I reckon if I was to ask whether or not you have ever had your blog go offline because you installed a plugin, or because you were playing around with the CSS or PHP codes, that the majority of you would say yes. The most important rule when doing any alterations to a blog is to always make sure you have a backup.
Luckily, ever since I changed my theme to FlexSqueeze I haven’t had much need to touch the internal coding at all. However, because the Theme is so easy to manipulate I have been toying with it to see some of the effects I could have. Some of you may remember the Easter Theme I ran a couple of weeks ago.
The thing is I didn’t want to bother my readers with all the different things I was trying as if figured it would freak them out if every time the page loaded they were confronted with something different, whether it was a different font color or perhaps a different header. I decided to use a Test Site to test the changes before adapting them to this blog. The site I used was Inquest, which was a blog that I originally set up for a young lady that went by the name Inquest. She was truly a remarkably talented blogger and I highly recommend they you have a look at some of her posts. Perhaps if you leave some comments we can coax her back. Anyway at the moment it is running the Easter Theme, but don’t be surprised if it isn’t as it is my Test Blog after all.
Once I was happy with the result the theme allows me to save it as a CSV file which I then import into this blog and all the changes I made gets instantly transferred, no worries or dramas at all.
While I was thinking about the whole procedure today I thought it be a great idea if all bloggers had their own test site. I mean, if you host your site it would be a cinch to set up a test blog. You could use this to test a new plugin or every time, for those of you who do not have the luxury of owning a FlexSqueeze theme, you decide to play around with the CSS or PHP codes. By having a test blog you are ensuring that your live blog does not get infected by any of your manipulations. Once you are happy with the way things are going you can then make the required adjustments to your actual blog.
Talking about themes, many of you may have heard of Thesis, especially if you are a regular reader and I have mentioned it a few times, but for those of you who haven’t, you may find Gromap’s post of some interest. IG, it’s author, has graciously mentioned me as a source for the negative viewpoint of Thesis, but I would like to point out that I never said it was shit or anything, just that it wasn’t as good or flexible as FlexSqueeze. Before you ask, yes if you buy FlexSqueeze from one of my posts I will make a bit of money from the sale but it will not add on any cost to you. You are merely supporting my life as a blogger so that I can keep a whole lot more informative and entertaining posts coming your way.
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Tagged with: CSS • PHP • Test Site • Thesis
Filed under: Blogging Tips
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That is a great idea Sire!
We also have a test blog. We set it up so Cait could have a try at redesigning her blog skin. Now she and Brad use the test blog anytime they want to try out any new skin or to customize an existing one.
I highly recommend that every one take your advise on having a test blog. Just be sure that when you are doing your test that you also add any plug ins that you will want on your actual blog. There is a chance of conflict between some skins & plug ins.
Sheryl Loch´s Last blog post..It’s Not You, It’s Your Domain
Thanks Sheryl, I always figured you for a smart sheila, so I’m not at all surprised that you also have a test blog. Thanks for the suggestion about testing the plugins at the same time as the new theme too.
Hey Sire,
I am not sure if this is what you are talking about, if not, then ignore me.
You can see your site (blog) without the skin if you are in FireFox,
Click View,
Click Page Style,
Click Basic.
This will give you the bare site. If you do not want to see any pictures then you can go in your CPanel & rename your Images Folder (I would suggest that you just add an X so it is easy to revert it back). Once you are done you will need to place the correct name of your images folder so the pics are back.
If this is not what you are talking about, let me know & I’ll try again. :)
Sheryl Loch´s Last blog post..b2evolution Snap Post Comment Plug In
Actually Sheryl, when I wrote that comment I must admit it was my dirty mind working overtime. I was sort of trying to link the idea of skin with barely clad women. Obviously I didn’t say it right, which considering may be a good thing.
I’ve actually been switching between using a test blog and running a blog locally an my PC. But what ever solution one picks I agree that running a test blog to see that everything works is a must for any serious webmaster (remember cross browser check as well).
Mikael´s Last blog post..How to Find the Best Adsense Ad Placement
Hey Mikael. I’m afraid I am a bit slack as far as cross browser checking goes. As long as it works in Explorer, Firefox and sometimes Chrome,I’m pretty happy to leave it at that.
If you ask me that should be sufficient as well. IE, FF and Chrome is what I normally test.
Mikael´s Last blog post..Why Your Content will Affect Your Adsense Income
That makes me feel a whole lot better.
Having a test site is a must especially if you want to make major changes. So, keep on testing ;)
stratosg´s Last blog post..101 Sociable links for manual insertion in WordPress
Thanks stratos. I must admit that I am a little embarrassed that I didn’t think of this ages ago.
I like to live by the seat of my pants and so I don’t bother with any safety nets. I occasionally upgrade with my eyes closed too.
ray´s Last blog post..Do I Want A Netbook?
Well Ray, there is nothing wrong with flying by the seat of your pants as long as you don’t mind the shit hitting the fan occasionally.
If the shit’s not hitting the fan, I’m not at work!
ray´s Last blog post..Do I Want A Netbook?
Remind me to wear protection then, when I come to visit you at work.
I purchased BetaTestBlog.com a little ways back, but haven’t had the need to use it yet.
My thinking was, not only for myself, but I may be able to help out others as well (not to mention get some pretty cool freebies in the process). :)
Dennis Edell´s Last blog post..100 Marketers Give 100 Strategies – Recommended!
Well I reckon it’s about time you made some use of it Dennis. If you leave it parked any longer you will have so many cobwebs on it that you will never find it.
Sure thing sport, whatcha got for me to BETA?
Dennis Edell´s Last blog post..100 Marketers Give 100 Strategies – Recommended!
Well there is that Woopra analytic site you could try out.
Another of your good ideas, Sire.
Cheers,
Peter
peter petterson´s Last blog post..The ozone hole could be holding back an Antarctic thaw…
As always Peter, I will lap up the praise, and I will not let it go to my head.
I love this post/tip. Me, I do have a local host wherein I publish my beta sites. Whenever I am ready to do the changes, I just simply open up my ftp and transfer those new files.
Ron´s Last blog post..Tagaytay City
Which also means you have a backup of the whole system which may come in handy one day. Well done Ron.
Yes Sir! That is right, and every time something goes wrong, I just delete and replace those pages.
Ron´s Last blog post..Tnomeralc Web Design Toys
That makes a lot of sense. Haven’t had a problem yet, but there is always that moment when updating a plugin or the blog (in general) that a worry comes over us. Either way, backing up data is important before making major changes.
Gennaro´s Last blog post..Restaurants Of Florence
Yeah, it’s a shame though that I do not always follow my own advice. Just plain old slack I reckon, and one day it will bite me in the ass.
First, I never knew that you had created a website for our friend Inquest; unfortunately, I doubt you’ll ever hear from her again.
Second, I’ve never thought about creating a test site, although I easily could. I don’t test themes all that much, but last year when I was having problems with the theme on my business blog I just waited until late at night, then did the testing at that time. Thing is, I was only thinking about the American audience, almost all of whom I knew would be asleep, and not thinking about my international visitors. But I did make sure I hadn’t posted anything new, to encourage people to come while I was testing.
So, this was interesting stuff.
Mitch´s Last blog post..A Look At Visits
Yeah, we were still at Writingup at the time and I saw she had talent and so I set it up for her. I know she sort of dropped off after she scored a job, but the lost contact. I still have her email, unless she changed it, but just didn’t want to impose. Do you know what she is up to these days.
As for the Test Blog, see, good old Sire still has a few tricks up his sleeve that you don’t know about.
She was kind of sickly, as you know, and we were talking for a long while, and I knew she started feeling bad after awhile, and then she just up and disappeared, and that’s that. She’d disappeared before for two months and came back, but this last time,… nope.
And if I couldn’t learn anything from you, Sire, what would be the point of visiting, right?
Mitch´s Last blog post..A Look At Visits
Poor thing. She’s had a pretty hard life. I hope that she is OK. Perhaps I will send her an email just to see how she is.
I hope you get a response, as I think she just dropped off the face of the earth, unfortunately. :downer_ee:
Mitch´s Last blog post..A Look At Visits
Just sent the email, and like you I hope that she responds so that we can learn that she is OK.
Sire,
Speaking of testing in different browsers – I have a post that has a little info about a free screen tester
http://theinternetmarketersguild.com/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=133
It might be something of interest as you are setting up new skins, blogs, or plug ins. I had some other testers but, not sure where I put the links to them.
Hope that gives you some ideas.
Sheryl Loch´s Last blog post..b2evolution Snap Post Comment Plug In
Thanks for that Sheryl. Now if you can give me a link to a site that will take the skin off so I can see the are essentials, now that will be really sweet.
My programmer friends have told me that I am CRAZY for not using a test site. I guess it is pretty standard in our world to not take the risk of screwing up your main page. I guess when 3 smart people tell you the same thing, it is time to listen!
The Almost Millionaire´s Last blog post..#1 Worst Small City for Jobs…Jackson, Mi.
What? You had three smart people telling you to have a test site. Shit man, you just have to tell me who the third person was.
I use an Apache server for testing on, any I adjustments I make on my virtual server then upload to the live site, that way I also have a backup should anything go wrong, aside from the database, which I have auto backup. I use browsershots.org/ and have downloaded standalone versions of the browsers for testing from browsers.evolt.org/? , The first site will take a screen grab of how your site looks in each browser that you tick the box for testing.
Thanks for that khaled, not that I know how to adjust the theme to suit other browsers, but it will be interesting to see how others see it.
Definitely good advice. I should do this before I do major updates, because I have had times where I went to my blog later on after installing a plugin update, and realize that something is working completely strangely. Probably the weirdest thing that ever happened, and would have been un-testable, was when I installed a footer plugin, and my RSS feed repeated the same article content (but with all different titles) all throughout Google Reader.
~ Kristi
Kikolani´s Last blog post..Vacation Proofing Blogs and Social Networks
Hey Kristi, I reckon that you are now writing as a ‘honest’ woman, being married and all, and your new authoritative writing style is outstanding.
Great to see you back in action.
As for the plugins, don’t you just hate it when they screw with your blog?
I don’t mind if they mess up something they are supposed to be working with. But a post footer plug-in messing up my RSS feed? That was just plain weird.
And thanks… yes, I’m an honest woman now. And a very happy one at that! :)
Kikolani´s Last blog post..How to Make Social Promotion Easy
[...] it’s not because your just too lazy to do it? Any, as I said in a previous post, having a test site is a great idea as it allows you to test a whole heap of things, like plugins and upgrades etc., [...]