Working on new template live but not public
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- Andrew Kerr
- Rocketeer
- Posts: 73
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Hello - I operate a very busy site and we want to do a redesign but this redesign has to be on the live site - WITHOUT the public seeing the new template as we work on it.
Is there prevailing wisdom as to how we can install an RT template, work on it AND view it online, and at the same time the public still sees the existing template until we want to make the switch?
The reason for the live work is that we are several people working remotely and we want to be able to share our "work in progress".
I hope I have explained myself well and I certainly appreciate any tips.
Thank you
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- JEM
- Preeminent Rocketeer
- Posts: 17917
- Thanks: 4
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Install the template in a folder in the root (or a sub domain on your site).
Live site: www.mysite.com
New site under development: www.mysite.com/test
When you are done you can move the new site to the root. - Thanks,
jim
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- Andrew Kerr
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- Posts: 73
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Thanks for rapid response! Can I use the same database? If so, How would I do this?
And assume I will use Rocket Launcher please.
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- JEM
- Preeminent Rocketeer
- Posts: 17917
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No, you have to create a new database.
Upload or extract your Rocket Launcher files here www.mysite.com/test
For quick reference:
NOTE!!!
The Rocket Launcher is for a fresh install ONLY.
It contains a complete version of the latest Joomla release, the template, extensions, and all the sample data you see in the demo. Whether or not you decide to install the sample data is up to you. If you want to replicate the demo site, use it, if you want a clean install of Joomla with the template applied, don’t use it.
You can not use the Rocket Launcher in an existing install of Joomla. If you already have an existing install of Joomla, you will need to apply the template file to it.
In addition to the template file, you’ll need to download and install the extensions for the template. These can also be found in the download area for the template.
Unzip the Rocket Launcher.
A) Install in the root. FTP the contents of the folder to, depending on your platform, public_html or httdocs
Install in a folder. FTP the folder and its contents to, depending on your platform, public_html or httdocs
Note: You can name the folder to anything you like. The default name of the folder is the template name. So you may want to change it to something more friendly, e.g., ‘site’ ‘cms’, etc.
Alternately, you can upload the zipped RL package and extract it on your server through the control panel.
Note: If you have this option, it’s the way to go. It’s much faster to upload a zipped file and extract it on the server than it is to upload a few thousand files. There are also a few other advantages; doing so eliminates the possibility of a file getting missed or corrupted in the upload, sometime what seems to be a good transfer will produce a file not found’ error later on, and this also prevents any strange file permission changes.
As host control panels vary, specific instructions can’t be included here, but you’re sure to find instruction or help in your host’s tutorials, FAQs, or by contacting their support department.
Before you start, you’ll need to create a database on your server.
This is done through your host’s control panel through phpMyAdmin, or the interface used for creating databases. As host control panels vary, specific instructions can’t be included here, but you’re sure to find instruction or help in your host’s tutorials, FAQs, or by contacting their support department.
Once you’ve uploaded the Rocket Launcher files and created a database, browse to the folder,
If it’s in the root:
Ex: www.mysite.com/template_directory_name
If it’s in a folder:
Ex: www.mysite.com/template_directory_name
You don't have to navigate to the installation folder, if Joomla hasn't been installed yet, it will navigate to the install directory automatically. (How cool is that?!)
If it’s in the root:
Note: It's a really simple point, but don't be confused by the ' www.mysite.com/ ' replace 'mysite.com' with your site's URL, for example, here it would be www.rockettheme.com/
If it’s in a folder:
Note: It's a really simple point, but don't be confused by the ' www.mysite.com/ ' replace 'mysite.com' with your site's URL, AND ‘template_directory_name’ with the name of the template directory for example, here it would be www.rockettheme.com/ template_directory_name
The installation screen will appear.
Screen 1:
Choose language
Screen 2:
Pre-installation Check
Screen 3:
License
Screen 4:
You’ll need the following info to make the database connection with Joomla:
Host Name
Username (for the database you’ve created)
Password (for the database you’ve created)
Database Name (for the database you’ve created)
Screen 5:
You can skip this and use an FTP client
Screen6:
Site Name: This will appear in the title bar of your browser.
Your e-mail: the address you want to use to receive mail from the site
Password: this is for the admin login for Joomla, it can be different than the DB password.
Install Sample Data?
If you want to replicate the site with all the sample content, click on ‘Install Sample Data’.
If you don’t want to install the sample data, click next, a prompt will appear confirming that you want to skip.
Screen 7:
You’ll be prompted to delete or rename the installation directory.
Before you can view the site or login as administrator, you’ll need to browse to the directory in your FTP client or CP and do so. - Thanks,
jim
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- Andrew Kerr
- Rocketeer
- Posts: 73
- Thanks: 0
- Thanks once again. I should know better than my last question. Of course I cannot use the database. BUT, if I used the template alone, can I connect it to the same database?
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- JEM
- Preeminent Rocketeer
- Posts: 17917
- Thanks: 4
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You can apply the template to an existing install using the template file only.
You'd also have to install the extensions for the template as well.
This means they you are using the template on a site which already exists.... so it would be using the same database.
But keep in mind since Module positions vary from template to template, your content will not display properly until you publish it to the correct Module position for the new template. - Thanks,
jim
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- Andrew Kerr
- Rocketeer
- Posts: 73
- Thanks: 0
- Can I install a new instance of Joomla in a new folder (mysite.com/test), then apply the new template, but connect it to the database running the public site at mysite.com
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- JEM
- Preeminent Rocketeer
- Posts: 17917
- Thanks: 4
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Based on you questions, I assume you want to install a version of Joomla in a folder on your site so others can see the work in progress and get the data from the current site into the new one.
There are a few ways to do this.
A) Install the temple using the Rocket Launcher then cut and paste your content from the current site to the new one.
Back up your site and install the copy of the current site in the ‘test’ folder, apply the template, install the extensions, and reorganize your content.
In either case, once the test site is ready to go live, you can transfer the site from the ‘test’ folder to the root.
www.rockettheme.com/forum/index.php?f=15&t=88994&rb_v=viewtopic
www.rockettheme.com/forum/index.php?f=21..._v=viewtopic#p453425 - Thanks,
jim
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- Andy-DxT
- Rocketeer
- Posts: 96
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Sorry to jump in on this one but i too did this recently and here is a brilliant extension called "Working Copy" and worked perfectly - it installs a copy of your whole site including extns in a child folder and you can work on that site, once done you just click a couple of buttons and volla - New site live with users content and extn's all ready to go!!
extensions.joomla.org/extensions/miscellaneous/development/9826
Quote from JED:
Administrators usually work on their live site directly and sometimes they do mistakes as all people do. As a result, the live site gets messed after extension installation/uninstallation process and re-configuration. The idea is to have a working copy of the live site and make changes on it, then, if everything is okay after some testing, you can approve changes and the tool will apply them to your live site.
This project was done in frames of Google Summer of Code 2009.
Project Blog can be found at community.joomla.org/gsoc2009/edvard-ananyan.html
If you find issues, please report them: code.google.com/p/jwcp/issues/list
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