[solved] How to test a new template without changing the one on-line ?

Hi,

I'm new on ModX. Someone asked me to change some design stuff on his website (images and css), which is made with ModX. I don't need to touch on the site structure. Just the css.

My question is : How is the best way to do that ?

I was thinking of duplicate the actual template folder and make the changes in the css of the duplicate one. How can I see the preview of my new template without turning down the website which is on-line ? Is there a way to work on a new template and seeing what we are doing, without switching off the actual website ?

I'm not sure my explanations are clear... Hope someone will understand ;-)
Thank you.

My version is Evo 1.0.4 [ed. note: jumpinsteph last edited this post 14 years, 5 months ago.]

You can download the website on localhost and modify it there, in this way it won't affect the version online.

Duplicate the existing template in the Manager. Also duplicate the template's folder in the assets/templates folder. Create a test resource and assign it to the duplicated template. Work on the duplicates all you like; they won't bother anything else.

Or use TemplateSwitcher to have both templates available at the same time.

I've used this also for B2B pages, where I needed two designs, one for public, one for customers. One content, two designs.

Thanks to Susan for this nice toy

It does have a problem; the page has to be uncached. If a page is cached it gets taken directly from the cache without checking for the template.

Thank you for your answers.

Well I'm really new at ModX and I don't want to mess with the work already done on this website.

@sottwell : so if I understood well what you said :

1. to duplicate the existing template in the Manager : I go to Elements >> Manage Elements and clic on the template I want to duplicate and then clic on the "duplicate" btn ?
2. to duplicate the template's folder, I can do it via FTP ?
3. Create a test ressource : I go to "home", "create a new ressource" and then link it to the duplicate template. If I duplicate an existing ressource and link it to the duplicated template, I can work on it ?

Did I understand everything ?
thanks

Yes, you've understood. You can either duplicate existing templates and resources, or create new ones. Just make sure that the links in the template head are pointing to the css files correctly, wherever you put them.

thank you so much for your help.
that's perfect !