[how to] create a testsite for offline uses
 

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
XAMPP for Windows
XAMPP for MacOS X
XAMPP for Solaris

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

Code:

---

$config['Database']['dbname'] = 'forum';

---

for this example i have chosen forum as my vbulletin folder you can change this

Code:

---

$config['Misc']['forumpath'] = 'C:\xampp\htdocs\forum';

---

change to this

Code:

---

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

---

Last Stage:

open your browser and type

Code:

---

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

Code:

---

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

Code:

---

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

xxxx RESERVED xxxx

if you are using this method to test your form

i would like some feedback please

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.

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

Thanks,
MultiSoftPR

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:

gonna try this thank you!

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

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

awesome, tagged for near future use :)