How To Install

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have the following tools installed and configured on your Windows development machine:

• Git: Download and install Git from https://git-scm.com.
• Visual Studio 2022 (or later): Install the Community, Professional, or Enterprise edition from https://visualstudio.microsoft.com.
• .NET Framework 4.8 Developer Pack: Ensure the necessary framework is installed.
• SQL Server or LocalDB: Required for database connectivity.
• GitHub Account: Sign up at https://github.com if you don’t already have one.

Step 1: Clone the Repository

To begin, clone the Web Project Mechanics repository from GitHub:

1. Open a terminal (e.g., Git Bash or Command Prompt).
2. Navigate to the folder where you want to clone the project.
3. Run the following command:

   git clone https://github.com/markhazleton/webprojectmechanics.git

4. Once cloned, navigate to the project folder:

   cd webprojectmechanics

Step 2: Open the Project in Visual Studio

Now, open the project in Visual Studio:

1. Launch Visual Studio.
2. From the "File" menu, select Open > Project/Solution.
3. Navigate to the webprojectmechanics folder and select the .sln file.
4. Click Open to load the solution.

Step 3: Restore NuGet Packages

Ensure all required NuGet packages are installed:

1. In Visual Studio, open the Tools menu and select NuGet Package Manager > Manage NuGet Packages for Solution.
2. Click the Restore button to download and install missing packages.

Step 4: Configure the Database

Set up the database required for the application:

1. Create a new database in SQL Server or LocalDB.
2. Update the connection string in the web.config file:

   <connectionStrings>
       <add name="DefaultConnection" connectionString="Data Source=(localdb)\MSSQLLocalDB;Initial Catalog=WebProjectMechanicsDB;Integrated Security=True" providerName="System.Data.SqlClient" />
   </connectionStrings>

3. Run the provided SQL scripts (if any) to set up the database schema.

Step 5: Build and Run the Application

With everything configured, build and run the application:

1. In Visual Studio, click Build > Build Solution or press Ctrl+Shift+B.
2. Ensure there are no build errors. If errors occur, review the error list and fix any issues.
3. Run the application by pressing F5 or clicking the Start button.

Step 6: Access the Website

Once the application is running, open your web browser and navigate to:

http://localhost:port

Replace port with the port number assigned by Visual Studio.

Troubleshooting Tips

If you encounter issues during installation, consider the following:

• Ensure all dependencies are installed, including the .NET Framework and SQL Server.
• Check the web.config file for errors in the connection string.
• Review the GitHub repository’s Issues section for common problems and solutions.
• Consult the Visual Studio documentation for troubleshooting guidance.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can successfully install and run Web Project Mechanics. This robust ASP.Net Framework 4.8 CMS is ideal for managing diverse web projects and is a valuable tool for developers and businesses alike.

For more information, visit the GitHub repository or the official project page.