eWeb Deployment Tool
A typical netFORUM installation will include a development, test and live database. In the interest of version control and content management, you will want to manage your eWeb sites across multiple environments. You may decide to develop content in a test or development environment, and then move it to a live environment after it has been tested. The process of moving content from one environment to another is called Deployment and is managed with the Deployment tool.
In the netFORUM CMS you can deploy an entire site, a section or a single page. Deploying an entire site will move all the sections, pages, links and posting information. Deploying a Section will move the section properties, enclosed pages and content details. Moving pages just deploys the page properties and content details. Note that forms, wizards, physical files and other site assets are not deployed by this process. You can also use the deploy tool to create a duplicate site in the same database.
Open the Deployment tool from netFORUM in the source database by clicking the Deploy Content icon.
Source
When you fist open the Deploy tool, you will see two sections: Source and Connection.
In the Source box you will select the object you want to deploy (site, section or page). If you select section or page, an additional drop-down field will appear allowing you to select the particular item you wish to deploy.
Connection
Deployment is the process of moving content from a source to a destination database. In the Connection box you must enter the destination server and database information, and log in. You can find the server information in netFORUM by clicking the About netFORUM link under the Help question mark icon, in the top-right corner of the interface, as shown in the following diagram. You must use an administrative password or have SQL privileges to make this connection. Click the Connect button to connect.
Destination
Once a successful connection is made, a third box (Destination) will appear below the others. In this box you will enter information that will determine the function you wish to perform on the source object at the destination.
The following information will help you determine which function to select for Operation to Perform:
- Create New - Choose this option if you want to create a new and unique copy of the source content. This means that it will create the same content with a unique key at the destination. Since it is unique, you have the opportunity to change the name and description of the content. Use this option if you want to make an all-new version of a site or page without association with the original.
- Create Copy - Use this option to create an exact duplicate of the source, with the same unique key. You would use this option to deploy an identical version of a site, section or page on a live environment. This way you can continually maintain identical test and live versions with updates using the next option.
- Update Existing - This option will be available if the same content (with the same unique key) exists in the destination database. You will use this option to deploy content from your test site to your live site, for example. It allows you to maintain two sites (in different databases) in direct relationship.
- Replace Existing - Warning! Do not use this option if you are deploying to the same database. It will delete the source data before it attempts to copy the deleted information.
Note: Note that the Destination Site Code must not have any punctuation or spaces and is less than 10 characters long. The Destination Site Description should not have any quote marks or you will have problems with site-based queries.
After reviewing your source and destination information click the Start Operation button and wait for the process to complete.
Case Study: Create eWeb Site
If you want to "clone" or copy the netFORUM Baseline eWeb website, for example if you are starting a new implementation, then follow the directions below.
1. Navigate to the baseline eWeb Web Site from within the CMS module. This site ships with baseline netFORUM.
2. Click on the deploy content button.
3. Pressing this button will launch the Deploy Web Content page (see nearby image). In the What To Deploy drop-down list, choose Site.
4. Enter connection information and point to the same database.
5. In Destination, in Operation to Perform, choose Create New.
6. In the Destination Site Code, enter the code to call the new site; this is typically the client's abbreviation. Also enter a Destination Site Description. IMPORTANT: Observe naming rules as described in Web Sites; essentially: alphanumeric only, no spaces or non-alphanumeric characters.
7. Leave the Destination Entity as the default.
8. Once you have confirmed the information, press the Start Operation button.
9. You will be prompted for confirmation; click "OK"
10. After the operation is done, check the new eweb site. Any customization should be done on the client site instead of the baseline eweb site.
11. You will probably want to update the DefaultWebSiteCode attribute in the /eWeb/web.config file to point to this newly created site. See Web Site for more on this.