How to Copy a Blog to XAMPP
There are several advantages to keeping a live copy of your blog on your local computer. With a local copy, you can test changes, plug-ins and updates before “going live” on the Internet. An up-to-date copy of your blog also provides an extra measure of security if your host server experiences trouble, or if you decide to change providers. The two basic components of blogging software are the content directory and the database. After copying both of these and installing them on your local machine, a few minor adjustments must be made before your blog is functional.
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Instructions
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Deactivate your plug-ins. Active connections to your database can have an adverse effect on the quality of your backup.
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Open the cPanel interface on your host server.
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Click the “Backup” icon. Make backup files for your MySQL database and your content directory. When the backup is complete, reactivate your plug-ins.
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Open cPanel’s file manager. One at a time, click on your backup files and click the “Compress” icon at the top of the screen.
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Download both backup files to your local computer.
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Create a new directory in your XAMPP/htdocs folder. If your XAMPP installation is on your C drive, use: C:\XAMPP\htdocs\myblog.
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Extract both compressed files into the new directory.
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Open your database file, the one with the “.sql” extension, with a text editor.
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Use the text editor’s search and replace function to replace all instances of your blog’s Internet address with the local address for the XAMPP installation. For this example, search for TheOnlyBlogYouNeed.com and replace it with localhost/myblog.
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Open a browser, enter http://localhost/phpmyadmin and press the “Enter” key.
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Click the “Databases” tab at the top of the screen.
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Enter the name of your blog’s database in the “Create new database” dialog box and click the “Create” button.
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Click the “Import” tab at the top of the screen.
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Click the “Browse” button in the “File to Import” section of the import screen. Navigate to the C:\XAMPP\htdocs\myblog folder and click on your database file.
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Click the “Go” button at the bottom of the screen. Leave the other screen options set at their default values.
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Tips & Warnings
You need XAMPP and your blog software installed on your local computer before starting this process. This procedure was tested with the WordPress platform. Minor procedural adjustments may be necessary for other platforms. However, the basic database, content and program elements are present in all blogging software. Each of these must be present on your local computer for local operation.
