If you need to export your WordPress site from one server and import to another server (aka move your WordPress install) and you are using Desktop Server from ServerPress.com, here is step by step instructions on doing this.
We will make the following assumptions:
A) Your current WordPress site is on a cPanel server. If it isn't you can simply use the file manager in your hosting control panel, or simply use old and reliable FTP application/software.
If you do not have a good FTP appllication/software we recommend the free Filezilla, both for the Windows PC, and MAC PC and if you are using Linux there is a FileZilla version for you as well. Click to be taken to the FileZilla dowload page.(will open in new browser window).
B) You already have Desktop Server installed on your Windows PC or MAC PC. You MUST have the Desktop Server Premium (opens in new window) to be able to preform this task.
C) You have Access to your Wordpress MySQL database through an application in your cPanel (or other web hosting control panel) called phpMyAdmin to export your database.
Now make sure you have your cPanel (control pane) login details (or FTP appliation/software login details). And lets get started....
Step 1) We will need to download your WordPress files that make up WordPress.
a) Using your cPanel Control Panel go to the the "Files" block and in the "Files" block look for the the "File Manager" icon.
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b) After clicking the "File Manager" icon a "File Manager directroy Selection box will open. To keep things simple, select "Web Root (public_html/www) then make sure "the check box besides "Show Hidden Files (dotfiles)" is checked and then click on the "Go" button.
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c) Once File Manager opens if your copy of WordPress is in the web root directory (meaning if you type in the web site domain name and it opens up your WordPress site in a browser that is web root. But if you have have your WordPress installed in sub directory (aka sub folder) you will need to navigate to that directory (folder) in File Manager. Example your WordPress site is at www.mysite.com/blog/ well in this case your WordPress files are in the "/blog" directory so in File Manager click on the blog directory).
Now once you see all your WordPress files you will need to highlight all your files, starting with the "wp-admin" folder click on it. (note: if you see a /cgi-bin directory, just open the folder to see if anything is in it, if not do not copy it, normally there will not be anything in it for a standard WordPress install). Now go all the way down to the bottom file and while holding down the "Shift" key on your key board left click. Now all your files should be highlighted. If they are not, start the process over again.
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d) Now with all your WordPress files highlighted, you will want to click on the "Compress" icon (might look like "Compre..." looks like a open box with a green arrow pointing into the box). The Compress window will now open up. Under "Compression Type:" select "Zip Archive". The compress file will more than likely be wp-admin.zip, you can change the name to anything you like if you wish but make sure it has the .zip extension on the end. And for simplicity leave it in the /public_html directory. So if you leave it as wp-admin.zip, it should show as /public_html/wp-admin.zip. Now click on "Compress File(s)" button.
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e) Depending on how busy the web server is, it could take a few moments or longer to compress the files and the resouls will be the Compression Results window showing all the compress files and the amount each file was compressed showing in percentage. Now go ahead and close the "Compression Results" window.
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d) After closing the "Compression Results" window you will look for the compressed zip file you just saved. If you left it as wp-admin, it will look like wp-admin.zip (Should you not see the zip file, try pressing the reload icon (two green arrows going in circles) on the toolbar and locate the zip archive in the results pane) Now you will want to download the file to your local computer, so just click the zip file and it will highlight. Now click on the "Download" icon at the top of the page, looks like globe with a green arrow pointing down. Make SURE you remember where you saved the file on your computer. CRITICAL - Now remember to delete the zip file you created after you downloaded it in the file manger on the server. Leaving the archive file on the live server will create a security risk.
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e) Now unzip (unpack) the downloaded file and remember where it is at, you will need to add the MySQL database file to it in Step 2.
Step 2) Exporting the WordPress MySQL Database - We will want to use phpMyAdmin which can be found in all web hosting control panels. We will need to export and download the MySQL database to your local computer.
a) We should still be logged into cPanel (or your web hosting control panel) and if in cPanel look for the "Databases" block and click on "phpMyAdmin" icon.
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b) phpMyAdmin will open in its own window, most hosts it will login automatically other hosts might require you to enter your login details again. phpMyAdmin will open up and your will need to select the MySQL database on the left had column that is associated with your WordPress web site. The database name will be in this format xxxxxx_xxxx. If you do not know where to find this, read this article "How to Determine your WordPress Database Name"
So click on the correct database name
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c) After clicking on the database name you will see a set of tabs at the top of the page one of which will be "Export", click on it. Now if you have a small to medium size site selecting "Quick - display only the minimal options" will work fine.
----> However, if you have a larger WordPress site it maybe more efficient to select the "Custom - display all possible options" export option and set the additional parameter for “INSERT INTO tble_name VALUES (1, 2, 3)”. In the current version of phpMyAdmin (3.5.8 at time of writing of this article) this option is also known as “neither of the above” in the data dump options section. This setting may increase the time it takes for imports to be processed but can also isolate malformed content or “bad data” (more than likely from a third party plugin that is misbehaving) from interfering with your post and page data. <----
AFTER DOWNLOADING YOUR MySQL DATABASE FILE TO YOUR COMPUTER RENAME IT TO: database.sql
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d) Now the location folder on your computer should now have all the two files you downloaded. The zip file from Step 1 and your MySQL database from this Step 2.
It is IMPORTANT that your database.sql file is in the same folder as your wp-config.php file (which is a file part of your zip file you downloaded). If you haven't unzipped the zip file yet please do so now before preceeding.
e) Now with the database.sql file in the same folder as the unzipped WordPress files, go ahead and zip them up all together (minus the original zip file).
NOTE: If you have a large amount of images and / or videos in your wp-content folder. You might wish to remove the wp-content folder from the final zip file only to safe space. if you decide to do this just simply move over your wyour website's folder after the import process completes within Desktop Server.
Step 3) Ready to Import Your Website to Desktop Server
a) OK, we will assume you started up DesktopServer on your Windows PC or MAC. If you haven't, do so now. After you have started up DesktopServer select "Export, import or share a website." And click the "Next button"
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b) Now select "Import an existing WordPress website archive." And then click Next button.
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c) On the following page you will see "Import File" go ahead and click the button with the "..." and import the file you saved in Step 2e. Now with the Import File located and selected in the Site name field give this imorted WordPress site a name. I would recommend you use the real sites domain name but leave off the .com/.net or other .tld. Just replace the "www.example" with your domain name. In the Site Root files this is where you will be saving the site. I would recommend using the "Browse" button below the Site Root field and saving it in a location you will know.
d) Now you are ready to click on "Next". After clicking Desktop Server will be Creating source folder, virtual hosts, and server name entries and basically preparing the site on your Windows PC or MAC. Not if you get an Error notice just go ahead and click on Continue. And once you see "Done!" click on "Next >" button.
e) Now your WordPress site has been fully Imported to your Windows PC / MAC. Click on the URL to open.
Step 4) Now you need to Export Using Desktop Server to the Live Server You might review this ServerPress article: http://serverpress.com/tag/export/
a) You will need to do a MANUAL install of WordPress on the live server (manual install for security reasons).
b) Once the WordPress is installed on the Live server you will need to search for and install "DesktopServer for WordPress" and activate
c) Now use the DesktopServer's "Direct deploy to an existing server" option.
