The existing posts will remain as they are part of the database and WordPress pulls everything from its database. For that reason you may run into problems if the “test site” is not using the same information as the “Live site”.
You are better off to copy “everything” into the “test site” and make your changes accordingly. This way you won’t run into any surprizes when you change the “Live site”. As the two database will be separate from each other, changes to one will not affect the other.
Search the Plugin section for “Migrate” and you should be safe using one that has installs of a few hundred thousands or more.
Thanks. I have already put considerable work into the redesign and prefer not to start over. Do you think Duplicator will work for me?
In addition to what Rob said, please note that theme options are stored in the database ( everything that goes under Customize – Additional CSS included). So if you do your changes soley in the theme files, and then copy those on the live site, yeah, that might work, but if you customize your theme from the Dashboard you’ll need a Customize Settings Export/Import plugin.
When I install the redesigned website,
I’m not sure I understand what do you mean by installing. ( only files? Files + database?)
A redesigned website can include
– changes to theme files
– changes to theme settings
– changes to plugins settings
– changes to core settings
Only theme files can be transfered to the new website without affecting the database.
You will have to manually redo plugin & core settings in order to prevent post overwriting in the database.
Just as Rob suggested, having an identical (files + database) staging site is the best solution. That way you don’t have to worry about something (some setting, article etc) not being properly set on the live site.
Kind regards!
Thanks. By installing, I mean moving everything from the new development site to the original site.
In my redesign, I started from scratch. New theme, new everything except a few posts I copied over from the original site.
Given what I have done, will a plugin like Duplicator work?
By installing, I mean moving everything from the new development site to the original site.
If by everything you mean database as well, then you will loose the old posts/content – the live site will look exactly like the development one.
Given what I have done, will a plugin like Duplicator work?
As far as I know, this kind of plugins copy everything, so… again: the live site will look exactly like the development one (without content)
What I would recommend is
1. On the live site Dashboard > Tools > Export > All content
2. On the developing site Dashboard > Tools > Import > WordPress Importer
You want to make your development site identical (content speaking) with the live site.
That’s what I would do.
Just to be extra cautious, make regular backups both to your live site and development site, just in case something goes really bad.
That sounds good. When I’m finished, and I move the development site over, apparently Duplicator will overwrite the original site. When that is done, will the SEO of the original site remain? Thanks
When that is done, will the SEO of the original site remain?
If the slugs of the posts / articles are the same & permalink settings have the same format, then yes, you will have the same URLs.
That’s one aspect of SEO. Other SEO good practice includes using good meta tags – that’s controlled by your theme and/or your specific SEO plugin.
In most cases, I don’t need to change the slugs and hope to maintain the urls.
