# Set up SweetDate

> Set up a SweetDate site: install, register and import a demo in the SweetDate Panel, then the BuddyPress, profile tabs and matching settings.

Source: https://seventhqueen.com/docs/sweetdate/install-theme-setup/

This guide takes you from a new WordPress site to a working SweetDate community.

## 1. Install, register and import a demo

1. [Install SweetDate and the SweetDate child theme](https://seventhqueen.com/docs/sweetdate/install-the-theme/), then activate **SweetDate Child**. The **SweetDate Panel** opens (**Appearance > SweetDate Panel**).
2. [Register SweetDate](https://seventhqueen.com/docs/sweetdate/register-your-theme/) with your purchase code on the **Dashboard** tab.
3. [Import a demo](https://seventhqueen.com/docs/sweetdate/importing-the-modern-demo/) on the **Demo Data** tab. The import installs and activates SweetDate Theme Core, Elementor, BuddyPress and BP Profile Search, and adds the profile fields and member search forms.

Not importing a demo? Install the plugins yourself on the **Plugins** tab of the panel: click **Install & activate required**, then install the recommended plugins you need.

## 2. BuddyPress settings

1. Go to **Settings > BuddyPress > Components** and turn on the features you want (for example Extended Profiles, Friend Connections, Private Messaging).
2. Check that every BuddyPress component has its page assigned. Your community does not work properly without them.
3. Go to **Settings > Permalinks** and use **Post name**. BuddyPress pages need pretty permalinks.

## 3. SweetDate community options

All in the **Sweetdate** menu of WordPress admin (the theme options). Click **Save Changes** after each section.

- **Buddypress > Online status**: shows a colored dot over the avatars of members who are online.
- **BP Profile Tabs**: turn on **Enable profile tabs customisation** and choose the profile field groups shown as tabs. A tab shows only when the member filled in its fields (in **Profile > Edit**).
- **Profiles matching**: turn on **Activate custom matching settings** to set how the match percentage between members is calculated. For example: **Starting percentage** 0, **Enable complementary fields** on, **Complementary fields percentage** 10, and a percentage for each other field, up to 100%.

## 4. Home page and blog page

The demo import sets the front page. To change it, go to **Settings > Reading**, choose **A static page** and pick your **Homepage** and **Posts page**. You can also click **Set as front page** next to an imported page at the end of the demo import.

## 5. Memberships (optional)

For a paid or membership site, install **Paid Memberships Pro** from the **Plugins** tab and set up your levels. See [Memberships](https://seventhqueen.com/docs/sweetdate/memberships/).

## Updating

Keep your changes in the child theme, then follow [Update SweetDate and its plugins](https://seventhqueen.com/docs/sweetdate/theme-updates/).