Dreamweaver CS5 & WordPress 3.2 editing-"Remotely" with "live view" & "inspect" mode

[GatlingNJC]

- I have created a local site folder, where a copy of my remote files will be stored on my hard drive, and I have successfully completed the connection with      my ftp-remote server.

- I have checked the "passive ftp" box in the advance tab, which is located in the server section.

- I have checked the boxes, which are next to my installed server, titled, "remote" and "testing".

- I have "Get" & "Put" my "Entire site" to my "Local File".

I can browse "dynamically-related files", but to limited extent.  I cannot see any div tags, or header-php tags, etc when I am "Inspect" in "Live View".

At one point when I first downloaded, I was able to edit my header div tag and see more files than I am now.  However, I cannot anymore.

My index.php page, which I understand to be my home site page, is contains a .php re-direct, which my web-host techs tell me is a command to tell wp to get  those files & content.

Is there a WordPress File that I can open and "Put Dependent Files" in order to see all dynamically-related code & locations?  I am not talking about "related files" I see the individual files which compose the pages of my site.  I am looking to find them as an integrated whole-related to my specific site pages.

When I had DW set up on my "localhost", I was able to utilize the full extent of "dynamically-related files" in "live view" and "inspect" mode.

I have read too many unsure posts on various forums to understand what on earth DW CS5 is capable of doing based solely on the remote server & remote directory.

Please Help by communicating links you use to answer these specifics and or be extremely clear.  Also, I would like responses only from those who have direct experience with CS5; I appreciate the willingness to help, that's great effort:)

Thank You Tramendously!

[Guest]

I am also having trouble figuring out just what dreamweaver cs5 can do in relation to wordpress.  Can I view my php files that access my sites real database?  I really don't want a test database.  I want to be able to edit my php inside dreamweaver and use the live view to display all the posts/pages (as called by the php) inside my already existing wordpress sites database that is hosted by yahoo.

[GatlingNJC]

Hello Jenn,

You can use live view/inspect to edit your site based on the remote file directory only.  However, because php files and commands are dispersed throughout the WP theme and framework you are limited in see all the data on a single page.  For example, if you view your home page in live view and inspect you will probably only see the div tags/parts which are found on a single file, like body.html.  So, you would have to select specific .css files and other content files in order to find the bits and pieces which WP organizes together.  Thus explains the benefit of using a local server.

As of now, DW CS5 can only utilize the power of the local server to enable you to see ALL the WP bits in real time-"live view".

Lynda.com has a great video on setting up your local server, installing WP and establishing WP on your DW cs5 site.  Search for Dreamweaver CS5 & Wordpress   In addition they have sections related to DW/WP integration.

Setting up a local server & DWsite is really easy.  Connecting that site to the remote server is another story.  Which is where I ran into difficulty.  I made it as far as setting up a MySQL data base on the remote server, then I had to call an expert for help because those who know how to finish the problem and willing to walk you through it are rare.

What I did learn was that it is very helpful if you name your MySQL databases the same and you give them the same username and passwords. This pretains to the part where you edit the config.php page, so it holds the same data.

I did find a great coach who walked me through it during a Skype session.  His name is Jeff Lambert and his site is: WebPhysiology.com

I actually found him on a LinkedIN group called, Wordpress Experts.

In addition to helping integrate my local and remote directories, he helped me change some data prefix tables in my data base so that I am less vulnerable to hacks.

And, he helped me organize my theme files so that I am editing the child theme rather than the integrated parent theme. (my theme is pageLines and it's a frameworked theme, which is really not the best type of theme to be editing in DreamWeaver).

So, Jeff helped me beyond my expectations and taught me more about DW and site setup/structure than I ever wanted to know:)

I was so relieved after his help because I spent the last month failing at this DW setup and constantly feeling anxious because I thought that I was doing something wrong.

If you've connected to your site remotely, you are doing nothing wrong, DWcs5's live/inspect tools are somewhat limited when it comes to that type of setup.

Although you can setup a local server after you have setup the remote server, Jeff has said that this type of setup is not 100% fool proof; so, it's best to set up just like DW and the tutorials instruct.

You'll make it!

And, you can check out my site; although, I am still developing it.

All the Best,

Dustin

* if this response has helped you I would appreciate you checking the "yes, my question, has been answered box" and pass the knowledge along;  Thanks!

[Guest]

Thank you so much!!!  I have been up and down the lynda.com videos including most of both you mentioned.  It is really only when I try to use my own sites files that I seem to run into problems and I greatly appreciate the answers about the remote viewing.  I have been thru the set up tutorials so many time and yes they are very easy but don't do much for the trouble shooting when it doesn't go right.  And they all seem to assume that you are starting a site from scratch.  I haven't found much on how set up with existing site/database.

I also greatly appreciate the link to Jeff and you telling me how you found him.  I will definately be contacting him.

I took your advice.  Edited my db info inside the wp-config file on my computer to have localhost and changed the username and password.  I can now view my site files (sort of - is giving me a 404 error in live view but at least it has the header/styling/sidebar.  It is only missing the main content which is in the database in form or posts and pages!) and it is also showing the related files.  This is progress!  Thank you Thank You Thank You! You just made my day.

Still getting an error: "dynamically-related files could not be resolved because the site definition is not correct for this server"

Made a few changes.  Still getting it.  I think I will got thru the tutorials again. There are settings everywhere and I have tried so many times I have lost track of what is set to what.

But enough for today.  I will likely try some more things when I get home from work tonight.

Thank you for your words of encouragement.  I haven't felt this stupid since the day I started trying to make my first website and spent 16 hours trying to post a coming soon page only to find out that I had a space in the file name.  That was about 5-6 years ago.  Considering I have had no formal training and only work on a need to know basis since this is not my profession and only took on the project because we could not afford to pay someone to create a site for my husbands music I think I am doing pretty good.  I am sure what ever is going on is likely rediculously simple - just need to find someone to go thru step by step and see what I am over looking.

Message was edited by: jennlmont I am not seeing an option to suggest that the post was answered.  I am assuming because i was not the original poster.

[AlanGilbertson]

As I found out the hard way, the "dynamically-related files could not be resolved because the site definition is not correct for this server" error shows up if you have changed the default permalink configuration in Wordpress to anything other than the default. I would guess that is the issue here.

[Guest]

I struggled with the same issue.  I tried all the tips and tricks given here and elsewhere.  I then had the thought to just change the Wordpress folder name back to wordpress.  POOF!  Issue gone and the whole site is now running remotely on my Mac using Dreamweaver, MAMP and WordPress. 

Sometimes those "it can't be that simple" thoughts are ones we should listen to more!