Installation FAQ/en - Revision history

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2023-06-27T09:15:33Z

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	* own a server or a web space from a host provider		* own a server or a web space from a host provider
	* or find a LimeSurvey-specialized host provider		* or find a LimeSurvey-specialized host provider

	~~{{Alert\|An installation on your computer is not done to share your survey on the internet!}}~~

	=Starting installation=		=Starting installation=

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2022-02-16T13:05:22Z

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	*Verify the location and permissions of the following setting in your PHP.ini:		*Verify the location and permissions of the following setting in your PHP.ini:

	<syntaxhighlight lang="c~~" enclose="div~~">upload_tmp_dir="/temp"		<syntaxhighlight lang="c">upload_tmp_dir="/temp"

	session.save_path="/temp"</syntaxhighlight>		session.save_path="/temp"</syntaxhighlight>

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2017-10-19T11:30:06Z

Updating to match new version of source page

FuzzyBot: Updating to match new version of source page

2017-09-11T09:05:09Z

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	=Installation on your computer=		=Installation on your computer=

	LimeSurvey can be installed on your computer with MAMP/~~XAMP~~ or any other system. ~~But~~ your computer is not a web server - it's not accessible via web to any other user.		LimeSurvey can be installed on your computer with MAMP/XAMPP or any other system. Bear in mind that your computer is not a web server - it's not accessible via web to any other user.

	In order to make your survey reachable to other users via the web, you need to either:		In order to make your survey reachable to other users via the web, you need to either:
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	===Symptoms===		===Symptoms===
	* LimeSurvey installed OK and the database was created, but instead of the admin page, you get an empty page;		* LimeSurvey is installed OK and the database was created, but instead of the admin page, you get an empty page;
	* Web server log shows ''"Fatal error: Call to a member function on a non-object in /path/to/limesurvey/admin/login_check.php on line 69"''.		* Web server log shows ''"Fatal error: Call to a member function on a non-object in /path/to/limesurvey/admin/login_check.php on line 69"''.

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	===Symptoms===		===Symptoms===
	* LimeSurvey installed OK and the database was created. But when you access the admin page, the browser keeps running and will eventually fail to show the page.		* LimeSurvey is installed OK and the database was created. But when you access the admin page, the browser keeps running and will eventually fail to show the page.
	* When you check the web server access log, its size has become quite big (in some cases, more than 2 GB).		* When you check the web server access log, its size has become quite big (in some cases, more than 2 GB).
	* Inside the access log, you get this message filling the log:		* Inside the access log, you get this message filling the log:
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	* LimeSurvey installed OK and the database was created. But when redirected to the admin page, the browser displayed the listed error.		* LimeSurvey installed OK and the database was created. But when redirected to the admin page, the browser displayed the listed error.
	* <code>$rootdir</code> and <code>$rooturl</code> are correctly set in config.php.		* <code>$rootdir</code> and <code>$rooturl</code> are correctly set in config.php.
	* The disk path name for limesurvey installation directory includes one of the following characters: '''(''',''')''' or '''+'''.		* The disk path name for limesurvey installation directory includes one of the following characters: '(',')' or '+'.

	{{Alert\|title=Attention\|text=Other characters may also induce the same behavior.}}		{{Alert\|title=Attention\|text=Other characters may also induce the same behavior.}}
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	===Fix===		===Fix===

	Move/rename the LimeSurvey installation directory so that the path name includes non of the following characters: '''(''', ''')''' or '''+''' characters.		Move/rename the LimeSurvey installation directory so that the path name includes non of the following characters: '(', ')' or '+' characters.

	=After installation=		=After installation=

	For all the other issues that are happening after a successful installation, please refer to the [[Troubleshooting\|troubleshooting page]].		For all the other issues that are happening after a successful installation, please refer to the [[Troubleshooting\|troubleshooting page]].

FuzzyBot: Updating to match new version of source page

2017-08-14T11:50:03Z

Updating to match new version of source page

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:50, 14 August 2017
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	<nowiki>http://<your_server>/<your_limesurvey_directory>/admin/install/phpinfo.php</nowiki>		<nowiki>http://<your_server>/<your_limesurvey_directory>/admin/install/phpinfo.php</nowiki>

	A lot of information will be shown. Search for the string 'mbstring' under the '''Configuration''' section. If you find the mbstring section then all should be well and you can continue on with your LimeSurvey installation!		A lot of information will be shown. Search for the string 'mbstring' under the '''Configuration''' section. If you find the mbstring section, then all should be well and you can continue on with your LimeSurvey installation!

	'''If you don't find the mbstring section''', you might have a problem on your hands. There are three possible scenarios:		'''If you don't find the mbstring section''', you might have a problem on your hands. There are three possible scenarios:
	*If it's your host provider's server, ask for the activation of that extension in PHP or further information on how you can activate it - if you have a good administration panel for your server, you may be able to activate it yourself;		*If it's your host provider's server, ask for the activation of that extension in PHP or for further information on how you can activate it - if you have a good administration panel for your server, you may be able to activate it yourself;
	*If it's your own '''Linux''' server, you may have to re-compile PHP and include the mbstring library. Ask the Linux experts how to do that. However, you can install it using your Linux package manager, which is mostly available in all Linux distributions nowadays;		*If it's your own '''Linux''' server, you may have to re-compile PHP and include the mbstring library. Ask the Linux experts how to do that. However, you can install it using your Linux package manager, which is mostly available in all the Linux distributions nowadays;
	**If you are using a version of Linux that supports 'yum' (CentOS, RedHat, Fedora):		**If you are using a version of Linux that supports 'yum' (CentOS, RedHat, Fedora):
	***Use the terminal (as a super user) and type: '''yum install php-mbstring''';		***Use the terminal (as a super user) and type: '''yum install php-mbstring''';
	***Make sure to update /etc/php.ini and uncomment the various mbstring params;		***Make sure to update /etc/php.ini and uncomment the various mbstring params;
	***Make sure to restart apache after installing it: '''/etc/init.d/httpd restart''';		***Make sure to restart apache after installing it: '''/etc/init.d/httpd restart''';
	*If it's your own '''Windows''' server, search for php.ini on your system, open it with an editor and search for mbstring. Most probably, the line that contains that string is commented out with a semicolon. Remove the semicolon, save, and restart your web server.		*If it's your own '''Windows''' server, search for php.ini on your system, open it with an editor, and search for mbstring. Most probably, the line that contains that string is commented out with a semicolon. Remove the semicolon, save, and restart your web server.

	== Stuck at checking file system permissions ==		== Stuck at checking file system permissions ==
	If SELinux is activated (primarily on CentOS), then you might get an error that the file system permissions are not correct, even if the list of directories is empty. SELinux prevents writing even though the permissions are on for example on 777 or 755. To configure SELinux correctly for your server - check out the [https://wiki.centos.org/HowTos/SELinux SELinux documentation].		If SELinux is activated (primarily on CentOS), then you might get an error that the file system permissions are not correct, even if the list of directories is empty. SELinux prevents writing even though the permissions are for example on 777 or 755. To configure SELinux correctly for your server - check out the [https://wiki.centos.org/HowTos/SELinux SELinux documentation].

	=After database creation=		=After database creation=
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	===Symptoms===		===Symptoms===
	* LimeSurvey installed OK, and database was created, but instead of the admin page, you get an empty page		* LimeSurvey installed OK and the database was created, but instead of the admin page, you get an empty page;
	* Web server log shows "Fatal error: Call to a member function on a non-object in /path/to/limesurvey/admin/login_check.php on line 69"		* Web server log shows ''"Fatal error: Call to a member function on a non-object in /path/to/limesurvey/admin/login_check.php on line 69"''.

	===Fix===		===Fix===
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	===Fix===		===Fix===

	This may be caused by the mbstring.func_overload setting. ~~Check~~ the setting in ~~your~~ php.ini ~~and set as the following.~~		This may be caused by the mbstring.func_overload setting. Change the following setting in the php.ini file:
			<syntaxhighlight lang="php" enclose="pre">
	mbstring.func_overload = 0		mbstring.func_overload = 0
			</syntaxhighlight>

	{{Note\|This means no function overloading. See the PHP manual for this setting: [http://us3.php.net/manual/en/mbstring.overload.php Function Overloading Feature].}}		{{Note\|This means no function overloading. See the PHP manual for this setting: [http://us3.php.net/manual/en/mbstring.overload.php Function Overloading Feature].}}
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	===Symptoms===		===Symptoms===
	* LimeSurvey installed OK and database was created. But when redirected to the admin page, the browser displayed ~~the~~ the listed error.		* LimeSurvey installed OK and the database was created. But when redirected to the admin page, the browser displayed the listed error.
	* <code>$rootdir</code> and <code>$rooturl</code> are correctly set in config.php.		* <code>$rootdir</code> and <code>$rooturl</code> are correctly set in config.php.
	* The disk path name for limesurvey installation directory includes one of the following characters: '''(''',''')''' or '''+'''.		* The disk path name for limesurvey installation directory includes one of the following characters: '''(''',''')''' or '''+'''.

	{{~~Note~~\|Other characters may also induce the same ~~behaviour~~.}}		{{Alert\|title=Attention\|text=Other characters may also induce the same behavior.}}

	===Fix===		===Fix===

	Move/rename the ~~limesurvey~~ installation directory so that the path name includes non of the following characters: '''(''', ''')''' or '''+''' characters.		Move/rename the LimeSurvey installation directory so that the path name includes non of the following characters: '''(''', ''')''' or '''+''' characters.

	=After installation=		=After installation=

	For all issues happening after a successful installation, please refer to the [[Troubleshooting]] ~~page~~.		For all the other issues that are happening after a successful installation, please refer to the [[Troubleshooting\|troubleshooting page]].

FuzzyBot: Updating to match new version of source page

2017-08-07T13:10:03Z

Updating to match new version of source page

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FuzzyBot: Importing a new version from external source

2017-01-25T10:54:21Z

Importing a new version from external source

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:54, 25 January 2017
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	{{Alert\|Installation on your computer is not done to share your survey on internet.}}		{{Alert\|Installation on your computer is not done to share your survey on internet.}}

	=~~During~~ installation=		=Starting installation=

	==How can I create a database and a user in mysql with command line access?==		==How can I create a database and a user in mysql with command line access?==

FuzzyBot: Importing a new version from external source

2017-01-25T10:41:44Z

Importing a new version from external source

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	### Use the terminal (as a super user) and type: '''yum install php-mbstring'''		### Use the terminal (as a super user) and type: '''yum install php-mbstring'''
	### Make sure to update /etc/php.ini to update and uncomment the various mbstring params		### Make sure to update /etc/php.ini to update and uncomment the various mbstring params
	### Make sure to restart apache after installing it: '''/etc/init.d/httpd restart'''		### Make sure to restart apache after installing it: '''/etc/init.d/httpd restart'''
	*If it's your own '''Windows''' server: Search for php.ini on your system, open it with an editor and search for mbstring. Most probably the line that contains that string is commented out with a semicolon. Remove the semicolon, save and restart your web server.		*If it's your own '''Windows''' server: Search for php.ini on your system, open it with an editor and search for mbstring. Most probably the line that contains that string is commented out with a semicolon. Remove the semicolon, save and restart your web server.

FuzzyBot: Importing a new version from external source

2017-01-25T10:40:09Z

Importing a new version from external source

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:40, 25 January 2017
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	The mbstring library is a PHP library to be able to convert char sets from one language to another. You need it if you want to run LimeSurvey. To check if it is already installed open the URL		The mbstring library is a PHP library to be able to convert char sets from one language to another. You need it if you want to run LimeSurvey. To check if it is already installed open the URL

	<nowiki>http://<your_server>/<your_limesurvey_directory>/admin/install/phpinfo.php</nowiki>		<nowiki>http://<your_server>/<your_limesurvey_directory>/admin/install/phpinfo.php</nowiki>

	from the web browser. A lot of information will be shown. Search for the string 'mbstring' under the '''Configuration''' section.		from the web browser. A lot of information will be shown. Search for the string 'mbstring' under the '''Configuration''' section.

FuzzyBot: Importing a new version from external source

2017-01-25T10:37:40Z

Importing a new version from external source

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:37, 25 January 2017
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	==What is this mbstring (Multibyte String Functions) library?==		==What is this mbstring (Multibyte String Functions) library?==

	The mbstring library is a PHP library to be able to convert char sets from one language to another. ~~You~~ need it if you want to run LimeSurvey. To check if it is already installed open the URL		The mbstring library is a PHP library to be able to convert char sets from one language to another. You need it if you want to run LimeSurvey. To check if it is already installed open the URL

	<nowiki>http://<your_server>/<your_limesurvey_directory>/admin/install/phpinfo.php</nowiki>		<nowiki>http://<your_server>/<your_limesurvey_directory>/admin/install/phpinfo.php</nowiki>

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:30, 19 October 2017
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	In order to make your survey reachable to other users via the web, you need to either:		In order to make your survey reachable to other users via the web, you need to either:

	* own a server or a web space from a host provider;		* own a server or a web space from a host provider
	* or find a LimeSurvey-specialized host provider.		* or find a LimeSurvey-specialized host provider

	{{Alert\|An installation on your computer is not done to share your survey on internet!}}		{{Alert\|An installation on your computer is not done to share your survey on the internet!}}

	=Starting installation=		=Starting installation=

	==How can I create a database and a user in MySQL with command line access?==		==How can I create a database and a user in MySQL with command-line access?==

	You have to enter the below ~~commands~~ in your MySQL:		You have to enter the commands below in your MySQL:

	*<code>create database '''<your_database_name>''';</code>		*<code>create database '''<your_database_name>''';</code>
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	Normally, the script creates a new database, and then the table structure. However, if your server/ISP doesn't give you admin rights to create a new database in MySQL, you will need to contact your server administrator to get the necessary database created (or create it yourself if you receive the required permissions). The newly created blank database should include the appropriate access rights (i.e.: read/write/create). Then, you should be able start the LimeSurvey installation, which will create the tables within the newly created database.		Normally, the script creates a new database, and then the table structure. However, if your server/ISP doesn't give you admin rights to create a new database in MySQL, you will need to contact your server administrator to get the necessary database created (or create it yourself if you receive the required permissions). The newly created blank database should include the appropriate access rights (i.e.: read/write/create). Then, you should be able start the LimeSurvey installation, which will create the tables within the newly created database.

	==Blank page when accessing the ~~Install~~ page==		==Blank page when accessing the install page==

	~~The~~ problem ~~is not with~~ the LimeSurvey installation but ~~with~~ the PHP installation.		This problem doesn't occur within the LimeSurvey installation but within the PHP installation.
	*Verify you have the MySQL PHP module (php-mysql) installed.		*Verify you have the MySQL PHP module (php-mysql) installed.
	*Verify your PHP install is loading the PHP.ini file your are modifying and not parsing other PHP.INI files on your system.		*Verify your PHP install is loading the PHP.ini file your are modifying and not parsing other PHP.INI files on your system.
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	session.save_path="/temp"</syntaxhighlight>		session.save_path="/temp"</syntaxhighlight>
	*Verify if your server runs a suitable PHP version.		*Verify that your server runs a suitable PHP version.

	==Error messages ~~because of~~ non-existing resources==		==Error messages due to non-existing resources==

	Sometimes, files are not uploaded correctly or ~~were~~ broken during the upload process. This leads to several different error messages. Most of them refer to a file or function within a file which can't be found.		Sometimes, files are not uploaded correctly or are broken during the upload process. This leads to several different error messages. Most of them refer to a file or function within a file which can't be found.

	'''Solution:''' Re-upload all files using the binary mode of your FTP ~~program~~.		'''Solution:''' Re-upload all files using the binary mode of your FTP programme.

	=Requirements page=		=Requirements page=
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	==What is the mbstring (Multibyte String Functions) library?==		==What is the mbstring (Multibyte String Functions) library?==

	The mbstring library is a PHP library that can convert char sets from one language to another. You need it if you want to run LimeSurvey. To check if it is already installed, open the URL from an web browser:		The mbstring library is a PHP library that can convert char sets from one language to another. You need it if you want to run LimeSurvey. To check if it is already installed, open the URL from a web browser:

	<nowiki>http://<your_server>/<your_limesurvey_directory>/admin/install/phpinfo.php</nowiki>		<nowiki>http://<your_server>/<your_limesurvey_directory>/admin/install/phpinfo.php</nowiki>

	A lot of information will be shown. Search for the string 'mbstring' ~~under~~ the '''Configuration''' section. If you find the mbstring section, then all should be well and you can continue on with your LimeSurvey installation!		A lot of information will be shown. Search for the string 'mbstring' in the '''Configuration''' section. If you find the mbstring section, then all should be well and you can continue with your LimeSurvey installation!

	'''If you don't find the mbstring section''', you might have a problem on your hands. There are three possible scenarios:		'''If you don't find the mbstring section''', you might have a problem on your hands. There are three possible scenarios:
	*If it's your host provider's server, ask for the activation of that extension in PHP or for further information on how you can activate it - if you have a good administration panel for your server, you may be able to activate it yourself;		*If it's your host provider's server, ask for the activation of that extension in PHP or for further information on how you can activate it - if you have a good administration panel for your server, you may be able to activate it yourself
	*If it's your own '''Linux''' server, you may have to re-compile PHP and include the mbstring library. Ask the Linux experts how to do that. However, you can install it using your Linux package manager, which is mostly available in all the Linux distributions nowadays;		*If it's your own '''Linux''' server, you may have to re-compile PHP and include the mbstring library. Ask the Linux experts how to do that. However, you can install it using your Linux package manager, which is mostly available in all the Linux distributions nowadays
	**If you are using a version of Linux that supports 'yum' (CentOS, RedHat, Fedora):		**If you are using a version of Linux that supports 'yum' (CentOS, RedHat, Fedora)...
	***~~Use~~ the terminal (as a super user) and type: '''yum install php-mbstring''';		***...use the terminal (as a super user) and type: '''yum install php-mbstring'''
	***~~Make~~ sure to update /etc/php.ini and uncomment the various mbstring params;		***...make sure to update /etc/php.ini and uncomment the various mbstring params
	***~~Make~~ sure to restart apache after installing it: '''/etc/init.d/httpd restart''';		***...make sure to restart apache after installing it: '''/etc/init.d/httpd restart'''
	*If it's your own '''Windows''' server, search for php.ini on your system, open it with an editor, and search for mbstring. Most probably, the line that contains ~~that~~ string is commented out with a semicolon. Remove the semicolon, save, and restart your web server.		*If it's your own '''Windows''' server, search for php.ini on your system, open it with an editor, and search for mbstring. Most probably, the line that contains the string is commented out with a semicolon. Remove the semicolon, save and restart your web server

	== Stuck at checking file system permissions ==		== Stuck at checking file system permissions ==
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	===Symptoms===		===Symptoms===
	* LimeSurvey is installed OK and the database was created, but instead of the admin page, you get an empty page;		* LimeSurvey is installed correctly and the database was created, but instead of the admin page, you get an empty page
	* Web server log shows ''"Fatal error: Call to a member function on a non-object in /path/to/limesurvey/admin/login_check.php on line 69"''.		* Web server log shows ''"Fatal error: Call to a member function on a non-object in /path/to/limesurvey/admin/login_check.php on line 69"''

	===Fix===		===Fix===

	This is probably related to an incorrect setting for <code>$rooturl</code> or <code>$rootdir</code> in config.php. The file config.php attempts to set <code>$rootdir</code> correctly by calling <code><nowiki>dirname('''FILE''')</nowiki></code>. While this usually works, it can be upset when LimeSurvey is installed in a user's home or public_html directory and the home directory is mounted over NFS. To set up ~~manually~~ the <code>$rootdir</code>, (your shell or pwd command may show you a path like "/disks/hostname/home/username/public_html/limesurvey"), try using "/home/username/public_html/limesurvey".		This is probably related to an incorrect setting for <code>$rooturl</code> or <code>$rootdir</code> in config.php. The file config.php attempts to set <code>$rootdir</code> correctly by calling <code><nowiki>dirname('''FILE''')</nowiki></code>. While this usually works, it can be upset when LimeSurvey is installed in a user's home or public_html directory and the home directory is mounted over NFS. To set up the <code>$rootdir</code> manually, (your shell or pwd command may show you a path like /disks/hostname/home/username/public_html/limesurvey), try using /home/username/public_html/limesurvey.

	==When accessing the admin page, the browser keeps running and will eventually fail to show it==		==When accessing the admin page, the browser keeps running and will eventually fail to show it==

	===Symptoms===		===Symptoms===
	* LimeSurvey is installed OK and the database was created. ~~But~~ when you access the admin page, the browser keeps running and will eventually fail to show the page.		* LimeSurvey is installed correctly and the database was created. However, when you access the admin page, the browser keeps running and will eventually fail to show the page
	* When you check the web server access log, its size has become quite big (in some cases, more than 2 GB).		* When you check the web server access log, its size has become quite big (in some cases, more than 2 GB)
	* Inside the access log, you get this message filling the log:		* Inside the access log, you get this message filling the log:

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	{{Note\|This means no function overloading. See the PHP manual for this setting: [http://us3.php.net/manual/en/mbstring.overload.php Function Overloading Feature].}}		{{Note\|This means no function overloading. See the PHP manual for this setting: [http://us3.php.net/manual/en/mbstring.overload.php Function Overloading Feature].}}

	==When accessing admin page, the browser reports Fatal error: Call to a member function gT() on a non-object in login_check.php on line 76==		==When accessing the admin page, the browser reports Fatal error: Call to a member function gT() on a non-object in login_check.php on line 76==

	===Symptoms===		===Symptoms===
	* LimeSurvey installed OK and the database was created. But when redirected to the admin page, the browser displayed the listed error.		* LimeSurvey is installed correctly and the database was created. But when redirected to the admin page, the browser displayed the listed error.
	* <code>$rootdir</code> and <code>$rooturl</code> are correctly set in config.php.		* <code>$rootdir</code> and <code>$rooturl</code> are correctly set in config.php.
	* The disk path name for limesurvey installation directory includes one of the following characters: '(',')' or '+'.		* The disk path name for limesurvey installation directory includes one of the following characters: '(',')' or '+'.
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	===Fix===		===Fix===

	Move/rename the LimeSurvey installation directory so that the path name includes non of the following characters: '(', ')' or '+' characters.		Move/rename the LimeSurvey installation directory so that the path name includes non of the following characters: '(',')' or '+' characters.

	=After installation=		=After installation=

	For all the other issues that ~~are happening~~ after a successful installation, please refer to the [[Troubleshooting\|troubleshooting page]].		For all the other issues that may occur after a successful installation, please refer to the [[Troubleshooting\|troubleshooting page]].