AutoDirector installation instructions

The following document describes how to install the AutoDirector control panel.

upgrading from a previous installation

To upgrade your existing AutoDirector installation:

Backup your current files and database, especially changed files in the 'client' folder.
Copy the new files over your existing installation, EXCEPT for: autodirector-sample.ini, setup.php and the 'data' folder.
Examine autodirector-sample.ini and copy any new parameters to your current autodirector.ini file (see AutoDirector configuration)
Open a web browser and enter the URL of the upgrade.php file in the autodirector directory, e.g. http://mydomain/autodirector/upgrade.php and follow the instructions.

We recommend you clear your browser cache to ensure you are using the latest files.

No further action is required; please ignore the setup instructions below.

system requirements

The AutoDirector control panel allows users to create vehicle stock lists that can be viewed on any target web site.

the AutoDirector control panel

The control panel can installed on any operating system with:

a web server, such as Apache, Xitami, or IIS
PHP 4.x or 5.x (available from www.php.net)
the PHP GD graphics library v2+ (refer to your PHP documentation about extensions)
MySQL 3.x, 4.x or 5.x database (available from www.mysql.com)
the ability to send email from PHP via sendmail or an SMTP server (if more than one user requires access to the control panels).

Users access the AutoDirector control panel via a web browser, such as Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox.

integrating a vehicle list on a web site

An AutoDirector-managed stock list can be added to any web site using a single line of HTML code. No server-side technologies are required - even free web space is suitable.

AutoDirector control panel installation

Follow these steps to install the AutoDirector control panel.

1. database setup

Create a MySQL database for AutoDirector. This can be done using tools such as PHPMyAdmin, Cpanel, or the MySQL command line:

create database if not exists 'autodirectordb';

Create a user for this database with full privileges. Cpanel will do this automatically, but it can also be achieved with PHPMyAdmin or the MySQL command line:

GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON autodirectordb.* TO 'autodirector_user'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'autodirector_pass';

For the purpose of the following examples, we will assume that your database is named autodirectordb, and can be accessed by user autodirectordb_user with the password autodirectordb_pass.

Note for Cpanel users: your account ID may be appended to the start of the database and user names, e.g. myaccount_autodirectordb and myaccount_autodirector_user. It is not appended to the password.

2. file extraction

Extract the AutoDirector files to a web directory of your choice, but ensure you keep the same directory structure.

For the purpose of the following examples, we will assume you have installed the files to a directory named autodirector which can be accessed via your web server using the URL http://mydomain/autodirector/.

3. AutoDirector configuration

AutoDirector is configured using an autodirector.ini file located in the autodirector directory. Rename the file autodirector-sample.ini to autodirector.ini and edit it with a text editor. The following settings can be changed as necessary:

MYSQLHOST="localhost": set to the name of the server running your MySQL AutoDirector database. In most cases, this will be the same machine as your web server, i.e. localhost. If you are not using the default MySQL port (3306), append it to this setting, e.g. mysqlhost:1234
MYSQLDBNAME="autodirectordb": set to the name of the MySQL database defined in step 1.
MYSQLDBUSER="autodirectordb_user": set to the name of the MySQL user defined in step 1.
MYSQLDBPASS="autodirectordb_pass": set to the password of the MySQL user defined in step 1.
INCLUDEFOLDER="includes/": an internal AutoDirector setting; under normal circumstances, this should not be changed.
IMAGEFOLDER="images/": an internal AutoDirector setting; under normal circumstances, this should not be changed.
DATAFOLDER="data/": the location of the directory containing certain vehicle list data. Any empty web directory can be used; you can set this value to the location of that directory relative to the autodirector directory.
CLIENTFOLDER="client/": an internal AutoDirector setting; under normal circumstances, this should not be changed.
UPLOADSIZELIMIT="2M": the maximum file size of uploaded photographs. The number of bytes can be specified or 'M' megabytes, e.g. 2M = 2 Mb = 2 million bytes
UPLOADTIMELIMIT="180": the number of seconds AutoDirector permits when uploading photographs
IMPORTPROFILES="import/profiles/": the location of the directory where import profiles are stored. Profiles control how data is imported from other files
IMPORTDATA="import/data/": the default directory where import data files are kept. Note that this can be overriden by an import profile
SUPPORTEMAIL="support@yourdomain.com": set to your support email address. The address will be displayed at the bottom of the AutoDirector control panel. Leave this setting blank if you do not want to offer email support.
TITLE="AutoDirector": the application's title as shown at the top of the control panel pages
ADVERT="powered by your company": defines the text you want to appear at the bottom of every vehicle list (note that you can choose not to display your advert within a site's settings).
ADVERTURL="http://www.yourdomain.com/": defines the URL for the ADVERT link. Leave this setting blank if you do not want the text to be a link.
LICENCEKEY=: the software licence key issued following your purchase of AutoDirector.

4. AutoDirector setup utility

Open a web browser and enter the URL of the setup.php file in the autodirector directory, e.g. http://mydomain/autodirector/setup.php

An information screen will confirm your MySQL and DATAFOLDER settings in autodirector.ini. Follow the instructions to setup AutoDirector for the first time.

Assuming the setup is successful, you will be able to log on at http://mydomain/autodirector/ using the email address super@user.account and password super.

Note: an example site is defined by default. This can be deleted or used for testing or training purposes. The images contained in the example site are highly compressed to keep this download small.

5. securing your system

To ensure AutoDirector is secure, we recommend the following steps:

Change your supervisor email address and password by selecting "my account" from the AutoDirector control panel.
Delete setup.php and upgrade.php from the AutoDirector directory.
Secure your autodirector.ini file so it can not be read in a web browser or any other means. The supplied .htaccess file will protect the file if you are running Apache. Otherwise, you should change the file permissions, i.e. on IIS, remove access rights from the IUSR account and on Linux servers, use:
```
chmod 400 autodirector.ini
```

installation troubleshooting

AutoDirector can be installed on a wide variety of operating systems, web servers, PHP and MySQL versions. Whilst we endeavour to make this process easy, we are not able to provide specific installation assistance.

An installation troubleshooting guide is available at the AutoDirector website. If you have solved an installation problem and would like to share it with other AutoDirector users, please send the details to support@autodirector.co.uk.

AutoDirector license agreement

IMPORTANT-READ CAREFULLY: This AutoDirector End-User License Agreement ("EULA") is a legal agreement between you (either an individual or a single entity) and the AutoDirector Group for the AutoDirector control panel system, which includes any user guides, any associated software components, any media, any printed materials, and any online or electronic documentation. By installing, copying, or otherwise using the AutoDirector control panel, you agree to be bound by the terms of this EULA. If you do not agree to the terms of this EULA, do not install or use AutoDirector.

grant of licence

The AutoDirector control panel is licensed, not sold.

The following licence details refer to the AutoDirector control panel software. Any number of client 'sites' can be defined using the AutoDirector control panel without an additional charge.

Unlicensed evaluation version: an individual or commercial entity may install and use the AutoDirector control panel for thirty (30) days from the point you install the software. You must register and pay the appropriate licence fee to continue to use the software after the evaluation period has ended. A licence key can be purchased from http://www.autodirector.co.uk/.
Licensed version: When you purchase a license you will be provided with a license key and instructions. The licensed control panel software may be installed and used on a single web server system. Any number of users can be granted access. Any number of dealer showrooms can created and integrated. Further information about licencing is available at http://www.autodirector.co.uk/.

distribution

You are hereby licensed to make copies of the original AutoDirector control panel software archive file; give exact copies of the original archive file to anyone; and distribute the archive file in its unmodified form via electronic means (internet, shareware libraries, CDROMs, etc.). You may charge a distribution fee for the package, but you must not represent in any way that you are selling the AutoDirector software itself. Your distribution of the AutoDirector software will not entitle you to any compensation from the AutoDirector Group. You must distribute a copy of this EULA with every copy, and anyone to whom you distribute the software is subject to this EULA.

restrictions

You may not reverse engineer the AutoDirector control panel, except and only to the extent that such activity is expressly permitted by applicable law notwithstanding this limitation. You may not rent, lease, or lend this software. You may not use this software to perform any unauthorized transfer of information or for any illegal purpose.

You are entitled to make modifications to the AutoDirector software, but you may not resell or distribute the changed system without the express permission of the AutoDirector Group.

support

The AutoDirector Group may provide you with support services related to the AutoDirector control panel software. Support is covered in the licence agreement and may be modified from time to time.

termination

Without prejudice to any other rights, the AutoDirector Group may terminate this EULA if you fail to comply with the terms and conditions. In such event, you must destroy all copies of the AutoDirector software.

copyright

The AutoDirector control panel software is protected by copyright laws and international treaty provisions. You acknowledge that no title to the intellectual property in the software is transferred to you. You further acknowledge that title and full ownership rights to the software will remain the exclusive property of the AutoDirector Group and you will not acquire any rights to the software except as expressly set forth in this license. You agree that any copies of the software will contain the same proprietary notices.

NO WARRANTIES

THE AUTODIRECTOR GROUP EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY WARRANTY FOR THE SOFTWARE. THE SOFTWARE AND ANY RELATED DOCUMENTATION IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON INFRINGEMENT. THE ENTIRE RISK ARISING OUT OF USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE REMAINS WITH YOU.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTODIRECTOR GROUP OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR INDIRECT DAMAGES OF ANY KIND ARISING OUT OF THE DELIVERY, PERFORMANCE, OR USE OF THE SOFTWARE, EVEN IF THE AUTODIRECTOR GROUP HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. IN ANY EVENT, THE AUTODIRECTOR GROUP'S LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIM, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, OR ANY OTHER THEORY OF LIABILITY WILL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF GBP £1 OR LICENSE FEE PAID BY YOU.

miscellaneous

Should you have any questions concerning this EULA, please visit http://www.autodirector.co.uk/ for contact information.