Install Guide

Step 1: Download OpenVoter

The first thing you want to do of course is download OpenVoter.

Step 2: Extract Files

Using your archiving tool, extract the files to a directory, a blank directory is preferable.

Step 3: Create Database

OpenVoter stores its data on a MySQL database. You will need to have one in order to run OpenVoter. You can check with your hosting provider for how to create a database. But once you have it created, you will have to take note of 4 settings. They are: Database Name, Database Host, Database User, and Database User Password. These will be needed for Step 4.

You can also use a previously created database, but keep in mind you will need to set a unique prefix to ensure that no data or tables are overwritten (see Step 4 for more info)

Step 4: Build config.php Files

There are 2 files that are used to set up the database connection within OpenVoter. These 2 config files are located in the following 2 locations.
/include/config.php
and
/ov-admin/include/config.php

These files are identical so you can copy and paste the content from one once you enter in the following information.
Here is an example config.php file. 
<?php
	$db_prefix = "OV_" ;
	// the database table prefix, make sure it is unique if sharing a database. 
	// If you don't use or want a prefix, leave it blank
	
	$db_host = "localhost" ;
	// the database host, will likely be localhost, but make sure to check with your hosting provider.
	
	$db_username = "user" ;
	// the database user for the database.
	
	$db_password = "secret" ;
	// the password for your database user
	
	$db_name = "openvoter" ;
	// the name of your database
?>
Just put the following information between the quotes on their respective lines.
DB_PREFIX
If you are sharing a database, or might eventually share the database, put a unique prefix here to prevent overwriting data. If you don't want a prefix, just leave it blank.
DB_HOST
The hostname your MySQL server resides on. This will probably be localhost, but make sure to check with your hosting provider.
DB_USERNAME
The database user for your MySQL database
DB_PASSWORD
The password for the database user as specified above.
DB_NAME
The name of your database.
Make sure this information is specified in both files and that both files are saved.

Step 5: Upload the Files

The next step is to upload all the files to your web server. The best method is FTP, so use your favorite FTP client (FileZilla, Transmit, etc) and upload them to either your root directory or the subdirectory of your choice. If you are unsure where this is, your hosting provider can easily provide you with this information.

Step 6: Install OpenVoter

The next step is to run the install OpenVoter. You want to navigate to the install page. So if your domain is http://www.example.com and you placed everything in the root directory, they you would want to go to the following page
http://www.example.com/ov-admin/install.php
and if you happened to place it in a subdirectory called openvoter let's say, you'd go here
http://www.example.com/openvoter/ov-admin/install.php
Install
Just input the following information and click Install
Site Title
The title of your site, for example OpenVoter
Site URL
This should be the base URL of your site. So if you use http://www.example.com - that is what you put. If you use a subdirectory off of example.com called openvoter, you would put in http://www.example.com/openvoter
Site E-Mail
The feedback e-mail address for your site.
When complete, it will give you a username and a password for your admin account. Make note of the password and then you can proceed to step 7.

Step 7: Log In to the Admin Page

Use the login credentials given to you by the installation screen to login to the system. It is HIGHLY reccommended that you change your password. While it is randomly generated, using a password of your choosing will make it much easier to remember.
That's it, you're done, go on and add some categories and get your site configured. Be sure to read the configuration guide for more help.