Upload to trial site

[Michaela Lusted]

Quick Question ...

My site's live but I'm making quite a lot of changes which I'd like to view before uploading to my live site.

Therefore, am I able to change to my trial site network settings and upload to my trial site, then when I'm happy change my settings back and upload to live ?

Thanks

[wjcampbe]

You can leave your settings intact and from the web menu select switch to test mode. This will create a new folder set on your website, that is not visible to the public.

Take a snapshot before you do, so that you can get back into sync with the existing website, when you take a break from the new one.

Take snapshots from the test site as you go along too so you can switch back to test, load that snapshot and continue the development work.

Make a BIG note to yourself export snapshot - switch - import snapshot.

Obviously, name the snapshots so that you know which are live site and which are test site, or better yet, set up two snapshot folders on your PC.

hth

[I-CC]

The switch within Actinic that enables trial mode changes the paths to the acatalog folder so that it ends up like domain.tld/acatalog/test/acatalog and so on...

But, whilst you are in test/trial mode using the same software/licence you can only work on the test site, which includes downloading orders, so if the site is live also, then you would have to switch out of test mode to download orders from the live site.

Not sure whether Actinic requires an upload of the site when switching between test and production mode, but that is how I think it works if you want to upload trial (non live) using 1 copy/licence.

[Michaela Lusted]

Thanks both for your help

[wjcampbe]

Yes, Techno Web has raised a couple of points.

I had not realised there is no option to leave the test site in place and continue to use it. I cancelled the deletion of my test site, so it is still there, but when I swiched back to test - actinic responds by offering to re-upload everything afresh.

Downloading orders - since the public are not aware of the test site, there will be no orders on this site, unless you create them as part of your test (would not do this using PSP, but only direct methods like invoice with order).

Also, when you exit test mode and re-enter production, Actinic will refresh the entire site the next time you attempt an upload - no way to avoid that.

[completerookie]

I can create multiple sites in Actinic, so . . .
can I create a new subdomain called TEST.MyDomain.com and then upload changes to this sub domain.

The biggest problem I see is to Remember to change away from Test-Site back to Live Site after I've finshed playing

I assume I just need to protect the Test actinic directory with a password and then to put a robots.txt in the directory saying don't bother following.

[Michaela Lusted]

Hhm, I have exported site, switched to test mode, but when I try to view test website I get error message 404 file not found ... am I missing something ?
Thanks

[Michaela Lusted]

Also, how do I get the updates from the trial site to the live site ? Do I just update website whilst in test mode ?
Thanks

[wjcampbe]

When you switched to test mode, did Actinic not create the new folders on your website?

When you try to view .... by putting the new page address in your browser (.i.e. www.mysit e.com/acatalog/test/acatalog/pagename.html) ... or some other method?

If you are not happy with the progress of the test, then make a snapshot, exit test mode and re-import the live site snapshot. Once you are happy with the test and want to switch to that as your live site, exit test mode and do not import the live site, just go ahead and upload your new look.

[Michaela Lusted]

Hi
I switched to test mode, made a couple of changes and clicked on the browse website icon.
It took me to www.mysite.com/acatalog/test/index.html which displayed a 404 error.

If I try to type in http://www.mysite.com/acatalog/test/...tion_name.html for example I also get an error message

[Bruce]

Did you upload after making the changes?

[wjcampbe]

Probably because you do not have a file called index.html in the folder.

http://www.rainydaysnsundays.com/aca...alog/shop.html works

[Michaela Lusted]

Hi
All sorted now, thanks both for your help ... hadn't actually uploaded test site

[Michaela Lusted]

Upload to trial site ... Help !!!

I have made a lot of changes to my site whilst in test mode. I have now uploaded this to my live site but all the new pictures that I have linked in can not be found.
I've tried re-linking the photos but no joy.
This is now on my live site so I am desperate to get it rectified.
Can anyone help ???
Thanks

[wjcampbe]

Unfortunately, you don't say what url we can see the problem at, and without being able to see what is happening....

I did see several items where the reference shows as a href="copy of ......
unless your files are actually called 'copy of primrose nights.html' etc, you might want to clean those up.