need advice on testing & modifying themes

[ponygirl]

need some expertise here...I want to make some changes to my blog. I have a wordpress theme that I would like to customize, (I want to go from a 2 column to a 3) but obviously I don't want to be switching themes back and forth on my live blog while I do that.

what's the best way to do this? Install another copy of wordpress in a subfolder as a test blog? I hope this isn't a stupid question but it's been so long since I installed the first one that I feel like I'm starting over. Which I guess I am :)

thanks in advance for any suggestions!

[rachelo]

XAMPP from http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp.html makes it easy to test anything, it installs a server on your hard drive, where you can test the blog, customize it and when ready just upload it to your server.

Easy install and I think you get MYSQL with it on one easy package.

[ponygirl]

XAMPP from http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp.html makes it easy to test anything, it installs a server on your hard drive, where you can test the blog, customize it and when ready just upload it to your server.

Easy install and I think you get MYSQL with it on one easy package.
I downloaded it then found that WordPress has instructions on how to install with XAMPP too, so this couldn't have been easier :)

Thank you Rachelo!!!

[walrus]

need some expertise here...I want to make some changes to my blog. I have a wordpress theme that I would like to customize, (I want to go from a 2 column to a 3) but obviously I don't want to be switching themes back and forth on my live blog while I do that.

what's the best way to do this? Install another copy of wordpress in a subfolder as a test blog? I hope this isn't a stupid question but it's been so long since I installed the first one that I feel like I'm starting over. Which I guess I am :)

thanks in advance for any suggestions!I did just what your saying. Created a test folder, imported some posts via RSS and use that to test themes, plugins, etc.

[ponygirl]

I did just what your saying. Created a test folder, imported some posts via RSS and use that to test themes, plugins, etc.

how did you import the posts? I'd like to import the whole thing, apparently I can do that with a wxr file but my current (live) version of WP doesn't have an export function to make the file. Is there another way to do that?

[walrus]

I only imported from the current RSS feed at the time. Figured 10 posts was enough to play with. You should have a import under options.

To do the whole thing, I think I'd just duplicate my current database.

[ponygirl]

I only imported from the current RSS feed at the time. Figured 10 posts was enough to play with. You should have a import under options.

To do the whole thing, I think I'd just duplicate my current database.
awesome, thanks. I can't believe I figured out how to do this LOL it feels like I'm dusting off my brain again :D

the RSS was fine, I don't need any more than that.

thanks rachelo & walrus, I've got something to play with this weekend |thumb

[walrus]

thanks rachelo & walrus, I've got something to play with this weekend |thumb I thought that was called a hubby? |huh

[ronnie]

I just switch back and forth on the live site. The surfers are too horny to notice anyways...:)

[jayeff]

If you are going to be testing new themes at all regularly, grab the Preview Theme plugin from http://boren.nu/downloads/preview_theme.phps and once active you can view any installed theme by calling it up as: http://yourdomain.com/index.php?preview_theme=Theme%20Name

[Vivaldi]

I just switch back and forth on the live site. The surfers are too horny to notice anyways...

LOVE THIS ... 100% TRUE :D

[ponygirl]

I thought that was called a hubby? |huh
well I may find a couple of minutes for him :D
I just switch back and forth on the live site. The surfers are too horny to notice anyways...:)
this is what I was doing, it just made me nervous, although like Vivaldi I would guess you're right lol
If you are going to be testing new themes at all regularly, grab the Preview Theme plugin from http://boren.nu/downloads/preview_theme.phps and once active you can view any installed theme by calling it up as: http://yourdomain.com/index.php?preview_theme=Theme%20Name
that's a cool one too, thanks! I actually think I will be testing new themes quite a bit in the next little while as I've got a couple of ideas going. This will be a big help :)

thanks for all your replies, now I'm on the right track |thumb