if you don't like or cant make the changes to your old site should you start over with a new template or try to fix what you have??? frustrated i guess, i like the lay out of this new template Reserva JoomlaShack, i dont want to take the old site down just yet so what is the easiest way to make this template live so i build it...

Thank you
Eddie S

Hi Eddie,

I would recommend to test it and play around with it in a test site. Afterward, you should be able to make the new template live on the live site with about 10-15 minutes of work.

Let me know if you questions on the specifics.

Kind regards,
Nick

Hi Nick,

Thanks but how do i do a test site?? hosting is not a problem but how would i set it up...

Thank you
Eddie

Hi Eddie,

Test sites are easy. Just do an new installation of joomla in a new sub-directory. IT will work just like the main site but the url will be yourwebsite.com/subdirectory - other than that everything is the same.

If you get everything working there the way you would like it, you can move it to your main directory or install your now-tested template on the original istallation and know there won't be problems.

Just make sure your test site has it's own data base. If you want the data base to match the live site, you can import the data into your new site.

We've got a tutorial for you:
www.ostraining.com/blog/joomla/create-a-...ite-joomla-25-or-15/

Ask if you have any questions.

Cheers,
Ed

Ed i love OSTraining.com but yall really need to have some one like me to TEST these Tutorials before you publish them....if you follow it word for word you can not get past/complete step one....their is no way... if their is please show me.. Remember i am a beginner and so you have to follow the steps like a beginner and that is where this Tutorials lack... You do this every day, day in and day out, i don't so when i am learning, if it said "main Directory" i am looking for the main directory. i even have a hostgator account and you cant follow this tutorial and do what it ask... Like i started out I LOVE OSTraining. you all have always got me to the right place but what am i doing wrong.

Thank you
Eddie S..

Hi Eddie,

I really do understand your frustration with understanding specific tutorials if I were to read one written by someone else.

OSTraining does their best by providing tutorials for everyone to understand. We do this by putting a "comments" section on the tutorial for users to ask questions. At this point we know what is missing or what needs to be written more clearly.

After this happens, we then rewrite the tutorial and perfect it over time.

You are welcome to comment on the tutorial with what you are stuck on and we will be happy to rewrite it or add to it.

______

As for your question, you probably can't get passed step one because you do not have a cPanel. Do you have access to your FTP site? Where all your files are located? filezilla is a great, free FTP program you can use to access your website.

Then you can create a directory in the root of your site. If you cannot create a directory, then there is probably permission problems that we can work around.

Can you tell me who your hosting service is and what you are stuck on after reading my post?

I am excited to work with you, along with the other OSTraining teachers, to get your test site set up and working. :-D

Hi Eddie,

Here's the easiest way. You can skip the tutorial. Just use the Quick Install icon on your Hostgator Cpanel and install Joomla in a a directory other than your home directory.

When you go through Quick Install it will prompt you for the directory. Just make up a name for the directory and go trough the rest of the steps in Quick Install.

You will have a complete second site in a couple of minutes. Here is their video on how to use Quick Install
support.hostgator.com/articles/hosting-g...ns-with-quickinstall

---

If you need to get some background information to help figure out files and file managers, Hostgator has lots of really great tutorials.

This will help you to understand where your main directory is.
support.hostgator.com/articles/cpanel/public_html-folder

If you don't know how to create a directory or copy or move files using the cPanel file manager - here is their getting started guide..
www.hostgator.com/tutorials/cpanel/hgx3/using-file-manager.htm

If you get stuck, let me know we'll help. You're right. Not everybody is coming from the same starting point. I'll try not to forget that.

Cheers
Ed

This is why i started out my post with I LOVE OSTraining... you guys always there...always in a timely manner.... and are always always understanding.... Tessa,Ed and Nick thank you. Ed i understand the quick install and remember the space where it ask about a sub-directory. after i did the drag and drop step from the tutorial and lost all the files i called Hostgator because the host my sites. i walked through each step with them what i did in the cpanel . come to find out i built the testupgrade file in the wrong place but i following the tutorial.. anyway they got the files back in place and copied joomla main directory into the subfolder... should i delete that folder and do quick install or keep trying to follow the tutorial?

Thank you
Eddie

Hi Eddie,

You are very welcome!

Also, I'm glad you got it sorted out with Hostgator.

As for whether to delete the subfolder or use the tutorial, how about choose one and have the other method to fall back on?

How about go the simple route (so you can use this method again later on) and install the simple extension, create the new Joomla install, then delete your subfolder afterwards. (You will have to use a different name since the subfolder exists already).

So if things don't work out with the extension, you can continue with the tutorial on your existing subfolder. :-)

Keep us updated with your progress.

ok got the sub-folder installed peedeedeerclassic.com/testsite and have written a couple of articles...on the old site i have two articles that i would like to move over just like they are, (so i don't have to create them over again) is that lazy of me? how would i do that or should i redo the articles for training?

Thank you
Eddie

Hi Ejschulz,

You can import any parts of your joomla site into your "subdirectory" by accessing your phpMyAdmin database, exporting specified tables, and importing it into your new database.

Do you know how to access phpMyAdmin? Do you know where to find your j o s_content database table? (no spaces).

As far as importing articles, you might be interested in importing categories as well? Menu items? You can find the useful tables on this list:

j o s_categories

j o s_content

j o s_content_frontpage

j o s_menu

j o s_modules_menu

j o s_sections

have been busy at my other job, sorry i have not responded i am going to try and look at it this weekend...do i need to add the pictures in the sub folder or when i import the two pages it will bring the pictures with it? thank you Tessa and the rest of the OSTraining for putting up with me.. yall are GREAT..

Eddie S.

Hi Eddie,

You will need to copy the pictures to the new site. You can create a folder for the pictures with the same path as the folder in the original site and they should show in your articles.

If there aren't too many, you might just want to add them through the article editor if finding the right place for the folder is confusing.

Cheers,
Ed