Why not install it in a subfolder and then, when you’re done, either redirect root or move it to root?
http://codex.ww.wp.xz.cn/Giving_WordPress_Its_Own_Directory
Sorry, we figured it out.
We didn’t want to set it up in a subdirectory with a shared site, database, etc. We really wanted it to be in it’s own account on the root so things like email, FTP, databases, etc. could be setup properly for what they will ultimately be for each client. Makes a lot less effort when it’s time to launch.
So we found that we can add new cPanel accounts on our VPS as a subdomain instead of just a domain. So we have purchased one main domain for all testing and will just assign a subdomain of that for each new cPanel account/site we develop. While in development our sites will be at the root of this subdomain.
Then when we go live, we just change the cPanel domain and point the real domain over and it goes live. No transferring files, databases, etc. Less chance for errors.
Hi KennyLL
We’re grappling with similar development and moving problems, but I don’t fully understand what you do in cPanel. Could you provide a little more detail?
Many thanks
David
Hi David,
Well, what we did was purchase a domain specifically for all of our testing (i.e., webtest.com). Then every time we want to setup a new development site, we create a new cPanel account using a subdomain of this main primary domain (i.e., site101.webtest.com). With our hosting solution (we have a VPS with Host Gator), we can setup an unlimited number of subdomains.
So this works fine for development, as the main domain is setup and pointed to our hosting solution, so every new subdomain will just work like it should. Now we don’t have to worry about working around subdirectories that would not be there when the site goes live. Only the main domain will change.
When it’s time for our site to go live, we simply change the domain to what it’s supposed to be. We do this in WHM, not cPanel. So if you don’t have access to something like WHM, you may have to contact your hosting company to make the domain change. Make sure to change your site URLs in WordPress before you make the change, though, as you’ll be ‘locked out’ until the domain propagates.
BE AWARE, however, that when you change the domain you have to make some changes in the database because of the way WordPress likes to hardcode some paths for images & things. It’s a bit of a pain, but not sure of any way around it. Here’s a link that talks about it.
Hope this helps. There is a chunk of work to do when the site needs to go live, including some testing to make sure everything’s working properly, but not sure of any better solutions. We’ve created a bunch of sites now using this method.
