Hope this helps new members to the site who are also new to fishkeeping 
Ok you have set up your tank......substrate, wood/rock/ornaments, filter, heater, thermometer, plants and water.
You will also need a test kit for testing the water during cycling.
The three main things you will be testing are.....
ammonia
nirtIte
nitrAte
The first two are very toxic to fish and can kill them.
NitrAte is less toxic but research has shown that it isn't as innocent as used to be thought.
But don't worry about it at this stage as the aim is to observe an increase as part of the cycle.
Also useful to test the pH but you won't need to do this as often as the other three at this stage.
It's also a good idea to test and make a record of your tap water.
Some water companies add nitrAte to the water supply.
Test the tank water before you start the cycle, then you'll have a baseline to refer to.
No water changes are required during the fishless cycle
In order for the tank to be ready for fish, it must be cycled first.
This means establishing the biological filter.
You may now add a product to help kick start the biological filter
ie stress zyme.
There are several others available too
It can be added to the water or poured directly onto the filter media to start with.
Some people don't rate it as being very useful though.
So it's up to the individual whether or not you choose to use it.
Next add a few fish flakes, then add these daily
Or prawns, fresh or frozen......is a good idea to tie them up in a bit of clean stocking or pop into a little net bag. Like the washing tablets ones
Remove and renew every couple of days.
Both will break down to produce ammonia.
Ammonia will spike then fall.
As it falls, it converts into nitrIte.This will peak then fall and will finally convert into NitrAte
When both ammonia and nitrIte are nil and nitrAte has risen, the tank has cycled
This is called the nitrogen cycle.
The average tank takes around 6 weeks to cycle.
But it may take a bit longer or not as long depending on things like the zize of the tank.
Cycling can be speeded up if filter media or gravel from a mature tank is added.
Do not add products such as Amquel or Ammolok to remove ammonia. The aim of fishless cyling is to go through the nitrogen cycle naturally. Such products only convert ammonia to a less toxic form. This is not required when no fish are present.
Leave it a couple of days, keep testing just to make sure.
Then do about a 30% water change before adding first fish.
Remember all water that goes into the tank should be dechlorinated.
Chlorine with kill the established bacteria in the filter.
So add a product such as stress coat.
Many other such products available.
Only add a few fish to start with so as not to overload the newly cycled filter.
Test the water after a couple of days, then thereafter weekly.
UNLESS YOU ARE DOING SOME MAINTENANCE TO IT, THE FILTER MUST BE LEFT ON ALL THE TIME, 24 HOURS A DAY. OTHERWISE, THE BACTERIA WILL DIE. THIS APPLIES FROM THE MOMENT YOU SWITCH IT ON ONCE YOUR TANK IS SET UP AND THE CYCLING PROCESS HAS STARTED.
SWITCHING IT OFF DURING A WATER CHANGE ONCE THE TANK HAS FISH IN IT AFTER THE CYCLE,IS FINE AS IT USUALLY WON'T BE OFF FOR VERY LONG Hope this helps
Please never be afraid to ask questions at any time
We are all here to help
One important detail you must try to have..........PATIENCE ! 
One last point.......Leave the plants about 2 weeks before adding any fertilisers. This gives them a chance to settle in and take up nutrients from the water that helps the tank to cycle. Infact, a very well planted tank, which is classed as 75% of the floor area planted,takes less time to cycle. Plants primarily take in ammonia and ammonium then nitrAte. In a well planted cycling tank, ammonia and nitrIte may not even be recorded. But the tank still ends up fully cycled.
You may also like to have a look at these
http://www.fishcrazy.co.uk/index.php?pid=2
http://www.fishcrazy.co.uk/index.php?pid=3