Apache Friends Support Forum

Hi there

I have tried to find a solution for my issue on the forum, but am not sure what to call it or whether it is in fact possible.

Basically, I store (and access) all my files from a setup similar to DropBox (called LiveDrive.com) which allows me to access them whether I am at my office or working from home.

Due to this, I havent used XAMPP as I always understood it that all files needed to be located in /localhost/

Someone mentioned to me the other day that this might not be the case and that I could run XAMPP and access the files that are on my Livedrive 'server'

Many thanks in advance for any and all help and advice.

Regards

Jamie

I tried different solutions with Dropbox and never got it working. I do, however, still use dropbox for backup and then use /localhost to store the "live" files.

You can use Dropbox for Storing the data files (mysql\data Database files and htdocs script files) and access them from there.
Simply set the paths for the folders in your Apache and MySQL configurations.

I've tested that with a default Joomla installation and it works like a charme.

But you still need XAMPP on every computer to run the executables.

Sorry I can't test this so it is only a suggestion ay this stage but if someone else might test it and report back if it works then it may an alternative method of achieving the OP's objective

It is possible to extract XAMPP to a removal device like a USB stick using the zip or 7zip version but as usual you do not run the setup_xampp.bat file with archive version on portable devices.

Then it may be possible to manually set the paths only for the htdocs and data folders as suggested by Altrea, then use the USB stick at work and at home by transporting between each possibly without the need to install XAMPP on every computer.

Only a suggestion and would need to be tested by some kind soul.

Good luck.

Just one suggestion: relative paths can only work, if Dropbox (or similar services) uses the same folder on every computer. Dropbox uses in the typical installation a folder inside the users profile folder on windows. So, to make that theoretically run, you have to install Dropbox in custom installation or move the dropbox folder after installation in the configuration. The folder should be a folder you can find on all of your computers, like c:\dropbox\.

Maybe i will test that, if i can find some time

Thanks a million for those replies...am not in the office until tomorrow now so will tryuu setting it up that way then.

To do this is it easy to do oon an exiswting installation or better to go with a fresh install of XAMPP?

Cheers

Jamie

That depends on your installation.
I would start with a fresh installation (XAMPP zip Version) to test that out.

If you go down the track of a fresh install using the zip or 7zip XAMPP version as suggested by Altrea then these instructions may help make it a painless task.
viewtopic.php?p=179699#p179699

Good luck.

Altrea wrote:Just one suggestion: relative paths can only work, if Dropbox (or similar services) uses the same folder on every computer. Dropbox uses in the typical installation a folder inside the users profile folder on windows. So, to make that theoretically run, you have to install Dropbox in custom installation or move the dropbox folder after installation in the configuration. The folder should be a folder you can find on all of your computers, like c:\dropbox\.

With the help of mod_user it might be possible to access the (personalized) Dropbox folder on any Windows installation without the need of changing httpd.conf, the URL for accessing the files may look like http://localhost/~username/documents/dropbox (or similar).

Unfortunately, the Dropbox folder is not moveable to another location (like c:/dropbox), it must be located in the standard user area.

I have not had the need to use a user directory but there is a configuration file for use with mod_user in \xampp\apache\conf\extra\httpd-userdir.conf file.

hi there

Really sorry, I have been trying to figure out how to do this but just cant... am new to XAMPP etc and appreciate any steerage you can give me to get this setup please.

Altrea wrote:You can use Dropbox for Storing the data files (mysql\data Database files and htdocs script files) and access them from there.
Simply set the paths for the folders in your Apache and MySQL configurations.

Nobbie wrote:With the help of mod_user it might be possible to access the (personalized) Dropbox folder on any Windows installation without the need of changing httpd.conf, the URL for accessing the files may look like http://localhost/~username/documents/dropbox (or similar)

Many thanks

Jamie

Hi there

Where do I find the options to change the paths for the folders in Apache and MySQL?

Thanks

Jamie