Local host Question

If you’re designing theme template files, then this is a great way to do it. All you have to do when you’re happy is upload a copy of the new template file to your theme’s folder (in wp-content/themes) on the live site. Transferring actual Pages (ie content/ images etc) however is not really possible. Well, not unless you intend to copy the whole install to the live site a regular intervals – which is not much fun.

So what is this local site for? Theme/template design?

Where have you been all my life. That’s exactly what I’m trying to do. Last Friday I knew nothing about this stuff so I’ve been on a crash course. I want to design a really cool page that looks like an actual web page, with color and the whole deal. So I make my page on the localhost. Plug that into my live site and then add text and what not.

Where have you been all my life.

Probably answering posts on here. ??

So I make my page on the localhost. Plug that into my live site and then add text and what not.

OK – that sounds like theme development to me – whether you want to create a few custom page templates or a whole new theme.

What I suggest you do it try to replicate the kind of site structure you’ll be using on the live site. So if the live site is going to have a static page, configure the local site in the same way. Then grab yourself a copy of the theme unit test data and import that into your local site. It contains site content that covers all of the common bases such as threaded comments, floated image etc.

If you are going to have any special kinds of content on the live site, try and replicate something similar on the local site too so that you can thoroughly test out your design. For example, when I’m designing a theme for a ecommerce particular plugin, I not only install & activate the relevant plugin but I create some sample products so I can play with layouts etc.

That should give you the basis for a solid local test site. When you’re done, upload the new theme/templates to your live site and you should be away.

This is what I have (home page is static and that’s where I started this whole deal, so any content is on the other tabs) – https://www.Vancaves.com

What I’d really like to have is something like this – https://www.hotrod.edu/

Hopefully I’m on the right path

That all looks do-able via a new theme. I’d suggest you either create a child theme for your customisations, copy the twentyeleven folder and turn it into a completely new standalone theme that you can play with or have a look at https://www.ads-software.com/extend/themes/toolbox That makes an excellent base for a new theme.

There you go again. That’s what I originally was thinking before I was I ventured way off the subject. Let me read up on create a child theme for your customisations and the theme and toolbox. Yes, bring a foundation over and manipulate that. Brilliant!

Wow a lot of info in that Child theme article. My head is spinning. I think I’ll catch my breath and read one more time.

Please advise, I downloaded “theme unit test data” on my localhost site. It is aking me –
Howdy! Upload your WordPress eXtended RSS (WXR) file and we’ll import the posts, pages, comments, custom fields, categories, and tags into this site.

Choose a WXR (.xml) file to upload, then click Upload file and import.

Choose a file from your computer: (Maximum size: 2MB)

Where do I find that file on my computer? Or am I way off course

Help and Thank you