diff --git a/index.php b/index.php
index b1a40558..da730790 100644
--- a/index.php
+++ b/index.php
@@ -26,41 +26,51 @@
  * OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN
  * THE SOFTWARE.
  *
- * @package	CodeIgniter
- * @author	EllisLab Dev Team
- * @copyright	Copyright (c) 2008 - 2014, EllisLab, Inc. (https://ellislab.com/)
- * @copyright	Copyright (c) 2014 - 2017, British Columbia Institute of Technology (http://bcit.ca/)
- * @license	http://opensource.org/licenses/MIT	MIT License
- * @link	https://codeigniter.com
- * @since	Version 1.0.0
+ * @package    CodeIgniter
+ * @author    EllisLab Dev Team
+ * @copyright    Copyright (c) 2008 - 2014, EllisLab, Inc. (https://ellislab.com/)
+ * @copyright    Copyright (c) 2014 - 2017, British Columbia Institute of Technology (http://bcit.ca/)
+ * @license    http://opensource.org/licenses/MIT	MIT License
+ * @link    https://codeigniter.com
+ * @since    Version 1.0.0
  * @filesource
  */
 
- /*
-  *---------------------------------------------------------------
-  * EASY!APPOINTMENTS CONFIGURATION
-  *---------------------------------------------------------------
-  *
-  * Include Easy!Appointments configuration file so that it is available
-  * globally in the application. You can access configuration information
-  * through the static Config class.
-  *
-  */
+/*
+ *---------------------------------------------------------------
+ * EASY!APPOINTMENTS CONFIGURATION
+ *---------------------------------------------------------------
+ *
+ * Include Easy!Appointments configuration file so that it is available
+ * globally in the application. You can access configuration information
+ * through the static Config class.
+ *
+ */
 
- require_once __DIR__ . '/config.php';
+if ( ! file_exists(__DIR__ . '/config.php'))
+{
+    die('The root "config.php" file is missing, please copy "config-sample.php" to "config.php" and update it with your server data.');
+}
+
+require_once __DIR__ . '/config.php';
 
 
- /*
-  *---------------------------------------------------------------
-  * COMPOSER AUTOLOAD FILE
-  *---------------------------------------------------------------
-  *
-  * Include Composer's autoload.php file so that I can use external
-  * libraries directly in every section of the application.
-  *
-  */
+/*
+ *---------------------------------------------------------------
+ * COMPOSER AUTOLOAD FILE
+ *---------------------------------------------------------------
+ *
+ * Include Composer's autoload.php file so that I can use external
+ * libraries directly in every section of the application.
+ *
+ */
 
- require_once __DIR__ . '/vendor/autoload.php';
+if ( ! file_exists(__DIR__ . '/vendor/autoload.php'))
+{
+    die('The "vendor/autoload.php" file is missing, please install the Composer dependencies with "composer install" before using the app.');
+}
+
+require_once __DIR__ . '/vendor/autoload.php';
 
 /*
  *---------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -79,7 +89,7 @@
  *
  * NOTE: If you change these, also change the error_reporting() code below
  */
-	define('ENVIRONMENT', (Config::DEBUG_MODE) ? 'development' : 'production');
+define('ENVIRONMENT', (Config::DEBUG_MODE) ? 'development' : 'production');
 
 /*
  *---------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -91,28 +101,28 @@
  */
 switch (ENVIRONMENT)
 {
-	case 'development':
-		error_reporting(-1);
-		ini_set('display_errors', 1);
-	break;
+    case 'development':
+        error_reporting(-1);
+        ini_set('display_errors', 1);
+        break;
 
-	case 'testing':
-	case 'production':
-		ini_set('display_errors', 0);
-		if (version_compare(PHP_VERSION, '5.3', '>='))
-		{
-			error_reporting(E_ALL & ~E_NOTICE & ~E_DEPRECATED & ~E_STRICT & ~E_USER_NOTICE & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED);
-		}
-		else
-		{
-			error_reporting(E_ALL & ~E_NOTICE & ~E_STRICT & ~E_USER_NOTICE);
-		}
-	break;
+    case 'testing':
+    case 'production':
+        ini_set('display_errors', 0);
+        if (version_compare(PHP_VERSION, '5.3', '>='))
+        {
+            error_reporting(E_ALL & ~E_NOTICE & ~E_DEPRECATED & ~E_STRICT & ~E_USER_NOTICE & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED);
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            error_reporting(E_ALL & ~E_NOTICE & ~E_STRICT & ~E_USER_NOTICE);
+        }
+        break;
 
-	default:
-		header('HTTP/1.1 503 Service Unavailable.', TRUE, 503);
-		echo 'The application environment is not set correctly.';
-		exit(1); // EXIT_ERROR
+    default:
+        header('HTTP/1.1 503 Service Unavailable.', TRUE, 503);
+        echo 'The application environment is not set correctly.';
+        exit(1); // EXIT_ERROR
 }
 
 /*
@@ -123,7 +133,7 @@ switch (ENVIRONMENT)
  * This variable must contain the name of your "system" directory.
  * Set the path if it is not in the same directory as this file.
  */
-	$system_path = 'system';
+$system_path = 'system';
 
 /*
  *---------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -140,7 +150,7 @@ switch (ENVIRONMENT)
  *
  * NO TRAILING SLASH!
  */
-	$application_folder = 'application';
+$application_folder = 'application';
 
 /*
  *---------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -155,7 +165,7 @@ switch (ENVIRONMENT)
  *
  * NO TRAILING SLASH!
  */
-	$view_folder = '';
+$view_folder = '';
 
 
 /*
@@ -177,15 +187,15 @@ switch (ENVIRONMENT)
  *
  * Un-comment the $routing array below to use this feature
  */
-	// The directory name, relative to the "controllers" directory.  Leave blank
-	// if your controller is not in a sub-directory within the "controllers" one
-	// $routing['directory'] = '';
+// The directory name, relative to the "controllers" directory.  Leave blank
+// if your controller is not in a sub-directory within the "controllers" one
+// $routing['directory'] = '';
 
-	// The controller class file name.  Example:  mycontroller
-	// $routing['controller'] = '';
+// The controller class file name.  Example:  mycontroller
+// $routing['controller'] = '';
 
-	// The controller function you wish to be called.
-	// $routing['function']	= '';
+// The controller function you wish to be called.
+// $routing['function']	= '';
 
 
 /*
@@ -202,8 +212,7 @@ switch (ENVIRONMENT)
  *
  * Un-comment the $assign_to_config array below to use this feature
  */
-	// $assign_to_config['name_of_config_item'] = 'value of config item';
-
+// $assign_to_config['name_of_config_item'] = 'value of config item';
 
 
 // --------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -216,120 +225,120 @@ switch (ENVIRONMENT)
  * ---------------------------------------------------------------
  */
 
-	// Set the current directory correctly for CLI requests
-	if (defined('STDIN'))
-	{
-		chdir(dirname(__FILE__));
-	}
+// Set the current directory correctly for CLI requests
+if (defined('STDIN'))
+{
+    chdir(dirname(__FILE__));
+}
 
-	if (($_temp = realpath($system_path)) !== FALSE)
-	{
-		$system_path = $_temp.DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR;
-	}
-	else
-	{
-		// Ensure there's a trailing slash
-		$system_path = strtr(
-			rtrim($system_path, '/\\'),
-			'/\\',
-			DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR.DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR
-		).DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR;
-	}
+if (($_temp = realpath($system_path)) !== FALSE)
+{
+    $system_path = $_temp . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR;
+}
+else
+{
+    // Ensure there's a trailing slash
+    $system_path = strtr(
+            rtrim($system_path, '/\\'),
+            '/\\',
+            DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR
+        ) . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR;
+}
 
-	// Is the system path correct?
-	if ( ! is_dir($system_path))
-	{
-		header('HTTP/1.1 503 Service Unavailable.', TRUE, 503);
-		echo 'Your system folder path does not appear to be set correctly. Please open the following file and correct this: '.pathinfo(__FILE__, PATHINFO_BASENAME);
-		exit(3); // EXIT_CONFIG
-	}
+// Is the system path correct?
+if ( ! is_dir($system_path))
+{
+    header('HTTP/1.1 503 Service Unavailable.', TRUE, 503);
+    echo 'Your system folder path does not appear to be set correctly. Please open the following file and correct this: ' . pathinfo(__FILE__, PATHINFO_BASENAME);
+    exit(3); // EXIT_CONFIG
+}
 
 /*
  * -------------------------------------------------------------------
  *  Now that we know the path, set the main path constants
  * -------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
-	// The name of THIS file
-	define('SELF', pathinfo(__FILE__, PATHINFO_BASENAME));
+// The name of THIS file
+define('SELF', pathinfo(__FILE__, PATHINFO_BASENAME));
 
-	// Path to the system directory
-	define('BASEPATH', $system_path);
+// Path to the system directory
+define('BASEPATH', $system_path);
 
-	// Path to the front controller (this file) directory
-	define('FCPATH', dirname(__FILE__).DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR);
+// Path to the front controller (this file) directory
+define('FCPATH', dirname(__FILE__) . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR);
 
-	// Name of the "system" directory
-	define('SYSDIR', basename(BASEPATH));
+// Name of the "system" directory
+define('SYSDIR', basename(BASEPATH));
 
-	// The path to the "application" directory
-	if (is_dir($application_folder))
-	{
-		if (($_temp = realpath($application_folder)) !== FALSE)
-		{
-			$application_folder = $_temp;
-		}
-		else
-		{
-			$application_folder = strtr(
-				rtrim($application_folder, '/\\'),
-				'/\\',
-				DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR.DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR
-			);
-		}
-	}
-	elseif (is_dir(BASEPATH.$application_folder.DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR))
-	{
-		$application_folder = BASEPATH.strtr(
-			trim($application_folder, '/\\'),
-			'/\\',
-			DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR.DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR
-		);
-	}
-	else
-	{
-		header('HTTP/1.1 503 Service Unavailable.', TRUE, 503);
-		echo 'Your application folder path does not appear to be set correctly. Please open the following file and correct this: '.SELF;
-		exit(3); // EXIT_CONFIG
-	}
+// The path to the "application" directory
+if (is_dir($application_folder))
+{
+    if (($_temp = realpath($application_folder)) !== FALSE)
+    {
+        $application_folder = $_temp;
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        $application_folder = strtr(
+            rtrim($application_folder, '/\\'),
+            '/\\',
+            DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR
+        );
+    }
+}
+elseif (is_dir(BASEPATH . $application_folder . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR))
+{
+    $application_folder = BASEPATH . strtr(
+            trim($application_folder, '/\\'),
+            '/\\',
+            DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR
+        );
+}
+else
+{
+    header('HTTP/1.1 503 Service Unavailable.', TRUE, 503);
+    echo 'Your application folder path does not appear to be set correctly. Please open the following file and correct this: ' . SELF;
+    exit(3); // EXIT_CONFIG
+}
 
-	define('APPPATH', $application_folder.DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR);
+define('APPPATH', $application_folder . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR);
 
-	// The path to the "views" directory
-	if ( ! isset($view_folder[0]) && is_dir(APPPATH.'views'.DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR))
-	{
-		$view_folder = APPPATH.'views';
-	}
-	elseif (is_dir($view_folder))
-	{
-		if (($_temp = realpath($view_folder)) !== FALSE)
-		{
-			$view_folder = $_temp;
-		}
-		else
-		{
-			$view_folder = strtr(
-				rtrim($view_folder, '/\\'),
-				'/\\',
-				DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR.DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR
-			);
-		}
-	}
-	elseif (is_dir(APPPATH.$view_folder.DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR))
-	{
-		$view_folder = APPPATH.strtr(
-			trim($view_folder, '/\\'),
-			'/\\',
-			DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR.DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR
-		);
-	}
-	else
-	{
-		header('HTTP/1.1 503 Service Unavailable.', TRUE, 503);
-		echo 'Your view folder path does not appear to be set correctly. Please open the following file and correct this: '.SELF;
-		exit(3); // EXIT_CONFIG
-	}
+// The path to the "views" directory
+if ( ! isset($view_folder[0]) && is_dir(APPPATH . 'views' . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR))
+{
+    $view_folder = APPPATH . 'views';
+}
+elseif (is_dir($view_folder))
+{
+    if (($_temp = realpath($view_folder)) !== FALSE)
+    {
+        $view_folder = $_temp;
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        $view_folder = strtr(
+            rtrim($view_folder, '/\\'),
+            '/\\',
+            DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR
+        );
+    }
+}
+elseif (is_dir(APPPATH . $view_folder . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR))
+{
+    $view_folder = APPPATH . strtr(
+            trim($view_folder, '/\\'),
+            '/\\',
+            DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR
+        );
+}
+else
+{
+    header('HTTP/1.1 503 Service Unavailable.', TRUE, 503);
+    echo 'Your view folder path does not appear to be set correctly. Please open the following file and correct this: ' . SELF;
+    exit(3); // EXIT_CONFIG
+}
 
-	define('VIEWPATH', $view_folder.DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR);
+define('VIEWPATH', $view_folder . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR);
 
 /*
  * --------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -338,4 +347,4 @@ switch (ENVIRONMENT)
  *
  * And away we go...
  */
-require_once BASEPATH.'core/CodeIgniter.php';
+require_once BASEPATH . 'core/CodeIgniter.php';