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WordPress How to Make a Website with WordPress Installing WordPress The Famous 5-Minute WordPress Install

Steve Rimmer
Steve Rimmer
3,055 Points
Posted by Steve Rimmer
Steve Rimmer
3,055 Points

If I use one-click install can I get access to the directory files?

If I use one-click can I download the directory files that are received when downloading the wordpress zip in the 5 minute install? If so, can I modify these files locally and then update back to the one click host?

3 Answers

Lisa Wells
Lisa Wells
1,082 Points
Lisa Wells
Lisa Wells
1,082 Points

Yes, for sure.

Steve Rimmer
Steve Rimmer
3,055 Points
Steve Rimmer
Steve Rimmer
3,055 Points

Thanks Lisa, do you know how this is done? I only see the option to export as an xml file but no way of exporting it as the files and folders

Lisa Wells
Lisa Wells
1,082 Points
Lisa Wells
Lisa Wells
1,082 Points

Regardless of your mode of installation (one-click or other), I'm assuming you have a host and on your host there's a directory for your site with a bunch of WordPress files and folders. Broadly speaking, you're going to either download and upload that stuff through your host's file manager or you're going to use ftp.

That exporting xml of which you speak? You're right, that is only one component. In working on WordPress sites in more than one location, I think of dealing with 3 components: (1) Your MySQL database, which has its own import/export through phpMyAdmin, (2) Your WordPress data, which xml export you have seen, and (3) Those files and folders you're looking for.

Here's the question you have to answer, though: Do you want to (1) Just download the files, make changes, upload the files, and see what happens on your hosted site, or (2) Have a working copy of your site running locally so you can make the changes, see what happens on your local version, and upload the files to the hosted site when you're satisfied?

Steve Rimmer
Steve Rimmer
3,055 Points
Steve Rimmer
Steve Rimmer
3,055 Points

Thanks again lisa. What I would like to have is a copy of the site running locally. To get a copy of these files do I use export in phpMyAdmin on cPanel? Or should I download a backup of the website?

Lisa Wells
Lisa Wells
1,082 Points
Lisa Wells
Lisa Wells
1,082 Points

It's a whole thing, but a good thing to learn.

First, you need a server and a way to make a database on your local. I would install MAMP for that if you're on a Mac. (https://www.mamp.info/en/)

I found both of these helpful in learning how to do this: https://managewp.com/how-to-create-a-local-copy-of-a-live-wordpress-site http://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-tutorials/how-to-move-live-wordpress-site-to-local-server/

(If, like me, you find your links redirecting constantly to your live site, you've forgotten to change the site url and home page in the options table of your database. That won't make sense to you until later.)

Take a day and a deep breath. Good luck!