Topic: How to create a duplicate of a site for testing..

[Smoky]

well, you could go get black widow or a zipped program to grab anything off the net, but that isnt what i am wanting to talk bout..

im taking you have a public forum site and you are wanting a backup copy, somewhere else..

here is what to do:

go to: admin>Maintenance>Forum Maintenance,, and then take care of cleaning up your forum:

Optimize all tables to improve performance.
Find and repair any errors.
Recount all forum totals and statistics.
Empty out unimportant logs.

then go down to the next group: Forum Maintenance - Backup Database

check the "Save the table structure" and drop your database to your desktop

then.. create an area ( i use easyphp, but there are other programs out there or you could put it on your server, either way, you need a spot)

then take your forum, say you have it in main, home, what ever the folder name is, drop it to your desktop and then put it where you are going to work (server, easyphp, xammp)

this next step is, create a new database, and then import the database you drooped from your active forum.

with me so far??  :reading:

go grab the repair_settings.php file, and then open your ftp up to where your actual forum is sitting, and make a folder on your desktop, and copy the files on line down to the folder, and move the folder into the path of the "server"

ie: g:/program files/easyphp/smokysforum

then find your browser, and input the info (like http://127.0.0.1/smokysforum/repair_settinjgs.php and then fix the "site" like you would on line, and there ya have it.. your site on your pc..

[bigguy]

Stickied.

[Smoky]

lol BigGuy there is a few others i posted up today, but didnt sticky.. im sure you will run across them.. 

[bigguy]

I have run across them already and was thinking of a FAQ's board or maybe something in a section on the front page. Not to sure yet. Good job though. I haven't read them all yet but I will.

[Smoky]

scary thing is, there is more BigGuy!! perhaps a faq or wiki might be good to keep the info organized..

i did do a complete "break down" of all the files for the 1.1.5 too..  and relized i have more than 4 pages of coding alone, not including my graffix tuts and vids.. 

[bigguy]

PM'd you about it.

[Smoky]

got it.. now heading back to watching redbelt.. good movie.. i just hope it doesnt get all bloody on me!! 

night guys!!