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Alan N.
Alan N.
User

What is best practice for version control  en

Author: Alan N.
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Hi, what is the best way to manage versions of a project/website? For example, I have a live or production version, a improved version under development and maybe another version in test. I understand that creating multiple versions of a project is easy but how best to replace the current live version with a new one but retain full configuration control? This is not an urgent request just keen on best practice. Thanks, Alan

Posted on the
7 ANSWERS
Anthony A.
Anthony A.
User

I'm not quite sure what you are asking, but you need to keep your uptodate version and make sure you are keeping the project file and not just published website. in the time of disaster, only project file can be imported back to the program and not published website!

if this post is the correct answer, please mark this answer as correct answer.

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Posted on the from Anthony A.
Donald B.
Donald B.
User

Hello Alan, it appears you're asking about file management for your websites and having different versions of the same website.  Without transferring files in and out of X5 and or folders you will need seperate named versions to manage a single site within X5.  E.G.: "MySiteVer001", "MySite_001", "My Site 3-26-2014", "my_site_03262014RevA".  Choose a system you're comfortable with to identify the version or revision.  I will have to do this myself in the near future.

Regards - Donald 

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Posted on the from Donald B.
Alan N.
Alan N.
User
Author

Thanks Donald,

By separate named versions do you mean projects? This is what I am currently using as i have a live web site that I make minor updates to and a development version which was a copy of the project but with which I am experimenting with Website X5 and to which I will have to re-apply the updates I have made to the current live version if I launch it. This applies for each of the project copies I make. I just wonderd if this was the best practice - or if there is a better way, such as using the properties of each page to record revision identifiers.

Regards

Alan

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Posted on the from Alan N.
Donald B.
Donald B.
User

I'm just starting with X5, leaving FrontPage and another program out of Canada, so I cannot answer your last question.  With FP it was very simple to "copy and paste" the whole site/project to another folder/drive or to rename and "save as".  What's important is when you open the project or site that all of the objects and "stuff" will load and still be there.

Some people like to keep everything in seperate folders for images, macros and/or videos.  Some programs have everything within the project folder and it may take a long time to load and manage a large site.  I'm a CAD Designer and we have models, drawings, PDFs and images all over our network on different servers which is fine. Until a file is moved, deleted, renamed or given a new revision.  I don't know the file structure of X5 yet and if you move a project if all the assocations and links to other folders are kept. Or if you loose everything because the project is being opened in a folder/drive other than the original.

I think it's just a simple choice of renaming your site/project by whatever method or storing it in another folder/drive and knowing where all the assets are that belong to that project.

Maybe one of the moderators or Incomedia Pros can check in on this.

Good Day - Donald

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Posted on the from Donald B.
Incomedia
Claudio D.
Incomedia

Hello Alan,

You can use the way you prefer and the program offers you the possibility to duplicate the project in the project selection list or you can directly export it as IWZIP file so you have also a backup copy you can keep on a different drive.

Many thanks!

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Posted on the from Claudio D.
Alan N.
Alan N.
User
Author

Thanks for your comments Claudio and Donald, and yes I am finding it easy to cut and paste objects or pages from one project to another so version control is looking to be less of a problem than I thought it might be.

Obvously having one version and continuously updating it is easy but I have a live version, a version I am experimenting with adding a shopping cart and paypal items and another version where someone else is updating part of the website, so am keen to ensure merging the different versions doesn't lose or overwirte anything. So far its working.

Best regards, Alan

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Posted on the from Alan N.
Incomedia
Claudio D.
Incomedia

Hello Alan,

Before you update the live version by pasting parts from the other projects remember to export the project as IWZIP file so you will have a backup copy in case something is overwritten.

In any case the program creates automatically backup files which can be recovered.

Many thanks!

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Posted on the from Claudio D.