diff --git a/docs/index.md b/docs/index.md
index 869dcf9..66e4f63 100644
--- a/docs/index.md
+++ b/docs/index.md
@@ -1,118 +1,39 @@
 # How to use the fishbook
 
-## Requirements
+## Requirements & Installation
 
 * Python 3.5+ only, **no** python 2
 * [datajoint](https://datajoint.io) to connect to the database and to map python objects to table entries.
 * [nixio](https://github.com/g-node/nixpy) to read the relacs-flavored nix files during import or later during data retrieval.
 
-## Installation
 
-### 1) Clone the repository
+### Clone the repository
 
-  ```bash
+  ```shell
   >> git clone https://whale.am28.uni-tuebingen.de/git/jgrewe/fishbook.git 
   ```
 
-### 2) Installation
+### Install
 
    When installing for development: install for the current user, install as "editable":
   
-  ```bash
+  ```shell
   >> cd fishbook
   >> pip3 install -e fishbook --user
   ```
 
   When installing for use:
 
-  ```bash
+  ```shell
   >> pip3 install fishbook --user
   # or, for system-wide installation
   >> sudo pip3 install fishbook
   ```
 
+### Running *fishbook*
 
-### 3) Installing a local database server
+To run fishbook you need access to a database server. If you have access to one proceed with [configuring](configuration.md) the project. Otherwise, if you want to run it using a local database server see [these instructions](setting_up.md).
 
-When you want to run *fishbook* locally you need to install a local database server (either mariaDB or mysql).
-
-On Ubuntu or Linux mint use *apt* to install the server
-
-```bash
-sudo apt update
-sudo apt install mariadb-server
-sudo mysql_secure_installation
-```
-
-On Fedora use *dnf*
-
-```bash
-sudo dnf update
-sudo dnf install mariadb-server
-sudo mysql_secure_installation
-```
-
-On MacOS the most convenient way is to use [*homebrew*](https://brew.sh) see also [mariadb documentation](https://mariadb.com/kb/en/installing-mariadb-on-macos-using-homebrew/)
-
-```bash
-brew install mariadb
-mysql.server start
-brew services start mariadb  # to automatically start the server upon boot
-```
-
-On Windows you probably need to download an installer...
-
-Upon installation you should be able to log into the database as root without a password. 
-
-```bash
-mysql -u root 
-``` 
-
-To allow *datajoint* to store stuff on the server you need to:
-1. Create a database on the server.
-2. Add a user and grant this user read and write access.
-
-### Creating a database
-
-At the moment *fishbook* assumes that your database is called **fish_book**. To create it log into the server 
-
-```bash
-mysql -u root -p
+```python
+import fishbook as fb
 ```
-
-And and execute the following commands
-
-```sql
-MariaDB [(none)]> CREATE DATABASE fish_book CHARACTER SET = utf8;
-MariaDB [(none)]> GRANT ALL ON fish_book.* TO 'foo'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'password';
-MariaDB [(none)]> FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
-```
-
-The first command creates the empty database and sets the Character set to utf8. This is important at least when it comes to *fishbook*. The second row creates a user **foo** and grants that user all rights on all tables of **fish_book**. So far **foo** can only log in from the local machine. In order to grant access also from outsides you need to issue a second command:
-
-```sql
-MariaDB [(none)]> GRANT ALL ON fish_book.* TO 'foo'@'%' IDENTIFIED BY 'password';
-MariaDB [(none)]> FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
-```
-
-From localhost you should now be able to log into the **fish_book** database by 
-
-```bash
-mysql fish_book -u foo -p
-```
-
-From outsides use
-
-```shell
-mysql fish_book -h yourhost.yourdomain -u foo -p
-```
-
-### Things to remember
-
-* Database engine must be InnoDB, which is default in MariaDB
-* **OperationalError: (1071, 'Specified key was too long; max key length is 3072 bytes')**
-Caused by a wrong character set check that it is set to utf8:
-```sql
-ALTER DATABASE `fish_book` CHARACTER SET utf8;
-```
-
diff --git a/docs/setting_up.md b/docs/setting_up.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7d60ef0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/setting_up.md
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+# Installing a local database server
+
+When you want to run *fishbook* locally you need to install a local database server (either mariaDB or mysql).
+
+On Ubuntu or Linux mint use *apt* to install the server
+
+```bash
+sudo apt update
+sudo apt install mariadb-server
+sudo mysql_secure_installation
+```
+
+On Fedora use *dnf*
+
+```bash
+sudo dnf update
+sudo dnf install mariadb-server
+sudo mysql_secure_installation
+```
+
+On MacOS the most convenient way is to use [*homebrew*](https://brew.sh) see also [mariadb documentation](https://mariadb.com/kb/en/installing-mariadb-on-macos-using-homebrew/)
+
+```bash
+brew install mariadb
+mysql.server start
+brew services start mariadb  # to automatically start the server upon boot
+```
+
+On Windows you probably need to download an installer...
+
+Upon installation you should be able to log into the database as root without a password. 
+
+```bash
+mysql -u root 
+``` 
+
+To allow *datajoint* to store stuff on the server you need to:
+1. Create a database on the server.
+2. Add a user and grant this user read and write access.
+
+## Creating a database
+
+At the moment *fishbook* assumes that your database is called **fish_book**. To create it log into the server 
+
+```bash
+mysql -u root -p
+```
+
+And and execute the following commands
+
+```sql
+MariaDB [(none)]> CREATE DATABASE fish_book CHARACTER SET = utf8;
+MariaDB [(none)]> GRANT ALL ON fish_book.* TO 'foo'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'password';
+MariaDB [(none)]> FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
+```
+
+The first command creates the empty database and sets the Character set to utf8. This is important at least when it comes to *fishbook*. The second row creates a user **foo** and grants that user all rights on all tables of **fish_book**. So far **foo** can only log in from the local machine. In order to grant access also from outsides you need to issue a second command:
+
+```sql
+MariaDB [(none)]> GRANT ALL ON fish_book.* TO 'foo'@'%' IDENTIFIED BY 'password';
+MariaDB [(none)]> FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
+```
+
+From localhost you should now be able to log into the **fish_book** database by 
+
+```bash
+mysql fish_book -u foo -p
+```
+
+From outsides use
+
+```shell
+mysql fish_book -h yourhost.yourdomain -u foo -p
+```
+
+## Things to remember
+
+* Database engine must be InnoDB, which is default in MariaDB
+* **OperationalError: (1071, 'Specified key was too long; max key length is 3072 bytes')**
+Caused by a wrong character set check that it is set to utf8:
+```sql
+ALTER DATABASE `fish_book` CHARACTER SET utf8;
+```