Installing when client already has a site

Whats the best way to install Modx where a client already has a live site running
on the server. The idea is we’ll install modx, gradually build the templates etc
and the Modx site will then replace the current site when we’re done.

I assume here I have to install Modx in a folder in the root so her URL would
be
www.clientsite.com/modx/
and I could then rename the ’modx’ folder to ’live’
www.clientsite.com/modx/

or is that bad practice? Any help would be appreciated.
Many thanks

I’ve had to do this a couple of times. As you suggested, I usually install MODx in a /modx folder and do all of my work there. Some people advocate to do the work in a local test server environment and upload when ready but I personally prefer it the other way as I can collaborate with the client easier and show work in progress etc. (I clients are usually SME businesses so it’s a very personal relationship and not a problem to show work in progress).

Once the site is complete, tested and read-to-go, I put up an "Under Maintenance" page briefly while moving the existing site into a folder called /old or similar. Then, I simply move all of the files from the /modx folder straight to the root of the web server. You then just have to change the File Base Path in Tools/Configuration/Interface&Features as well as the File Manager Path in Tools/Configuration/File Manager to take out the /modx bit of the file paths. That should be it.

Hi Rivendell48

Thanks for taking time to answer that. I had hoped it would be that simple. Will try it later on.

Quote from: sparrow at Mar 16, 2010, 02:41 AM

Thanks for taking time to answer that. I had hoped it would be that simple. Will try it later on.

I’ve just picked up a job where I’ll be doing exactly this - probably starting tonight if I get chance. I was planning to do it in just the way you suggested so I’ll let you know if there are any problems!

Adrian

I follow pretty much the same approach as rivendell48. Works fine for me.

Just a note here.
If you are doing this (copying all files to the root), you may need to reset premissions on your assets folders again. You would have done this first time around as per the installation docs but it might need repeating.

I just did this for the first time and had a minor breakdown when I saw the error message Cannot open file (../assets/cache/siteCache.idx.php)
A quick CHMOD sorted it all out. phew!

I think it is much easier to just change on your server/hoster the path of the WWW-folder of your domain into www/modx/ (or wherever you did your installation) instead of copying all the files to your root.

Or will I have new problems by doing it like this?

Gerdi