Can I run a local website with this software?

Problems with the Windows version of XAMPP, questions, comments, and anything related.

Can I run a local website with this software?

Postby herbmeehan » 25. March 2011 00:12

Seems to be just a service with no UI or interface options to add a website. I was expecting something like IIS (in terms of installation and using right out of the box).

Isn't this software made to host local sites? Why does this seem like a huge surprise? I'm just frustrated that the whole "hosting local sites" is a very hidden feature.

So I spent an hour playing the guessing game...

Clicking [Admin] under Apache will launch http://localhost/xampp
There, I can see the status.

Clicking [Explore] along the ride side will open a folder.
There, I see a lot of folders. I assume that websites go into the htdocs folder, but that's just a guess. If I copy a website (folder with php files), how would I simply turn this into a local site? Did I just install a virus? :(

/Dead End
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Re: Can I run a local website with this software?

Postby Altrea » 25. March 2011 06:12

herbmeehan wrote:Seems to be just a service with no UI or interface options to add a website. I was expecting something like IIS (in terms of installation and using right out of the box).

you can use it right out of the box. Where is the problem?

herbmeehan wrote:Isn't this software made to host local sites?

Sure, it is. Especially for developing on your local machine.

herbmeehan wrote:Why does this seem like a huge surprise?

Because you made it like a huge surprise!?

herbmeehan wrote:I'm just frustrated that the whole "hosting local sites" is a very hidden feature.

What is hidden for you? Maybe thats because you don't read the readme file which comes with your installation?

herbmeehan wrote:Clicking [Admin] under Apache will launch http://localhost/xampp
There, I can see the status.

not only a status. In the XAMPP Administration Panel you can directly access your Database Administration Tool "phpmyadmin", you can see which modules and extensions are installed in your installation in "phpinfo()". And there are some basic scripts too to test if it's everything alright.

herbmeehan wrote:I assume that websites go into the htdocs folder, but that's just a guess.

Don't guess. Read: http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp-windows.html#1168

herbmeehan wrote:If I copy a website (folder with php files), how would I simply turn this into a local site?

Read the same again: http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp-windows.html#1168

And if this don't help you, read the FAQ: http://www.apachefriends.org/en/faq-xampp-windows.html
We don't provide any support via personal channels like PM, email, Skype, TeamViewer!

It's like porn for programmers 8)
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Re: Can I run a local website with this software?

Postby herbmeehan » 25. March 2011 19:49

Thanks for the response. I tried Wamp last night and it had a UI that allowed you to "add website", and it was very straight forward. Although, it was buggy. So Xampp has a much better backend, but as long as you can get around the limited UI.

The FAQ doesn't clearly state how to do this or how it works, but my guess was correct. After spending a few hours on this, I'd tell a new person the following:

My "How to install and view a local website"

All your sites will be contained in the 'C:\xampp\htdocs' Directory

Copy your site's folder over to C:\xampp\htdocs

In this example, we have a folder called "MyWebsite", that contains the website (php, html, image, css, etc). Copy over the website to the C:\xampp\htdocs folder, which looks like:

C:\xampp\htdocs\MyWebsite

To view this website on your machine, go to http://localhost/MyWebsite/
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