Best way to develop site with existing site up?

I have never done it this way but I need to create a complete site with databases, store, forms etc etc but keeping the existing website up until I am finished. I usually was able to just take down the site and upload as I go but not this time.

I have a testing server setup but when I test it live it just shows the CMS install screen.

So what is the best way to develop this new site and see it live without taking down the existing one and being able to easily transfer it when it's done?

create a subdomain in your existing site. This would mean creating a sub folder in the root of the site for the new site,

/newsitefiles

then creating a subdomain that will point to the new subfolder:

newsitefiles.domain.com/


once the site is finished, move the site files from the /newsitefiles folder to the root of the site.

All of the links and code will not have to be changed correct?

Correct, that's why you set up a sub domain, so that link paths don't change.

I want to create template site with CMS in them. I am so confused and now brain exausted searching Youtube, forums, past products...

The names change and product changes... not like version xx.xx.xx no a whole new name and another place to spend hours searching for the "how to"

I upgrated to super suite and do kindly ask... Where in the heck do I begin. Frame work builder, Cms, Power cms, site sculpter...geeeeeezzzaaa.

You can either use Site Sculptor to create the Site based on a template and have it include CMS in the site.

Or you can create your site manually using the template, and add CMS to it using Power CMS Builder.

Thank you for the guidance. I am wanting to creat a series of "industry specific contractory types... plumber for example .
Ok.. so like hundreds upon hundreds of templates and then "some how" have them available in a "shopping" cart like environment for viewing and purchse... and set them up for hosting unde a subdomain or the traditional way... I back bone off of as a reseller and have a dedicated server...
Whew! Ok.. got a game plan Amigo?

This is going to take some considerable coding to accomplish creating something like this.

convert the templates to themes using Framework builder

Themes can be applied dynamically.

When the users purchases a site, you could create a global file in the site that would set session variables to control the theme that is used along with other settings like database connection settings.

To get familiar with framework builder themes, see the video on our you tube channel:
watch?v=45T3UIzEfNM&list=PL21CA2EF37DE22B2C&index=3&feature=plpp_video