application like Stuffit?

[seanriley66 0]

Over my head, I'm afraid. But I'll try. Are you referring to the FTP process? Not sure how I would UNZIP the ZIP files unless I can locate them first. As I said, I don't see any ZIP files in the downloads folder. What am I missing here? (a lot I'm sure). Hard for me to accept that my OS and Host (Go.Daddy) cannot handle the standard Pagelines Download.

[catrina 103]

No, I'm not referring to the FTP yet. After you downloaded the files from your Launchpad account, they should've ended up in the Downloads folder on your computer. You should check to see if the files are there.

[Rob 547]

Sean, actually your host may be blocking you. In your Mac, do a global search for *.zip. That will tell you where the files are. If you cannot find them, go back to http://www.pagelines.com/ find the files you need to download and right click on the Download button. Select "Save Link As..." and make a note of where you save it to. Change the location if you wish. Repeat for the other file you need. When you go on your MAC's file management system to the location, locate the two files, click each one and see if it opens up. It should. Save the directory contained within to a new location and make a note of where that is. FTP the files to your site.

[seanriley66 0]

Again, I appreciate the help, but I am getting nowhere, as I can't locate in my files directory the essential ZIP files that drive Platform Pro as discussed. I have a Platform Pro folder with lots of other files, not with the .zip extension. The Launchpad page is just highlight and click so not sure how to deconstruct that further. I also checked with my hosting co. GoDaddy, and they claim not to be blocking the upload. I never had any problem setting up WP itself, so I find it ironic that purchasing this upgrade to make it "easier" is so difficult to even install. I'll have to get some kid of telephone support or ask for a refund. But again thanks to all.

[seanriley66 0]

OK, I finally did it (!) , learning to use FTP, but I had to manually transfer the Platform Pro folder to the WP content-theme folder. Why I never saw ZIP files and why this was so difficult for someone who is not a web developer or graphic designer is regrettable. Surely some patches can make this easier.

[Rob 547]

Let's just be happy you got it done.

[craigkeefer 0]

I am running in to the same issue as Sean. I have no .zip files, although I do have both the PlatformPro and PlatformBase folders in my download folder. Can anyone out there please walk me through the install via FTP method? It sounds like it may be what I'm looking for.... Thanks

[Rob 547]

The fact you have no zip files is perfectly okay if you have both the 'platformpro' and 'platformbase' folders in your download folder. Please note the case of the letters. Note: If they're in your Download folder with Upper Case like "PlatformPro", then they're the zips. To unzip them, you simply click and you should see the matching name in lower case show up in a Windows screen. Just drag the lower case folder name to someplace on your computer... like the Desktop. You FTP into your site with an FTP client. If you don't have one, let me know. The place you want to go once FTP has been logged in is to your Wordpress installation to /wp-content/themes/ There, you'll upload both folders. Don't rename them and don't load one into the other. Each show show up exactly as they're named. Once the upload is completed for the second one, login to your WP installation as Admin and go to Appearance > Themes. There, you simply click "Activate" under Platform Base. You can then close the FTP program. On the left side of your WP Dashboard, around the middle of the grey menu choices, you'll see PlatformPro (even though it says "Pro", base is activated). This will open the PlatformPro Settings and you start your settings work there.

[danmucha 0]

i'm having the same problem as craigkeefer and sean - but i have no idea what a FTP client is or if i have one. please help.

[Rob 547]

FTP means File Transfer Protocol. It's the tool you use to move files from your local computer to your website. What kind of hosting are you using? If you visit your site with Firefox, you can get FireFTP a plugin for Firefox browser that will help move files to your site. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/fireftp/