Testing Site Deployment

[aimweb]

I have finished the design of my client's site and have uploaded it to the server and set up the payment side - all is functioning fine (after a steep learning curve at each stage!!). The last thing for me to do now is to deploy the site to my clients PC.

I wanted to run a couple of test deployments to another PC here in the office so have installed an evaluation copy of Actinic Business to this PC and tried a snapshot export and import. This works although I have had to manually copy across the Dreamweaver files and custom css file to the Site 1 directory as it didn't do this for me.

My question is can I do several trial deployments to learn how to do this before I actually go ahead with it on my client's PC. If I delete the Site1 directory the first import created on the test PC can I do a second trial import without causing any problems?

I have trawled through different threads on the forum for info on this without much joy - can anyone advise?

Thanks

[leehack]

When you register a design with Actinic, a huge warning message comes on screen warning you where the files should be stored. This happens before it actually lets you register the design. If you ignore this message, you can experience problems as you seem to be. If you take 45 seconds to read it and then follow it, all you ever need to do to deploy a full site, is provide a snapshot IME.

The only other thing to bear in mind is on the 4th screen of the snapshot import process, where you select the tickboxes to suit your deployment, if it is to take everything, then just tick the 'orders' box, otherwise tick the other box and then proceed as normal.

[RuralWeb]

I have had to manually copy across the Dreamweaver files and custom css file to the Site 1 directory as it didn't do this for me.

Then you have cocked up - as lee says sounds like you ignored the warnings.

[aimweb]

No, I did exactly what the message said right at the beginning - I copied across the Dreamweaver files relevant to the design.

When I imported the snapshot to the test PC it created a directory within Site1 called NOT_CATALOG. The Dreamweaver html files were in here, I had to manually copy them into SiteHTML, PreviewHTML, DesignPreviewHTML and the main directory for it to work. The custom css file wasn't present at all.

[leehack]

You are not aiming to copy anything Kaye, you are aiming to have the files in the Site1 folder from the start, no copies or anything else are needed. It's no good doing it after registration either. The fact that the NOT_CATALOG message has appeared means that it is 99.99% sure you didn't do as recommended. I have registered many designs using this method, not once with a problem. Have your html and css file sitting in the site1 folder and then register the design - that is all you need to do. If you have the folder 'split setup', perhaps you used the wrong Site1 folder?

[RuralWeb]

looks like your client is not getting thier site any time soon.

[aimweb]

OK Lee, perhaps copy was the wrong word to use... I made sure that the relevant files were taken across to the main Site1 when I registered the design initially. They were there because I been able to make changes to the files in Dreamweaver and these changes were actioned in Actinic, including the custom css file. The site works fine online, surely this wouldn't be the case if I hadn't registered the design properly? Here is the address: www.biginbrackets.com

[aimweb]

Very helpful comment, Mal

[RuralWeb]

surely this wouldn't be the case if I hadn't registered the design properly

Yes it will because the files are on your PC. Anyway this has all been discussed in depth before on the forum.

[RuralWeb]

Very helpful comment

Thats me - RTFM

[leehack]

I'm not sure what's happened then Kaye. The fact that you are saying 'copied' or 'taken across' or anything else along those lines rings alarm bells for me and i suspect that this is your problem. Like i said if the file is created and only sits in your site1 folder and is THEN registered, i have never had a problem like you are. Try reregistering the design again, maybe something corrupted.

PS - the site isn't working online properly either, the right hand side is trashed.

[guccij]

PS - the site isn't working online properly either, the right hand side is trashed.

It's working for me, both in Firefox and IE7.

[aimweb]

Thanks Lee. OK what is the correct procedure for storing the files? When I got the warning message I dragged the Dreamweaver files across into the Site1 folder - was this not the right thing to do? If not then how should it have been done?

Also what do you mean by the site is trashed? When I view it from my machine and others in the office, it appears fine? It also appears to be operating correctly when we do test purchases.

[leehack]

It is for me sometimes too, it looks like an erratic problem, occurs about 50% of the time in IE7 when i click on the link provided.

[leehack]

Thanks Lee. OK what is the correct procedure for storing the files? When I got the warning message I dragged the Dreamweaver files across into the Site1 folder - was this not the right thing to do? If not then how should it have been done?

Also what do you mean by the site is trashed? When I view it from my machine and others in the office, it appears fine? It also appears to be operating correctly when we do test purchases.

I'm not so sure i'd call it the correct way tbh, i can only say what i have done for the past 2 years and never had a problem. I create a site in actinic, then i add a site in DW and point it to the actinic site folder. I then create my html and css file in the site1 folder, then i register the design. It has worked 100% for me doing it that way. I also do not have the site1 split, you never said if you do and i make sure i'm using the latest DW integration version of course.

Your site sometimes appears trashed and other times it is fine, i suspect there might a sizing issue as the site goes twice as wide and half of the bottom content flows out to the right hand side.