How to customize wp theme offline or "not live"?

I suggest setting up a separate test blog somewhere in a different directory or even a subdomain on your domain. Then you can go crazy experimenting all you want. When you get the theme how you want just copy it over to the live one.

As Jeff said, a separate installation of WordPress is the easiest way to do this - it's also a good way to determine the optimum setting for plugins and other configuration settings.

You can simply install another instance of WordPress in a subdirectory off your main site. Another method is to use WAMP to install an Apache Server, MySQL and PHP on your Windows workstation. You can then install Word Press under WAMP and edit your themes and settings offline.

Once you have your "development site" working perfectly you can mimic the installation on your hosting account and use WordPress's Export function to transfer the content.

I have a separate Ubuntu LINUX server that I use for exactly this sort of thing, by creating virtual servers I test and adjust every aspect of my site before putting it on my hosting account. Not only does it let you "fine tune" everything offline, it also has another use - I keep my local copy synchronized with the production site with periodic backups, effectively giving me a disaster recovery mechanism.

Bill

thank you guys, i heard about the wamp thing and also XAMPP thing, but i never even thought about what houdy said about using a subdomain. that would be the best way for me since i am not very technical. ill give both a try. thank you so much for taking the time to explain it to me.

I'm pretty sure there is a plugin that does something along the lines of what you're looking for. In a nutshell, you (as the admin) would be able to test drive the theme you are making changes to while visitors to your site would see the default theme.

Go to wordpress.org/extend/plugins and type in themes and see if any of those plugins might be of value to you.

Thanks,

Leron

I install WP for clients and use a "test" domain to set it up so we can talk about the design features / colors and placement that they want. It allows one to view the changes quickly and then you can reproduce them on the domain installation.

Terry

if me, i create localhost in my PC, its more fast

I have a test domain on a .info address which I use as my playground.

I recently brought a WSO called Instant Wordpress which gives the features of WP on your local PC so you can work offline (and no technical skills required to install it). Have only just started using it but so far it is working well - I find it a great environment for teaching yourself how the code works.

what do you mean by wp theme and how is it use in wordpress