need advice on testing & modifying themes

[walrus]

Originally Posted by ponygirl

need some expertise here...I want to make some changes to my blog. I have a wordpress theme that I would like to customize, (I want to go from a 2 column to a 3) but obviously I don't want to be switching themes back and forth on my live blog while I do that.

what's the best way to do this? Install another copy of wordpress in a subfolder as a test blog? I hope this isn't a stupid question but it's been so long since I installed the first one that I feel like I'm starting over. Which I guess I am

thanks in advance for any suggestions!

I did just what your saying. Created a test folder, imported some posts via RSS and use that to test themes, plugins, etc.

[ponygirl]

Originally Posted by walrus

I did just what your saying. Created a test folder, imported some posts via RSS and use that to test themes, plugins, etc.

how did you import the posts? I'd like to import the whole thing, apparently I can do that with a wxr file but my current (live) version of WP doesn't have an export function to make the file. Is there another way to do that?

[walrus]

I only imported from the current RSS feed at the time. Figured 10 posts was enough to play with. You should have a import under options.

To do the whole thing, I think I'd just duplicate my current database.

[ponygirl]

Originally Posted by walrus

I only imported from the current RSS feed at the time. Figured 10 posts was enough to play with. You should have a import under options.

To do the whole thing, I think I'd just duplicate my current database.

awesome, thanks. I can't believe I figured out how to do this LOL it feels like I'm dusting off my brain again

the RSS was fine, I don't need any more than that.

thanks rachelo & walrus, I've got something to play with this weekend

[walrus]

Originally Posted by ponygirl

thanks rachelo & walrus, I've got something to play with this weekend

I thought that was called a hubby?