The route you describe sounds like the approach suggested in http://codex.wordpress.org/Giving_WordPress_Its_Own_Directory – which really is the easiest and cleanest way to achieve what you want.
Hey esmi thanks for answering again, I checked that out and wanted to find out if you know. I checked through my ftp but have not found an .htaccess file is that okay or should I be looking for one? Or I believe as the instructions mentioned create one?
Also would you know off hand would I need to change the name of the folder where my files are stored in, do you think that would be an issue or leaving it as is would be okay?
Sorry for all the ?’s trying to get all this under my belt, but again thank you for the assistance I really appreciate it.
@shane: Please read the original question…
@junkhed1: If you haven’t set up a custom permalink structure, you may not have an .htaccess file on your wordpress folder yet. Just make sure that your FTP client or file management software is configured to display all file types before going ahead and creating a new .htaccess file. Some software hides files like .htaccess by default.
would I need to change the name of the folder where my files are stored in
Your WP files? No – you can leave it exactly as it is. Your visitors will be none the wiser whatever it’s called.
Thanks esmi and shane, I’m using Dreamweaver CS4 as my ftp and I checked through the files and also turned on show all hidden files and didn’t find one in there. So just to recap it again, I would definitely have to create a .htaccess file?
Also I found this and wondered if it would be another route I was reading this article here: actually at the same address Shane posted above – this was one of the options mentioned_ would this be the same idea or is this something completely different? I saw there is a plugin for phpAdmin that can be installed and used through the dashboard – would this method work? Again thank you for the time, and patience really helps a lot.
Changing the URL directly in the database
If you know how to access phpMyAdmin on your host, then you can edit these values directly to get you up and running again.
1. Backup your database and save the copy off-site.
2. Login to phpMyAdmin.
3. Click the link to your Databases.
4. A list of your databases will appear. Choose the one that is your WordPress database.
5. All the tables in your database will appear on the screen.
6. From the list, look for wp_options. Note: The table prefix of wp_ may be different if you changed it when installing.
7. Click on the small icon indicated as Browse.
8. A screen will open with a list of the fields within the wp_options table.
9. Under the field option_name, scroll down and look for siteurl.
10. Click the Edit Field icon which usually is found at the far left at the beginning of the row.
11. The Edit Field window will appear.
12. In the input box for option_value, carefully change the URL information to the new address.
13. Verify this is correct and click Go to save the information.
14. You should be returned to your wp-options table.
15. Look for the home field in the table and click Edit Field. Note There are several pages of tables inside wp_options. Look for the > symbol to page through them.
16. In the input box for option_value, carefully change the URL information to the new address.
17. Verify this is correct and click Go to save the information.
18. Delete the folder wp-content/cache (this is a new folder added with WordPress 2.0).
19. That is it.
So just to recap it again, I would definitely have to create a .htaccess file?
I’m still not 100% sure. I’ve never used Dreamweaver but it may not be ideal as an FTP client as soon as you get beyond HTML/PHP files. I’d recommend using a dedicated free FTP client like FileZilla or any file management software that your host might provide online. Over-writing an existing .htaccess file isn’t the end of the world. In theory, the old file can be recreated but how difficult that might be very much depends upon what was in it originally.
What kind of permalinks are you currently using? What happens if you try to change them?
I saw there is a plugin for phpAdmin that can be installed
If you want to leave your files where they are but use the main domain name to display your WP site, the PhpMyAdmin method isn’t appropriate as far as I know.
