[how to] create a testsite for offline uses

[TheSupportForum]

one of the things i've always wanted to do is run an offline version to test my templates and mods

today i have a good solution, and hope this should not break the licence terms as its an offline version for testing purposes

i came across a package call XAMPP
http://www.apachefriends.org/images/1240.jpg




Description:
XAMPP is an easy to install Apache distribution containing MySQL, PHP and Perl. XAMPP is really very easy to install and to use - just download, extract and start. At the moment there are four XAMPP distributions:

XAMPP for Linux (http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp-linux.html)
XAMPP for Windows (http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp-windows.html)
XAMPP for MacOS X (http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp-macosx.html)
XAMPP for Solaris (http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp-solaris.html)

and the great things its free of charge

How to Install:

1) download the package and install the product
2) place you php or html files in htdocs/foldername
important:
Do not delete the following folder or files within htdocs
xampp - folder
index.php
do not place files in root of htdocs

ensure you run
Apache
MySql
FileZilla

as a service

screesnhot provided below



Now for the Vbulletin offline instructions

1) create a folder for vbulletin
2) open include/config.php.new
change the following lines to matahc below

you dont need to change this
$config['Database']['dbname'] = 'forum';

for this example i have chosen forum as my vbulletin folder you can change this
$config['Misc']['forumpath'] = 'C:\xampp\htdocs\forum';

change to this
$config['Mysqli']['ini_file'] = 'C:\xampp\mysql\bin\my.ini';

Last Stage:

open your browser and type

http://127.0.0.1/xampp/

scroll down to PHPMyAdmin and create a database for the forum
to install vbulletin on your local machine for testing

http://127.0.0.1/foldername/index.php

this will redirect to the install script


after installation of forum is complete you can visit your forum by typing

http://127.0.0.1/foldername

ignore the htdocs folder as this is the root for 127.0.0.1



if this does not work please feel free to PM me for support
screesnhots provided below

[TheSupportForum]

xxxx RESERVED xxxx

if you are using this method to test your form

i would like some feedback please

[edward hamilton]

I use a similar installation of xampp and it works well. I should do more testing before I incorporate template changes in my live site, but I'm a bit lazy from time to time.

[MultiSoftPR]

Ok, this procedure worked very nice and no problem. No need for the step to create the database though.

Thanks,
MultiSoftPR

[Trip]

Great write and tip.

I've been using this program for awhile now (18 months or so) and it most certainly saves a ton of headaches. I value my live site too much to be fooling around however, if I had a nickle for every "test forum" I've torpedoed...for every test forum that gets sunk my live site gets that much better :cool:

[ProFifaLeagues]

gonna try this thank you!

[motorola]

Great article. Thank you. I just installed my test forum

[pantani]

scroll down to PHPMyAdmin and create a database for the forum
to install vbulletin on your local machine for testing

Where do i create database??
I'm noobie :)
Would like a test forum, so help step bu step would be nice.
Ik see the phpmyadmin, now what?

[Lynne]

scroll down to PHPMyAdmin and create a database for the forum
to install vbulletin on your local machine for testing

Where do i create database??
I'm noobie :)
Would like a test forum, so help step bu step would be nice.
Ik see the phpmyadmin, now what?
google is your friend. :) http://www.phpeasystep.com/mysql/2.html

[nezr]

awesome, tagged for near future use :)

[matrex722]

i use AppServ windows 7
its very easey
but i think i will try that