The evaluation software is fully functional. However, please note that it only displays every other file in your collection (1, 3, 5, etc). Two of Andromeda's preferences are pre-configured to help you remember this limitation: customHeader and fileCount. You can disable them via preferences (customHeader includes the note, and fileCount turns the track numbers on).

When you purchase Andromeda you'll have access to all of your files, as well as two additional preferences: hideMetasearch and hidePoweredby.

Download Free Evaluation

2) Move Andromeda into a test folder in your Web site

Make a test folder in your site, unzip Andromeda and use FTP (or whatever) to move it over. Be sure not to make any changes to the Andromeda script -- you configure it via a separate preference file (more on that below).



If you're running XP, 2000, or NT make sure to configure file permissions on the Andromeda script.

3) Open Andromeda in your Web broswer

An empty Andromeda site

You should now be able to open your empty Andromeda site. If you installed it on a remote server, try:
• http://{server_name}/test/andromeda.php
• http://{server_IP_address}/test/andromeda.php

If you installed Andromeda on the computer you're now using, try any of the following addresses:
• http://3.133.117.107/test/andromeda.php
  (your current IP address)
• http://localhost/test/andromeda.php
• http://127.0.0.1/test/andromeda.php
• http://{machine_name}/test/andromeda.php
• http://{local_IP_address}/test/andromeda.php

If instead of a Web page you get the script itself, make sure that you entered a proper url and that your Web server is executing PHP scripts.

4) Make a simple Andromeda prefs file (optional)

You don't need to do this now, but it might come in handy later.

Andromeda is configured by a separate preference file. This lets you keep your settings whenever you upgrade (or purchase) and makes it easy to troubleshoot. You can make your prefs file with any text editor.

For instance, siteName sets the name of your Andromeda site.

A sample andromedaPrefs.php file:

<?php #siteName[tab]  My Andromeda Name ?>

Tip: the leading # is required -- it prevents your preferences from being read by a web browser. Make sure to use a TAB.

Simply copy your andromedaPrefs.php file into the same folder with your andromeda.php file. When you next reload the page, you should see your site's name up in the menu bar.

If you'd like, you can download a sample prefs file. For a comprehensive list of preferences, click here.

5) Add an MP3 file (and/or a subfolder with an MP3 file)

Now the fun part, add some MP3s!

Tip: Andromeda has lots of features that benefit from an organized collection.



If you're running XP, 2000, or NT make sure to configure file permissions on the MP3 folders and files. Typically, the Web server account needs to have read privileges.

If your collection is of Real Media files, you'll most likely want to configure Andromeda to use the Real mime (more info):

<?php #siteName[tab]  My Andromeda Name #playlistMime[tab]  audio/x-pn-realaudio ?>

6) Reload the page

Andromeda with folders and files

That's the basic idea behind Andromeda: simply drag in new files, and they show up in your site.

And your Andromeda site is fully featured, including playlists, search, dynamically cleaned file names, ID3 support, and quite a lot more.

7) Click a play button

If you get an error when you click a play button, you most likely need to set the hostAddress preference.

<?php #siteName[tab]  My Andromeda Name #hostAddress[tab]  {server} ?>

Where {server} would be something like:

• www.yoursite.com
• server.IP.address

  You can also include a port in your hostAddress setting:

• www.yoursite.com:8080
• server.IP.address:8080

You should now have a working Andromeda site, Welcome Aboard!

If you're ready, skip to the section on purchasing Andromeda.

Next, tips on how to personalize it....

It's easy to change the look of your Andromeda site. Just download a skin or make your own.

Simply copy your andromedaSkin.txt file into the same folder with your andromeda.php file. When you next reload the page, you should see your new look.

9) Integrate Andromeda into another site

Andromeda has a number of features that let you integrate it into another site, including sites powered by content management systems and weblogs like PHP-Nuke, PostNuke, phpWebSite, Movable Type, pMachine, Geeklog, and so on...

As a simple example, try setting Andromeda's absoluteHeader and absoluteFooter preferences:

<?php #siteName[tab]  My Andromeda Name #absoluteHeader[tab]  <b>top</b> of every page #absoluteFooter[tab]  <b>bottom</b> of every page ?>

10) Add pictures, text, HTML

Andromeda with text and pictures

To add pictures, text, and HTML to your Andromeda site, you simply drag in image and text files with special names (you can include HTML in the text files).

Tip: be sure to visit the step-by-step guide.

		"Folder open" files appear up at the top of an open folder: _folderOpenImage.jpg/gif _folderOpenInfo.txt
		"Folder list" files appear in the list of subfolders: _folderListImage.jpg/gif _folderListInfo.txt Note that "folder list" files won't display if placed in your topmost folder You can also add text to individual files: {individual file name}.txt

If you already have image files mixed into your music collection you can configure Andromeda to use them. The following example assumes that you have full-sized images named "cover.jpg" and thumbails named "cover_thumbnail.jpg"

<?php #siteName[tab]  My Andromeda Name #folderOpenImage[tab]  cover #folderListImage[tab]  cover_thumbnail ?>

Tip: don't include ".jpg" or ".gif"

11) Other configurations

Andromeda has loads of other configuration options. Be sure to check out the docs in support, especially the preferences. Some popular preferences include:
• mediaWebPath and mediaPhysicalPath -- used to serve files from a different folder
• requireLogon -- activates Andromeda's built-in logon feature (set it to true)
• displayNew -- automatically hightlights recent additions (set it to true)
• defaultLanguage -- pick from Andromeda's many languages
• fileLinks -- turn off the file download links (set it to false)
• displayAMG -- turn off the Allmusic.com search box (set it to false)

If you were to take all the prefs dicussed on this Getting Started page into one file, your andromedaPrefs.php file would look something like:

<?php #siteName[tab]  My Andromeda Name #playlistMime[tab]  audio/x-pn-realaudio #hostAddress[tab]  {server} #absoluteHeader[tab]  <b>top</b> of every page #absoluteFooter[tab]  <b>bottom</b> of every page #folderOpenImage[tab]  cover #folderListImage[tab]  cover_thumbnail #mediaWebPath[tab]  /mp3s #mediaPhysicalPath[tab]  c:\inetpub\wwwroot\mp3s #requireLogon[tab]  true #displayNew[tab]  true #defaultLanguage[tab]  NL #fileLinks[tab]  false #displayAMG[tab]  false ?>

Thanks for taking the time to take Andromeda for a spin. We hope you've found it to be sophisticated, simple, and smart.

When you purchase, just replace the evaluation script with the full version. If you set up andromedaPrefs.php and andromedaSkin.txt files, they'll automatically be used (as will any other files).

Additionally, you'll have access to two new preferences: hideMetasearch and hidePoweredby. If you leave them on you'll be helping to get the word out, and we certainly appreciate it.

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