Download packages

The download packages section of the package manager provides tools for loading and installing a package and for using the package server browser. Download packages is accessed by selecting the download packages tab from the package manager. Required FTP settings are found in the installation options section.


 * Package servers when supported
 * Add server for adding package servers
 * Download a package by URL (SMF2.x Only)
 * Upload a Package the most common way to obtain a package.

Package servers
An SMF package server is a repository stocked with modification packages for SMF forums.

The package servers [browse] feature can be used:
 * to obtain packages from a local SMF package server, if one is located on the forum host
 * or to obtain packages from a remote SMF package server (such as the Simple Machines Third-party Mod Site), if the forum host permits downloading SMF packages directly from a remote SMF package server

Selecting the [browse] button next to a server in the package servers list allows viewing of the packages available on that package server. If this feature does not work, upload a package may be used instead to upload a package that has already been manually downloaded to the desktop. The [delete] button is used to remove a package server listing.

Add server
To add a package server to the list to the list, the administrator may type in a server name (e.g. Simple Machines Third-party Mod Site) and a URL (e.g. http://mods.simplemachines.org), then select the add server button

Download a package by URL
The following applies to SMF 2, but not to SMF 1.1: Download a package by URL is a quick way to download a package from the web to a forum.


 * URL - The exact URL of the desired modification package.
 * Name of the file - Required if the download URL does not include the file name of the package. If left blank, the base name of the file from the URL will be used. For example, the default name of the file for a package mod_name.zip would be mod_name.

Upload a Package
Upload a Package is used to upload a package from the desktop to the forum. The browse button is used to locate the package file, and the upload button is used to upload it to the forum. After an upload, the administrator is given the option to immediately apply the package, or to use browse packages to install it at a later time.