Page content doesn't display when opening existing page from a remote server.

[pvandermost]

I am trying to update a page (.PHP) from an existing, older website.  Upon opening, no content or code is displayed...the application suggests that the page includes "dynamically linked content" and asks if I would like it to open, I click "yes" and a progress bar at the top just endlessly appears to spin.   NOTHING HAPPENS and it appears to freeze the file, so I have to force-cancel the application.   This is by no means a complicated page I'm trying to edit...it has some CSS, a nav menu and an accordion containing the data I need to edit.    Using a MAC.   Please help?!!??!!

[creativedigitalnz]

So you've downloaded all the linked pages/data too? (silly question probably sorry)

Also, are you trying to view in code or design view?

[pvandermost]

No content is displayed in any of the modes.

Sent from my iPhone

[BenPleysier]

So that we do not have a guessing game, could you give us the link to the site?

[pvandermost]

Http://westernemulsions.com

Sent from my iPhone

[BenPleysier]

The reason that I asked for the link is so that I could see if a framework like WordPress or similar was used. It is not.

So now we have a look at your local system.

PHP needs a server to translate the code to HTML. For this you need to install the server on your local system. To do this have a look at Setting up a local testing server in Dreamweaver CS5 | Adobe Developer Connection. Although the article refers to Dreamweaver CS5, the instructions are relevant for all versions of Dreamweaver.

[Nancy OShea]

If you're on a Mac, you need to install Xampp or Mamp server to parse PHP code locally.  Choose the PHP version that most closely matches your site's code (PHP 5x).

• Download XAMPP
• https://www.mamp.info/en/downloads/

Define your local testing server in DW.  In the example below, I'm using Wamp server on Windows and my default web folder is www.  In your case however, the server will be either Xampp or Mamp and the default web folder will be htdocs.  See screenshots.

Nancy

[pvandermost]

I have set everything up as directed and it is still returning an “unknown error” message when I try to load the dynamic content. Progress in the sense that the code is now displayed.

[Nancy OShea]

Is your site's content stored in a database? 

If yes, you'll need to export the SQL tables and data from your remote server and import into  your local server.

For exporting and importing SQL,  I use phpMyAdmin.