Offline Development Questions

[turbosatan]

Hi

I need the answer to what is probably a simple question.

I have setup xampp so that i can develop my site on my pc and check/test new mods and ideas etc. but i do not know how to then transfer onto the live site.

i figure that i just need to transfer all the files keeping the structure onto the live server but what do i do about database changes?

Some of the mods i will be installing etc will make changes to the DB but the live one will obviously contain new posts etc so will be more up to date than the development DB

Can the more learned developers please let me know how you develop and release new changes to your sites.

Thank you

T

[Lynne]

You use a test site to test out new mods, upgrades to software, figure out new template edits/styles, that sort of thing. Then, when you decide to finally upgrade your live site, you turn it off, do the vbulletin upgrade, install the new hacks, import the styles/templates, etc. You must do all the same database changes on your live site that you did on your test site or the hacks that need the database changes will not work (and may break your site).

[turbosatan]

ok that makes sense.

As i was planning on making a lot of pretty major changes i didnt really want to have to make them all again on the live site.

Is there any plugin or similar that will import just users and posts but not anything else?

well users posts pm's and user related settings etc.

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also has anyone transferred a live site to an xampp install before and do they have any pointers?