Redesign in localhost while site is live

  • Can’t seem to find this scenario through searching, so I’ll ask the community… My wife has a live WP site that is currently using a free theme. I purchased a premium theme with many, many options so I installed the “Duplicator” plugin and put a copy of the site on my localhost to work on until I get the design where I want it to be.

    In the meantime, she is still adding content to the live site. When I have the design of the new theme ready, my plan is to get an up-to-date copy of my database from the live site and add it to my localhost version so that I have an exact match. Then, using Duplicator, I’ll make a new package and upload it to my webserver. That way the site will only be down for a few minutes while I install the package from localhost.

    I think this plan makes sense, but if I’m wrong can someone point me in the right direction? Thanks in advance!

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

  • Hi dhanawalt, that is a great idea, this is what I will like to add your thought.

    When you are done with your new site, create a subdomain/sub-folder on your live host and install your new wordpress site.

    Finally – point your url to the new site (in the subdomin). With this option, you will have very little down-time.

    cheers!

    Also when you import your wife’s updated content into your localhost database you will only want her pages and posts and supporting images etc. So you will not import all the tables. You may need to experiment a little to find just which tables you need. Critical inspection of the most recent pages and posts will tell you when you have it right.

    One benefit of the davemerit’s sub-directory trick is that it gives you a safe option of reverting to the old site.

    Thread Starter dhanawalt

    (@dhanawalt)

    Thanks davmerit and RossMitchell for your replies! Yes, this makes sense. I think I’m going to go with a sub-domain. I get the impression it would be more tidy, rather than placing a directory amidst all of my current files.

    A follow-up question about databases. I’m very unfamiliar in working with them so I try to be very careful when I have to touch them in any way. When I’m ready to upload the new design, what is the best way to get the most recent copy of the database from my wife’s live site into the new sub-domain?

    If this scope of this question is too large, any links you know to helpful sources would be appreciated, too. Thanks!

    Hi @dhanawalt

    Have you already figured this out? You might want to give this plugin a try.
    WP Migrate DB

    There’s also the very useful search and replace script.

    Thread Starter dhanawalt

    (@dhanawalt)

    @impsart – that looks like a great plugin. I may give it a spin when I’m ready to update the redesigned site. Thanks much for the recommendation!

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