How to Set Up a Test Server With Dreamweaver 9

Setting up a test server with Dreamweaver is a simple process. You will need to download server software in order to proceed. XAMPP is a reliable and easy-to-use server that is designed with web designers and programmers in mind. Follow the instructions on the XAMPP website to install this software. This guide will instruct you how to use XAMPP with Dreamweaver to set your files and scripts.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• XAMPP server software

1. Download XAMPP Server and install according to website documentation (see Resources below). Once complete, start your control panel and run the Apache and MySQL options. A correct install will provide you with a local server at http://localhost/. Website files will go in the htdocs folder (for example, c:/xampp/htdocs/). Call the test server "MySite." Open the htdocs folder and create a new folder with that name. This will give you a test site at the address http://localhost/MySite/.

2. Start Dreamweaver. Once the portal has finished loading, click "Site" at the top. Click on "New Site" to begin setting up your test server through Dreamweaver.

3. 

   Fill in the first two settings. Your site's name for this guide is "MySite." Remember that your test server is "localhost," or 127.0.0.1. This will provide the server address http://localhost/MySite/.

4. 

   Click "Next." Here you will decide whether you will be using only HTML coding or something else. If you are only writing in HTML, then click "No." If you plan to use scripts such as PHP or Perl, then click "Yes." A drop-down box will appear to make your choice in whatever server technology you will be using. Choose "PHP/MySQL" and then click "Next."

5. 

   Choose how you will edit your files in this option. Editing "Locally" (the first option) is the choice here. Your server is local, and you will edit the files on your computer. Below that, it asks for the location of where your files will be stored. Remember that your server was installed to C:/xampp/ (or whatever location you chose at install). The location where your files are to be stored is the site folder you created, C:/xampp/htdocs/MySite/. Enter this and click "Next."

6. 

   Enter your site address. If you have created a folder on your server called MySite, then the site address would be http://localhost/MySite/. This is the address you will type in a browser to view your site. Click the "Test URL" button. It should take a second for it to verify that your settings are correct and that your site is accessible. If you have any trouble, first verify your XAMPP server is running. Then, redo Steps 1 to 6. Once Dreamweaver verifies everything is correct, click "Next."

7. Choose whether or not you will upload your files to another server when editing is complete. This option will allow you to enter a website address where you may have a live site. Dreamweaver can connect to your site and upload the files. For this guide, choose the option "No." Click "Next."

8. 

   Review your Test Server Options, Verify they are correct and then click "Done." Dreamweaver will then save the settings and create the site-to-server connections. You will notice that a new Files panel will appear. The panel shows your new site. This creates easy organization and retrieval of the different files created for MySite.

Tips & Warnings

• After you install XAMPP, make sure you also configure security measures to protect your local server. Choose a password for your XAMPP folder and your database. This can be done through the security section in the XAMPP control panel at http://localhost/.

Resources

• XAMMP
• Adobe Dreamweaver support