need advice on testing & modifying themes

ponygirl · 2007-02-16, 10:04 AM

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 · 2007-02-16, 10:34 AM

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 · 2007-02-16, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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 · 2007-02-16, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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!

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

ponygirl · 2007-02-16, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walrus

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 · 2007-02-16, 01:05 PM

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 · 2007-02-16, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

awesome, thanks. I can't believe I figured out how to do this LOL it feels like I'm dusting off my brain again

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

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

walrus · 2007-02-16, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ponygirl

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

I thought that was called a hubby?

ronnie · 2007-02-16, 10:53 PM

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

jayeff · 2007-02-17, 01:53 AM

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?prev...e=Theme%20Name

Vivaldi · 2007-02-17, 05:39 AM

Quote:

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

LOVE THIS ... 100% TRUE

ponygirl · 2007-02-17, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walrus

I thought that was called a hubby?

well I may find a couple of minutes for him

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronnie

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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?prev...e=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

2007-02-16, 10:04 AM	#1
ponygirl on vacation Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 2,095	need advice on testing & modifying themes 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! __________________ Submit Your Porn I do CSS coding Hosting - JMB Scripts - Tube Site Resources

2007-02-16, 10:34 AM	#2
rachelo Ahhh ... sweet pity. Where would my love life be without it? Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Phoenix Posts: 205	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. __________________

2007-02-16, 01:05 PM	#6
walrus Oh no, I'm sweating like Roger Ebert Join Date: May 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,773	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. __________________ Naked Girlfriend Porn TGP free partner account

2007-02-16, 10:53 PM	#9
ronnie Wheither you think you can or you think you can't, Your right. Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: midwest Posts: 2,274	I just switch back and forth on the live site. The surfers are too horny to notice anyways...

2007-02-17, 01:53 AM	#10
jayeff Just because I don't care doesn't mean I don't understand! Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 95	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?prev...e=Theme%20Name