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Diogenes · #1 08-14-2007, 07:48 PM

Good Day,
Does anyone know how I should go about creating a sandbox on my computer for oscmax 2.0? Thank you. Diogenes.

**michael_s** · #2 08-14-2007, 08:47 PM

You can set up a local testing environment pretty easily using xampp:

apache friends - xampp

It adds everything you need to run osCMax on your computer.

Diogenes · #3 08-15-2007, 08:27 PM

Thank you Michael,
I already have apache, php, and mysql installed on my computer. (recent installation) Do I need to install xmapp also ... and if not ... how do I create/install a workable sandbox of my present site on my computer.
Diogenes

**michael_s** · #4 08-16-2007, 11:43 PM

No, if you already have all that installed and working, your sandbox is ready. Just install osCMax as you normally would and with the installer, then copy your template into the templates directory on your sandbox install and you will have a nice copy of your live site.

If you want to go one step further, you can also export the database from your live site, and import it to your sandbox database.

Diogenes · #5 08-18-2007, 08:35 AM

Thank you Michael,
This brings up a series of sequential questions for me. I hope you don't mind. I'll start with 3.
1-Where do I get oscmax 2.0 for download?
2-Do I install it in a default directory?
3-How do I view it in Apache? I am presently putting files in htdocs directory in Apache for viewing.
Thanks,
Diogenes.

**michael_s** · #6 08-18-2007, 10:24 AM

1. osCMax - osCommerce Maximized

2. Install it wherever you want within your apache public directory structure.

3. Depends on your setup, but if htdocs is working for web access for you, just create a new directory under htdocs and use that for installing oscmax.

Diogenes · #7 08-18-2007, 10:59 AM

Okay ... except for one thing. Htdocs is directory into which I put files for testing under the "LocalHost" URL without actually accessing the web. That said ... do I still install osCMax into a subdirectory within that directory?

**michael_s** · #8 08-18-2007, 05:34 PM

Again, I am not sure how you have it set up, but if you are running sites on your desktop computer, you should always test on localhost. If you want to allow access from the outside world, you will have to set up apache and your firewall to bind to the external IP (or at least NAT on your firewall to send all connections on port 80 to the internal IP of your website (usually 192.168.xxx.xxx)

You can search google for setting up a website on your computer that allows public connections. There are a few great resources out there for that. To create a sandbox you don't need to have it accessible publicly though. You can do 99% of all testing using your private web.

Diogenes · #9 08-18-2007, 08:14 PM

Looking at your picture Michael. Aren't you a little young for this sort of thing? That said, I presently have a live and active website which resides with a hosting company on the web. I am not happy using outside help. Time frames, ridiculous charges, etc. So I installed Apache and PHP and Mysql mostly for purposes of testing existing PHP files on my system after I altered them in order to ensure I was doing it all correctly. It then occured to me to create a sandbox on my computer which could mirror my site and then I could actually see how my site would look after I made whatever changes I made, viewing it all via localhost, thereby ensuring I wasn't messing up my site. My thinking is to install osCMax and then download all my files to the appropriate directory. then use the backup/restore utility in order to create a perfect mirror of my site on my computer, and I'm off and running. Or not. Thanks for all your help.
Diogenes

**michael_s** · #10 08-18-2007, 10:18 PM

Yep, you should just be able to create a sub directory in your htdocs dir for osCMax. Then grab the files from your live site, and the database.

Here are the things you need to do, in no particular order:

Create a new db on localhost with your live data
install the php files to the new directory
Update the two configure.php files to use the correct filepath on localhost
Update both configure.php files to use the new database connection info

That will give you a local working copy of your oscmax install. I have done it many times, and is really the only good way for no-risk development.

Regarding my avatar, that is my baby girl! She just had her first birthday today! If you need proof that I am more than a infant with great typing skills, check out my profile. There is a pic of me there: http://forums.aabox.com/members/michael_s.html

Diogenes · #11 08-19-2007, 05:57 PM

Congrats on your baby girl Michael. You look like a happy man. That said, I need to clarify a few things. I created a new sub directory under htdocs directory called <osc>. Tested it. It works fine. Downloaded oscmax2_RC3_0_1.zip where it now resides on my desktop as an icon. Some more questions. I hope I'm not driving you crazy.
1-Does this matter if it's the same version I have live now or not, or should I now not be using it and instead be ftp-ing my entire site into that osc directory. (this refers to your first instruction (# Create a new db on localhost with your live data)
2-There is an install file (deflated) in the main directory and there is an install folder in a sub-directory entitled <catalog> which itself has an install.php file.
Which do I use. Don't want to click the wrong one.
3-If I am indeed going to be using one of the install files, should I move the whole download oscmax2_RC3_0_1.zip file into osc directory first and then unzip it (install it).

I'm having a little trouble following your directions. I'm a relative neophyte in this area.

Thanks,
Diogenes

**michael_s** · #12 08-20-2007, 10:58 AM

It is pretty easy so I will clarify.

Make a zip of your live site's catalog dir and all subdirs. Then, unzip that file to wherever you want your store to be on your local machine.

If you want it to be in the folder /htdocs/osc/catalog, put the zip file in the osc directory and unzip it there.

Now you have all the same files as your live site, and all you need to do is edit the two configure.php files to use the local path information and local database information.

1. If you are truly using this as a sandbox, make sure everything matches your live site so that there are no differences in your starting code.

2.Don't worry about the install files. They will not be needed since you are duplicating your live site. You will just have to manually edit the configure.php files and manually import the database.

Diogenes · #13 08-21-2007, 04:33 AM

Thanks Michael. Not too sure how to zip the files on server side. Is this done via ftp or admin panel?

**michael_s** · #14 08-21-2007, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diogenes

Thanks Michael. Not too sure how to zip the files on server side. Is this done via ftp or admin panel?

If you don't know how, you probably cannot do it. It requires ssh command line access to the server. Doing an ftp download to your local computer is good enough, just takes a lot longer than zipping and downloading one file.

Diogenes · #15 08-22-2007, 08:29 PM

Thanks Michael,
Tried downloading a few times with broadband. Going to let it run tonight on dial up. Will let you know how I progress with this thing.
Diogenes.

**michael_s** · #16 08-22-2007, 09:12 PM

On broadband, ftp download of osCMax should not take more than ten minutes (unless you have tons of custom images).

Diogenes · #17 08-23-2007, 06:55 PM

Here's what they did to me. They said: We'll give you a lantern with which to do your searches ... but your road will always be long and tortuous. They did not lie. That said: Here's how it went and is going. Can not download via broadband as I use a wireless connection to a router and it ALWAYS kicks out before finishing task. Can not use dial-up. Same thing happens. However ... I have a friend who is going to zip catalog and database for me and email it to me tonight. By tomorrow night I expect to all set to go, or not. Will keep you posted as by this time I am sure both you and your readers tremble with excitement in anticipation of these missives.
Best,
Diogenes

**michael_s** · #18 08-23-2007, 08:45 PM

Wireless= I use a wireless connection to a router too and have never had a problem with ftp. You must have a bum connection.

Dial up = What is that?

Good luck to you!

Diogenes · #19 08-25-2007, 08:56 PM

Dial-up is an old old system that was once used by primitive man around the same time he used the spear and stone hatchet. However it still works (don't know why broadband is glitching on me) and so I used that and started downloading last night. Went away today for the whole day. Returned and zip file was done. Unzipped it. All seemed okay except that I would like to see my web site as it looks when I'm on line. Can I do this? How? Thanks. Diogenes.

**michael_s** · #20 08-25-2007, 09:10 PM

Go back to one of my earlier replies:
Sandbox

Then once it is in place, edit the configure.php files to match the correct path structure on your local computer. Then visit the local site with your browser:

http://localhost/dir-where-you-put-the-files/

Diogenes · #21 08-27-2007, 05:33 PM

I have no problem accessing the files. My problem lies in the fact that I want to view it as I would view my web page on line. do i need to install oscmax in order to do that? thanks. diogenes

**michael_s** · #22 08-28-2007, 10:50 AM

You don't have to run the installer.

You just have to create a local database and add the exported data from your live site.

Next, you need to edit the configure.php files for osCMax to match the local paths of your server and connect to the local database.

Once you do those simple things, you would just point your browser to http://localhost/path/to/oscmax and the site will come up.

Diogenes · #23 08-28-2007, 08:15 PM

This is going to be great fun for someone out there. Look at the neophyte. Watch him run. That said: Create a local database you say? Okay. No problem. How? What do I use. Step by step me. I follow directions moderately well. After all, I did get the zip file.

**michael_s** · #24 08-28-2007, 08:35 PM

Oh boy, you really are new to this... Well, let me start by saying good luck and hang in there. Next, there are a lot of great tutorials on how to create databases, etc.

Mysql docs here: MySQL AB :: MySQL 5.0 Reference Manual :: 3 Tutorial

How did you install Apache and Mysql on your machine? Did you use xampp or some other pre-packaged installer? If so, it should have included some sort of mysql front end (visual mysql manager instead of the command line).

Most include phpmyadmin or something like it. If not, just google 'mysql front end' and download one that you like. This will allow you to create and manage your database in a windows explorer like environment, instead of having to learn command line syntax.