Domain name

[solstice]

Hi
After having got my site more or less set up, my client needs now to use a differnt domain name. I realise I could set up new web space with the new domain name, and then copy the site over. However it will be easier (if it works) to simply map the new domain name to the current site, make it the primary domain, and then delete the old domain name.
However my question is this: - will this cause any problems with the CMSMS end - is the original domain name "written in" somewhere during the installation process?
thanks
Andy

[Darwin Web Design]

You can leave the website at the current address and purchase a new domain name.  When you purchase the new name, make sure you have the facility to forward the domain to the existing URL so all you have is this new domain (no web hosting) which simply points to the existing site. 

Depending on which host provider you use this is sometimes included free of charge (the redirection part) with the domain name - other hosts may charge a small yearly fee for a redirection service on top of the domain name fee.

I like to move the website over completely for search engine optimisation but with a redirector you usually have the option to also include site description and keywords etc.

The CMS will not be affected because it is still sitting where it is now ie it hasn't moved with the other domain pointing to it.  If you were to move it to a different hosting with the new domain, providing you used the correct URL tags {root_url} instead of typing the domain name in your code - throughout the design, it will also work fine.  When you install at the new location, all the new domain, database info etc will be written to the config file.

[solstice]

Thanks for that - so I take from what you say that my proposed idea won't work...the URL at time of installation is written to the config.php file. 
What about if I edit the config file to change it to the new domain name? - (I need to free up that domain name for use elsewhere)

Andy

[Darwin Web Design]

No I'm saying it should work.

- leave your site at the old domain/web host (old site)
- purchase a new domain that has a forwarding facility (new URL)
- forward the new domain to the old

nothing needs changing on the site because it hasn't physically moved anywhere.  I was just mentioning the config file if you were to decide to move the site afterall.

Just make sure your redirector has the facility to enter SEO information (key phrases, site description etc) plus when the new URL actually gets forwarded to the old site, the address in the browser bar should visibly show the new URL, not the old site URL - even if physically the site is still sitting with another domain - nobody would ever know by looking at your site.

This method is often used when people develop sites on their free webspace which is often provided with internet connections.  The free sites usually have long ugly URL's so this combats that problem cheaply without moving a site.  Mind you, a lot of the free web space is not that good as there is no support and they may not have the scripting and database facility.

Hope I made more sense this time 

[Darwin Web Design]

OOPS - JUST ANOTHER NOTE

I just noticed you said you need to use that domain elsewhere - so you should really move your CMS, sorry.

Well I guess if you really did not want to buy another hosting package, you could move your CMSMS site to another folder within that old site's hosting and just do the redirector thing to that folder eg:  www.xyz.com/cms-site.

I've never moved a site across to another folder - you will either need to 1) reinstall or 2) copy across and change the config (I'd try that first).  Just download the current config.php file and open it and you will see where the site is mentioned - add the folder where necessary.

[solstice]

I have proceeded with what I discussed above and my site is down!
(I'm not totally sure Aussie Gecko was on the same wavelength as to what I was trying to do - apologies aussiegecko, if I just havent fully understood your suggestions!)

To summarise what I have done:

• I started with www.domainname1.com and webspace
• I added www.domain name2.com to the hosting account, as a mapped domain name pointing to the same webapce
• I made www.domainname2.com the primary domain name and editied config.php so that it only refers to  domainname2
• I deleted domainname1 from the hosting account

Here is the error message my home page gives:

string(109) "Smarty error: [in template:18 line 11]: [plugin] unknown tag - 'stylesheet' (core.load_plugins.php, line 123)" string(110) "Smarty error: [in template:18 line 25]: [plugin] unknown tag - 'breadcrumbs' (core.load_plugins.php, line 123)" string(109) "Smarty error: [in template:18 line 35]: [plugin] unknown tag - 'cms_module' (core.load_plugins.php, line 123)" string(104) "Smarty error: [in template:18 line 39]: [plugin] unknown tag - 'title' (core.load_plugins.php, line 123)" string(106) "Smarty error: [in template:18 line 40]: [plugin] unknown tag - 'content' (core.load_plugins.php, line 123)"
Fatal error: Call to undefined function: smarty_cms_function_stylesheet() in /home/sites/keys-attachment.co.uk/public_html/tmp/templates_c/%%5B/5B7/5B79CCF0%%template%3A18.php on line 15

[Dee]

1. Make sure all the url and path settings in config.php are correct:

Code: Select all

$config['root_url'] 
$config['root_path'] 
$config['previews_path']
$config['uploads_path']
$config['uploads_url']
$config['image_uploads_path'] 
$config['image_uploads_url'] 

2. Clear the cache from the admin or by deleting all files in tmp/templates_c and tmp/cache/contentcache.php
3. Try again

You also may want to check that the upload of the files went well (admin/index.php is present, but admin/login.php is missing?).


Looks like some url isn't set correctly yet, when I request http://www.keys-attachment.co.uk/admin/ it redirects to http://www.itclipper.com/admin/login.php

[solstice]

Dee,
thanks for all that - still not working....although the error message is shorter!

Fatal error: Smarty error: [in template:18 line 11]: syntax error: unrecognized tag 'stylesheet' (Smarty_Compiler.class.php, line 580) in /home/sites/keys-attachment.co.uk/public_html/lib/smarty/Smarty.class.php on line 1095

• checked all 7 URLs in config.php and all are correct
• cleared cache, and deleted the files you indicated to be sure (didnt delete folders, just the files in temp/templates_c )
• both admin/login.php admin/index.php are present...is that wrong?...this was a working site before I changed the domain names, and my exercise didnt involve uploading the site again.
• And, yes, there must be some propagation issue with the domain name changes..I see the same as you when I request www.keys-attachment.co.uk/admin.  Do you think this could be the cause??

ps - itclipper.com is the old domain name and keys-attachment.co.uk is the new one.

Any further help appreciated! 

Andy

[Dee]

Fatal error: Smarty error: [in template:18 line 11]: syntax error: unrecognized tag 'stylesheet' (Smarty_Compiler.class.php, line 580) in /home/sites/keys-attachment.co.uk/public_html/lib/smarty/Smarty.class.php on line 1095

The file plugins/function.stylesheet.php is present and has right permissions (should be readable by the webserver)?

• And, yes, there must be some propagation issue with the domain name changes..I see the same as you when I request www.keys-attachment.co.uk/admin.  Do you think this could be the cause??

I'm not sure, but it's strange that it occurs and could cause issues. I'm wondering what's causing it as it seems to have the same effect as a wrong config['root_url'].

[solstice]

I deleted config.php on the server, and re-uploaded and that cured the problem
Thanks for your help

Andy