Staging Database and Live Database

8 posts by 3 authors in: Forums > CMS Builder
Last Post: September 22, 2009   (RSS)

By garyhoffmann - September 19, 2009

Hi - I have a prospect who wants the ability to have a staging database so they can stage a new article, changes to content, etc., then once everyone is happy to be able to "publish" this content to the live database.

This will not just be a site-development-time need, but an ongoing, forever need.

Does anyone have an idea of how to do this in CMS Builder?

Thanks in advance.
Gary.

Re: [garyhoffmann] Staging Database and Live Database

By gkornbluth - September 19, 2009

just a quick idea... There may be others.

You might try

1) "Hiding" the page from view on the live website with a special hidden field check box.

2) Then have the folks that need to make changes do them in the section editor.

3)Only un-hide the page, allowing it to be seen on the web site when it's "approved".

You can restrict the final approval to an administrator if that's helpful.

Best,

Jerry Kornbluth
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Re: [gkornbluth] Staging Database and Live Database

By garyhoffmann - September 19, 2009

Thank you for the reply - that's what I was planning for new stuff, other than I want them to be able to see it in context, so I do need some way for them to see this in a site context even though it's hidden from the live site.

Also, my concern was also about editing existing content.

Thanks again.
Gary.

Re: [garyhoffmann] Staging Database and Live Database

By Chris - September 19, 2009

Hi Gary,

You can create a second viewer (or set of viewers) which doesn't skip over "hidden" records and keep the URL secret.

For example:

list($blogRecords, $blogMetaData) = getRecords(array(
'tableName' => 'blog',

'ignoreHidden' => true, // don't hide records with hidden flag set
'ignorePublishDate' => true, // don't hide records with publishDate > now
'ignoreRemoveDate' => true, // don't hide records with removeDate < now
));

I'll try to think of a way to stage editing of existing records...
All the best,
Chris

Re: [garyhoffmann] Staging Database and Live Database

By Chris - September 22, 2009

Hi Gary,

Unfortunately, staging edits to records is something that's not really supported by the current software.

One solution might be to have a staging and live website, and use the backup and restore feature to sync them. There'd still be a few steps involved though.

If you come up with a work-flow that works for you, please let us know.

P.S. We could also add a staged record edits feature with some custom programming. Please let us know if you're interested in that.
All the best,
Chris

Re: [chris] Staging Database and Live Database

By garyhoffmann - September 22, 2009

Hi Chris,

Please quote it for me. I'd like to know what to tell the prospect if this is something really important to them.

Thanks,
Gary.

Re: [garyhoffmann] Staging Database and Live Database

By Chris - September 22, 2009

Hi Gary,

I'll write you an email. :)
All the best,
Chris