Software Installation

SiteBuilder Elite is a set of PHP scripts which need to be uploaded to your webserver. All aspects of site configuration are carried out online, in your browser. The simplest way to install the software is to upload the ZIP file to the folder where you want to build a site and then use your cPanel File Manager to extract the contents.

Alternatively, you can extract the files to your PC and use FTP software to upload the SiteBuilder Elite folders to your webserver.

Installing SiteBuilder Elite Using cPanel

1. Using your FTP software (FileZilla is recommended), upload the SiteBuilderElite Zip file to the domain or subdomain folder on your webserver where you want to build a site. If you want to build a site in a subfolder, upload the zip file into that folder.
2. Open your cPanel and double-click on the File Manager icon. Select the domain you want to work with and click the OK button. The File Manager app will open.
3. Navigate to the SiteBuilderElite Zip file in your site folder and click on it.
4. Click the Extract option on the menu at the top of the screen - the contents of the zip file will be extracted.
5. Close the popup window that appears detailing the extraction process.
6. Click the SiteBuilderElite Zip file again and this time click the Delete option in the top menu. You don't need the zip file any more so it can be safely deleted.
7. Video instructions are here for those who need them.

This method is faster than uploading via FTP.

Installing SiteBuilder Elite Using FTP

1. Extract the contents of the SiteBuilderElite4.zip file to your PC and make sure you extract to C:\SiteBuilderElite4
2. The SiteBuilderElite4 folder will now contain three subfolders: files, images and pages
3. Open your FTP software and in the Local Site frame, navigate to the C:\SiteBuilderElite4 folder
4. In the Remote Site frame, navigate to the folder where you want to build a site (this is the public_html folder for the primary domain, or a folder for an addon domain, subdomain or subfolder of an existing domain).
5. Upload the files, images and pages folders to your webserver
6. Video instructions are here for those who need them.

First Steps

SiteBuilder Elite uses IonCube encrypted files, so IonCube must be installed on your webserver. The majority of webhosts have IonCube rep-installed by default so it's usually not something you need to worry about. On Bluehost and Hostmonster, you have to initialise IonCube, so that's an extra step required with those webhosts (see below).

If you're not sure if IonCube is installed on your webserver, contact your webhost and ask them. Also ask them if they'll install it for you if it's not already installed.

An ioncube folder is included with SiteBuilder Elite for the unlikely event that you need to install IonCube manually. If this is the case, upload the folder into your public_html folder (your top-level folder, somtimes called httpdocs) - you only need one instance of  this folder on your webserver regardless of how many add-on domains may be in your  account).

Webhost Notes:

Hostgator is now the #1 recommended webhost for SiteBuilder Elite sites. You can save 20% on your hosting fees here.

Hostgator: If your websites are hosted with Hostgator, you do not need to upload the ioncube folder as Hostgator already have IonCube installed by default.


HostMonster & Bluehost:

1. Do not upload the ioncube folder. Hostmonster/Bluehost will install ioncube for you.
2. Log into your cPanel and locate the PHP Configuration option and open that screen.
3. Scroll down to the "Install Default php.ini" section and tick the "IonCube" checkbox.
4. Click the "INSTALL PHP.INI MASTER FILE" button
5. Log into your hosting account using your FTP software
6. In your public_html folder, you'll see a new file called php.ini.default
7. If there's an existing php.ini file in your account, rename it to php.ini.old
8. Rename php.ini.default to php.ini (right-click on the file name and select "Rename" from the popup menu in your FTP software)
9. Download the php.ini file to your PC
10. Upload the php.ini file into the SiteBuilder Elite "files" folder (so there are 2 copies of php.ini - one in public_html and one in public_html/files)
11. If you have uploaded SiteBuilder Elite into a subfolder (e.g. if you're building a site in an addon domain, subdomain or subfolder), your will need to upload the php.ini file into the site folder and into the SBE "files" folder for that site. It's just the way Hostmonster & Bluehost do things.

Site 5: Upload the ioncube folder into the public_html folder. Due to Site5 changing their webserver configurations in in January 2009, a php.ini file is required in each “files” folder in order for SiteBuilder Elite to run on their webservers. To create the file, run this script (replacing www.yoursite.com with your own domain name):

http://www.yoursite.com/files/create_phpini.php

Please note that due to the server configuration changes implemented by Site5 following a change of ownership of the company, I no longer recommend them as a webhost for SiteBuilder Elite. Go with Hostgator instead.

Folder Permissions

Webhosts implement security protocols which determine who has access to various parts of your hosting account. These are known as "permissions". Most webhosts use 755 permissions by default though a few still use 777 permissions. SiteBuilder Elite has a box at the bottom of the main admin screen called Set File Permissions To:. Unless you know that your webhost useds 777 permissions leave the box and its default value of 0755 alone (the leading zero is important).

Set up SiteBuilder Elite

There are three scenarios for setting up SiteBuilder Elite (following it being installed on a webserver). These are: a site is to be installed on a domain, a site is to be installed on a subdomain or a site is to be installed in a subfolder.

Where to find the admin pages is a little different in each case, so follow the steps laid out here: Installing a Site Licence, paying particular attention to the admin page web address to use depending on whether you're installing SiteBuilder Elite onto a domain, subdomain or subfolder.