Setting up a test site

devrook · 2009-07-01 05:58:00

Hi everyone,

New to the forums, but been using textpattern for a little bit now and have built several sites with it. I love it. I now need to do something I’ve not done before. I’ve done a search but came up blank so I apologize if this has been addressed.

Here is the issue:
I’ve been asked to set up a site for a family friends business. He currently has a site, but it was built 9 or 10 years ago so it’s time for an update. The company has an IT guy who does the, less than frequent, updates to the site and I’ve been in contact with him to get this site going. I’ve built out the templates in HTML and CSS and am now ready to begin integrating them with Textpattern. I’ve asked him for information to their server so I can upload TXP, etc.. and it makes him nervous. He’s asked that I put the site together on my server and when it’s ready “a simple change to the DNS A record will cut it over instantly’. I’m not exactly sure what he means by that.

Is it possible to build the site on my server, database and all, and then painlessly transfer it all over the the company’s?

Thanks for any and all help.

Chris

colak · 2009-07-01 06:12:08

Hi Chris

I’m also not sure what he means with a simple change to the DNS A record will cut it over instantly

You’ll need MAMP for mac or anything similar for windows or Linux to set the site in your computer. Once you finish it, this will be of help.

Last edited by colak (2009-07-01 06:13:24)

devrook · 2009-07-01 06:27:28

Thanks for the quick response.

I re-read my post and think I was unclear. The current server the domain is hosted on does not have PHP or MySQL. I think he’s hoping to get around installing them (I’m not expert, but I didn’t think it was that big of a deal). I believe he wants the database hosted on my server, and somehow linked to the domain, if that makes sense. So there would be no exporting of the DB.

Chris

iblastoff · 2009-07-01 06:28:38

i’m assuming the IT guy thinks you’ll be hosting the site on your own (non-local) server and then all you/IT guy has to do is redirect the domain to point to it.

looks like you’ll be building a test site on your own local server first though which might be what he missed. but yes, the link colak provided should give you enough info to transfer the site/database etc from server to server just fine. its a little more verbose then it really needs to be though IMO. i’ve used rss_admin_db_manager plugin to transfer sites much more quickly then dealing with phpmyadmin etc.

devrook · 2009-07-01 06:41:11

Again, thanks for another quick response. Such a great community here.

So when setting up the database, under site URL, would I enter www.mysite.com/test-site or would I just enter www.theircurrentsite.com? I’ve run into issues trying both.

colak · 2009-07-01 07:43:51

devrook wrote:

Again, thanks for another quick response. Such a great community here.

So when setting up the database, under site URL, would I enter www.mysite.com/test-site or would I just enter www.theircurrentsite.com? I’ve run into issues trying both.

It is up to you. In my view test sites are best to reside away from the root so www.mysite.com/test-site/ would be my choice.

What issues have you encountered?

nabrown78 · 2009-07-01 17:40:25

It sounds like your IT friend wants the site to remain on your server, and he would change the DNS records to point there. You might recommend simply buying some hosting space with a reputable host. Even a fairly full-featured shared hosting space is very affordable these days, and PHP/MySQL are generally standard, and kept up-to-date.

As for you url question: when testing, enter the base url of your testing site – not the planned url of the final site. Then when you make the transfer, if you’ve set things up right, you can go in and change that url in preferences, and all your links will work. You’ll likely also have to change the path to the file and image directories (I think that’s under Advanced preferences).

devrook · 2009-07-02 03:05:54

Thank so much everyone, it’s all set up now. Looking forward to showing the final product. Thanks again.

Chris

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Textpattern CMS support forum

#1 2009-07-01 05:58:00

Setting up a test site

#2 2009-07-01 06:12:08

Re: Setting up a test site

#3 2009-07-01 06:27:28

Re: Setting up a test site

#4 2009-07-01 06:28:38

Re: Setting up a test site

#5 2009-07-01 06:41:11

Re: Setting up a test site

#6 2009-07-01 07:43:51

Re: Setting up a test site

#7 2009-07-01 17:40:25

Re: Setting up a test site

#8 2009-07-02 03:05:54

Re: Setting up a test site

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