Using Dreamweaver as a local test site - how to configure?

[RKramkowski]

I'm in the process of trying to set up a test server on my local PC with the necessary directory structure to test several different sites (using different technologies). I'm using all the current versions (as of yesterday) of Apache, php, phpBB, Wordpress, and mySQL. I created an "htdocs" directory at the root (I'm running Windows XP). In that directory, I have several subdirectories, one for each site. One is a blog, another a forum, another a static HTML site, and another a portal using RSS feeds and other things. Within the portal directory, I have additional folders for each portal (subdomains, I hope).


My biggest problem with DW so far is that I want to be able to use (and test locally) subdomains. Originally, I created a folder called "products" (http://www.products.com once it's uploaded to my webhost). Within that folder, I created a series of folders that would be subdomains of that domain (cars.products.com, cats.products.com, etc.). But the more I think about it, I think all folders, whether subdomains or not, should be at the same level. After all, that's how subdomains are structured on my webhost when I use CPANEL.
I've tried many different combinations of paths, etc. in setting up a test site with DW's site manager utility but none take me to the test site when I hit F12. I'll either get a 404 error or a message that says that the site cannot be displayed (but not a 404 error).

What am I missing? And I haven't even gotten to using DW for the blog or forum yet. Am I asking too much of the tool?

Thanks,
Bob

 

[marketraiseint]

Prepare your web server for file handling using a remote folder in Dreamweaver 8
Once you’ve set up a Dreamweaver site (for more information, see “Create and configure a Dreamweaver site”), you’re ready to kick things into high gear and start uploading files to your web server.
To upload and download files to a web server, you must first define your site on the Remote Info pane, which is located on the Advanced tab of the Site Definition dialog in Dreamweaver 8. The web server can be local, remote, or on a local or remote network.
Best Regards,
shuvayu chakraborty
shuvayu@marketraiseindia.com
Marketraise-Search Engine Marketing-Google Optimization-Ranking-Link Exchange

 

[shaggz]

While most of us on here consider a 'subdomain' to be just another docroot on a webserver, in the real world, subdomains are most often different servers altogether, ie, www.domain.com, mail.domain.com, etc.

When you set up a subdomain in cPanel, it's doing much more than just creating a subfolder under your docroot. It is potentially adding a dns record for your new subdomain to point to your webserver (unless you already have wildcard dns set up). It is also making changes to a .htaccess file, or a config file of some sort to let it know that when it sees an incoming http request header with HOST equal to your subdomain that it needs to remap to the designated directory.

If you are interested in getting this working locally, do some research on creating your own .htaccess files locally to handle subdomains. Then, you will also need to do some editing of your etc/HOSTS file to point your domain names to your local server.

If you are new to this, it could be a real pain in the ass to get set up correctly, as it's probably a new paradigm of thinking. If you run into specific problems, post on here and i'll try to help.

 

[Lee.]

A subdomain IS infact it's own website. If you want "subdomains" through Dreamweaver create separate sites in Dreamweaver with the subdomain as the name of the site. So PROUCTS would be the main site CARS.PRODUCTS would be site 2 etc...

If you insist on having the subdomains within that main "PRODUCTS" folder on localhost (your computer) when you create the subdomains simply put the subdomain folders inside of the main "PRODUCTS" folder. All you have to do is bypass the warning Dreamweaver gives you.

I DO NOT suggest doing the 2nd method as it seems you are using Dreamweaver to upload your files and it may become confusing. If no go right ahead.

Also instead of creating folders outside of Dreamweaver use the Files panel or the Site menu (at the top) and select "manage sites" use advanced and go through entries. That way you can toggle through the sites with one click. It's very easy once you get used to it.

 

[RKramkowski]

Thanks for the replies.... I'm going to do some digging and figure this out. Lee, I agree with you in that I don't need or want the subdomain folders to be within the domain folder. Shaggs, I've created new entries in the etc/HOSTS table before but haven't dug into .htaccess.

I appreciate your offer to help me wade through this. If I run into snags or get totally confused, I'll post.

Thanks,
Bob

 

[Aequitas]

I don't care what anyone says Dreamweaver has some problems with testing on a local server, I stopped using it back at Version 6, the best thing I've found to use is a program called Microsoft Visual Web Developer, it allows you to use any language, give you full tele support, and it allows you to debug your code as you go.

Very powerful tool, might be better then screwing around with Dreamweaver.