Wordpress: is there a way of working on a new theme without affecting live site?

[avatar33]

Hey all,

so I want to install and customize a new theme for one of my sites, but I don't want to affect the live site while I do this. I basically want to install this new theme, change colors, put my logo in the header, then finally activate the new theme when everything looks good.

Is there a way to do this?

Thanks

 

[subigo]

Install apache friends - xampp for windows

Install wordpress and use your current database.

Work on theme.

Done.

 

[kblessinggr]

I'm trying to remember the name of it, but there exists a plugin that can set a theme per user. Meaning your live theme can be the default, but you can set a different theme for your admin login.

Edit: @subigo... my idea is easier...

 

[kblessinggr]

Here ya go, Theme Tester.

WordPress › Theme Tester WordPress Plugins

This plugin allows a blog administrator to test a new theme while showing the old theme to regular visitors.

 

[wiredniko]

You can always just install another blog in a subdomain with robots.txt no follow and go to town.

 

[subigo]

I'm trying to remember the name of it, but there exists a plugin that can set a theme per user. Meaning your live theme can be the default, but you can set a different theme for your admin login.

Edit: @subigo... my idea is easier...

Not easier to me. Something like that would require you to upload your theme files every time you make a change, just to see it, or use the wordpress editor (ugh). Xampp takes 2 minutes to install and a monkey could use the control panel for it.

 

[l3msip]

Yeah second the local server option, much quicker if you are doing anything but minor theme editing.

To clone your existing site to Xampp (presuming you have already installed xampp), 1st backup the database with phpMyadmin or this:
WordPress › WP-DB-Backup WordPress Plugins

Open the .sql in a text editor and do a global search and replace "http://mydomain.com" with "http://localhost/mydomain.com"

Import the .sql into a new database via phpmyadmin (http://localhost/phpmyadmin/)

SCP/Ftp all the files in your root directory to C:\xampp\htdocs\mydomain.com\ folder

Edit wp-config.php file for new database details

Done

http://localhost/mydomain.com is now an exact clone (inc. plugins and setting) of your existing site

Might seem like a lot to do, but only takes a few minutes, and saves the headache involved with plugin conflicts etc.

NOTE if your site uses encrypted plugins (ionCube etc) you will need to install the associated loaders, but for most sites this works just fine.