How do I move my active site content to my dev site?

  • Hello – I would greatly appreciate if someone could advise me/direct me to instructions on how to move my Woocommerce wordpress content to a new theme to try out.

    I am using an old theme on my current, active website and have recently downloaded (or had someone download for me) a newer theme onto a dev site in a sub-directory. The new theme is empty (except for dummy content). My question is, how do I copy my live content to the dev site so I can see how it looks/works with my content? (By content, I mean the products in the shop – images and descriptions, the blog posts, etc.). Is this the best approach? Or do I have to manually upload each item in my shop from scratch…?

    I have tried to search the forum and the web in general for this, but only seem to find information on how to move a dev site to the main site, not move content to a dev site.

    I am new-ish at managing my wordpress site, so basic information is appreciated!

    https://www.dadadress.com

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

  • Probably the best way to do this is to make a copy of the live database, but you would need access to your web host & php my admin.

    Copying a database is quite technical – I have found a tutorial on it here:
    https://premium.wpmudev.org/blog/copy-wordpress-database/
    you would then need to create a new database and import the copied database into it.
    https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/website/phpmyadmin/import-database-using-phpmyadmin

    If this is too technical I’d get someone to help you with it ??

    ps moving a dev site to a live site is pretty much the same process as moving info from a live site to a dev site, so if you have found some good tutorials, I’d go with them

    Thread Starter PepperP

    (@pepperp)

    Thank you for the quick reply. If I already have the new theme installed on my subdomain dev site (So its a blank WP site with the theme but no content), should I choose “Data Only” or “Structure and data” when copying the database?

    Hi PepperP
    Sorry I just realised there’s an easier way to do this than what I just told you! Sorry my brain isn’t working properly, it’s Friday eve (my time!!)
    If you go to Tools > Export on your LIVE site. Export all file types. Save the export file somewhere on your computer.
    Then go to the DEV site and go to Tools>Import. Choose the WordPress option and you will be prompted to install the wordpress importer. do this and import your data from the file you saved on your computer!
    You will notice that all your images link to you’re live site, but this won’t matter if you are just testing a new theme.
    Hope this helps ??

    Thread Starter PepperP

    (@pepperp)

    Thank you SO much Belbo! Your suggestion worked and was so easy. Thanks for helping. I could have spent the day stuck on that… ?? Have a great weekend!

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)
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