Duplicate a site for testing
PermalinkI have a client that would like a copy of the site somewhere so they can do some testing.
What would be the best way to do this? I thought about making a page called "Test", and then drag and copy all the pages under it. This kinda works, but the nav for these pages still references the "Original" pages. Also, I can't seem to get the Home page to drag to copy it.
Or should I create a "test" sub directory on their domain, and do a fresh install of c5 there, and just download the site, and upload to this sub directory (fixing the location stuff in the site.php, of course). But I think there would be database issues with this solution.
Or Option 3 that I am not thinking of. and one of you has more knowledge that I do about pulling something like this off.
Lots of questions I know... and I apologize.
Running version 5.5.2.1
Thanks in advance.
Chad
There are a few How-to's about setting up local environments, I wrote one for MAMP on Mac:
http://www.concrete5.org/documentation/how-tos/designers/installing...
1) make backup of the files (directory files/);
2) make backup of database in MySQL;
3) Let a client to test site (he can change everything, even delete or create new pages, change all content, change all parameters in dashboard);
4) After the testing complete, I restore the site with backups and I have the site, which was originally, without changes which was made by client during his tests.
What do you think about this method of testing for a client?
I can download the entire site, but how do I handle the database? We would have to create a new one in the new location, but could I "restore" the live database to this new location?
Again thank you for your help.
Chad
Do you mean your client just wants to be able to try out editing and see how it all works, or will they actually be putting in their own content?
What you don't want to do is end up with two copies of your site where you're working on one and they are placing content in another... I'd either let them edit the main site with guidance, or create a complete copy and host it somewhere else, being very clear that it will be blown away down the track.
I think you should avoid the idea of copying all the pages of the site under a page, I think that might get really messy.