TradeLite

A guided start.
On your own hosting.

Everything you need to take TradeLite from a ZIP file to your own working CRM. No terminal commands. No server-root access.

1. Before you start

TradeLite runs on PHP/MySQL web hosting. Your hosting and domain are separate from the one-off software purchase.

  • Apache 2.4 or LiteSpeed hosting that honours the included .htaccess files.
  • PHP 8.2 or later, with cURL, PDO MySQL, mbstring, fileinfo, OpenSSL and working sessions.
  • MySQL 8 or a compatible MariaDB database.
  • A secure HTTPS address and a new, empty database.
  • The TradeLite ZIP package and access to your hosting file manager.
Shared hosting is fine.

You only need access to public_html and your hosting database tools. Everything stays inside your chosen TradeLite folder.

2. Upload and extract

  1. Open your hosting control panel’s File Manager.
  2. Open public_html. If you want TradeLite inside another folder here, open that folder.
  3. Upload TradeLite.zip and choose Extract. It creates a TradeLite folder.
  4. You may rename the TradeLite folder. Keep all files and subfolders together, including hidden .htaccess files.
  5. Open https://your-domain/TradeLite/, replacing the example domain and folder path with yours.

The installer opens automatically. You don’t need to point the document root at a special folder or move any files outside public_html.

What is _tradelite?

It holds private application files and storage. The included access rules block visitors from opening it directly. Keep those rules in place.

3. Create your empty database

Open the MySQL or database section of your hosting control panel. Create a new database, create a database user and assign the user to that database with permission to create and use tables.

Keep these details handy:

  • Database host: often localhost; use your host’s value.
  • Port: usually 3306.
  • Database name: include any hosting-account prefix.
  • Database username: the full name, including its prefix.
  • Database password: the password for that database user.

Use a dedicated, empty database. The installer refuses to overwrite one containing tables.

4. Follow the four guided steps

  1. Hosting. Review the readiness checks. Any failed check explains what needs attention. Private-file protection is checked before installation is allowed.
  2. Database. Enter your database details and choose Test database connection. The test does not create tables.
  3. Your business. Enter your company name and create your administrator account with an email and password.
  4. Install. Review the details and choose Install TradeLite. Leave the page open while setup finishes.

TradeLite creates its tables and your administrator account, saves the configuration and locks the installer. Your business records start empty.

5. Make it yours

Sign in with the administrator email and password you just created. A getting-started checklist takes you through:

  1. Your business address, contact details, logo and colours.
  2. Quotation and invoice defaults, terms and bank details.
  3. Optional email delivery settings and a test email.
  4. Your first customer.
  5. Your first quotation.

You can return to this checklist through Settings. No demo customers or default passwords are added to your purchased installation.

A little help, if you need it

403 Forbidden / server cannot read .htaccess

In File Manager, check that the TradeLite folders have permission 755 and files—including hidden .htaccess files—have permission 644. The server must also be able to traverse the parent folders. Ask your host to check ownership if permissions look correct. Keep the access rules; don’t delete them.

A hosting readiness check fails

Follow the message beside the failed check. PHP needs write access to _tradelite/storage. Use your host’s recommended permissions; don’t use 777. The protection check also needs PHP cURL to reach your own installation address.

The database connection fails

Check the full names, hosting prefixes, host and password. Confirm that the user is assigned to the database. These are separate from your TradeLite sign-in details.

The database already contains tables

Create a new, empty database. Don’t use a website or shop database. If an earlier installation failed after creating tables, keep that copy for inspection and use a fresh database for the retry.

Updates and backups

Keep matching backups of your database and the entire _tradelite/storage folder, including configuration, uploaded files and any encryption key. Store backups away from public web folders. Follow the instructions supplied with an update; never remove the installation lock to upgrade.

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