Template:Extract and Upload

This common text is used in both the install and upgrade articles. 1 numbered parameter, the possible values are:
 * install (default)
 * upgrade

==Extract the SMF Archive and Upload the Files to Your Website==

The SMF archive contains files that need to be copied to the correct place on your website before the  can be executed. Wherever these files are located on the server, that is where your forum will be located. Extracting before uploading is usually the simplest method. If your host provides the necessary tools, you can try uploading before extracting.

You will need to use either FTP (in binary mode) or the tools in your hosting account's control panel (for more information on the control panel supplied by your hosting service, please see the documentation provided by your hosting service).

Extracting Before Uploading
This is the way most people do it. It is easy, but can take longer.


 * 1) Extract the archive, usually by right-clicking the archive and selecting the "Extract All" option. When the archive is extracted, a new folder should be created with all the files and directories in the correct places.
 * 2) Set your FTP client for binary transfer, select all the files and folders and copy them to the directory where you want to locate your forum.

Uploading Before Extracting
Some control panels, such as cPanel, give the ability to extract an archive right on the server. This can be a quicker than waiting for all the extracted files to copy via FTP. First, upload the file via your account's control panel. Second, select the extract option to extract the archive to the desired location -- the directory where you want your forum to be located.