Run Website offline from DVD

[sky writer]

Is it possible to save a copy of your WB website to DVD, so that those without internet access can view it?

[Stefek]

Have you tried the USB version?
http://www.websitebaker-portable.com/CMS/de/ueber-portable-edition.php

Regards,
Stefek

[sky writer]

I haven't tried it.  I did read the notes, but don't see anything about running from a DVD.  Do you know if it is possible?

[instantflorian]

Hi,

maybe it's easier to make a static copy of the website with a tool like HTTrack and put the generated HTML files on the dvd.

hth
_florian.

[Ruud]

maybe it's easier to make a static copy of the website with a tool like HTTrack and put the generated HTML files on the dvd.

Much easier..
Running from dvd/usb it first needs to install Apache, PHP and MySQL on the local machine (room for problems).
The WB config needs to be changed to the localhost version, all media inserted in WYSIWYG and others needs to be changed to localhost, etc.. etc..

A good "profile" in HTTrack copies a complete site in seconds as static html.

[sky writer]

Thank you Ruud and florian for saving me some time.  I started playing with WB portable last night, but it didn't seem to be what I needed.

What do you mean by "A good 'profile' in HTTrack"?

Here's a bit of background on my situation.  I was contacted by someone who wants to distribute content via DVD.  They currently have their content on a third party site, so the format is not exactly as he wants the end product.  I had already tried to make a copy of that site using HTTrack (among others), but the site requires a user name and password to enter, and even using the included features of these programs I couldn't manage to get past the login page.

But since the format of the current page is not really how he wants things, I thought I would take the content and create a design to his liking using WB.  So, are you saying I can create a WB website, and then HTTrack will make a complete static html copy of this site which would run from a DVD?

The site will have many mp4 videos, does that cause HTTrack any problems?

Would there be any benefit to creating the site using WB portable, instead of doing it online?  I've never used portable, other than my experiments last night.

[NorHei]

As far as i know WB Portable runns whith an integrated Webserver (Server2go.)
So it is a one klick solution and runns whithout installation. Only Disadvantage on a DVD might be that you cannot change anything once it is written.

Btw, 1-2 GB USB sticks cost about 2-5 € so why not use one of this?

I am not sure, but it even might be possible to activate the server via DVD or USB-stick autostart.

[Ruud]

With "the good profile" I meant setting the correct options for downloading things like scripts and embedded content (ie video).

MP4 videos will need a player. Browser security settings can prevent javascript/flash to run from the local file-system.
Make sure you test with different browsers (preferably the same the client uses) before presenting it to the customer. (You want to be able to answer questions about browser settings)

WB portable is a fully functional webserver/WB setup.
The benefit is, the possible problems above should not happen.
The contra is, you will need to do a website move every time you want to go from live to portable and vice versa

[sky writer]

Btw, 1-2 GB USB sticks cost about 2-5 € so why not use one of this?

The client wants hundreds of duplications, with business printing and packaging.

[Ruud]

The client wants hundreds of duplications, with business printing and packaging.

In my view that also means it needs to run on *nix, mac/ios, win95, winme, winxp, win..., win8, ....
That won't work with WB portable.

So a static html site (HTTrack rip) might still be the best solution.

[sky writer]

With "the good profile" I meant setting the correct options for downloading things like scripts and embedded content (ie video).

MP4 videos will need a player. Browser security settings can prevent javascript/flash to run from the local file-system.
Make sure you test with different browsers (preferably the same the client uses) before presenting it to the customer. (You want to be able to answer questions about browser settings)

WB portable is a fully functional webserver/WB setup.
The benefit is, the possible problems above should not happen.
The contra is, you will need to do a website move every time you want to go from live to portable and vice versa

I'll have to test HTTrack on one of my WB sites with video and see how it works out.

My thought on the mp4 (h.264) player was buying a JWPlayer license and embedding that.  Do you see any issue with this?

I'm not going to bother with WB Portable, as I am very comfortable with WB, and don't really have the time right now to figure out WB portable.

A little more background, the client actually contacted me to take the website content and produce a "video" DVD, but the site is so heavy on text, I informed him that video DVD was probably not the best medium for the project.  I then considered a bunch of multimedia options, but then I thought, since it is in website format now, and he wants it to keep that functionality (end users will be viewing on their computers), why not use WB and burn the website to DVD.  Now, I am wondering if I was chasing a dream that might not be a suitable final product.  I'll have to do some HTTrack testing and see.

Thanks for your guidance!

[sky writer]

So a static html site (HTTrack rip) might still be the best solution.

Do you mean I should create a static site and then use HTTrack to rip it?

Or do you mean, create the site in WB, and use HTTrack to rip an html static version?

[instantflorian]

Hi,

I meant to create the site in WB and then rip a static version with (Win-)HTTrack.
But there will probably a problem with the embedded videos, no matter which player you use. I can't imagine that HTTrack reads the parameters of the embed/object-tags... but give it a try.

BR
_florian.

[sky writer]

I am still working on this, and mostly still in the research stage.  I found LitePXP.com which looks like it will run a php site from DVD.  I am going to do some tests, but now I am wondering if I should develop the site locally with WB portable, or still do it online.  If I develop online, then I have to ftp download all files, so I was thinking it would make more sense to just develop with WB portable.

Any suggestions?

[dbs]

Something to WebsiteBaker-Portable: This is what you need, nothing else.

The current settings are for USB or HDD (and this are the best solutions for offline-presentation), but it is only one little change needed to use it with CD/DVD.
Than you can make your Design or whatever and copy the whole folder to DVD.

Download WebsiteBaker Portable from http://www.websitebaker-portable.com
- extract it
- open the file pms_config.ini (to find in the root-folder)
- edit line 21 from "StartLocal=1" to "StartLocal=0"
- burn the whole folder to DVD
- make a presentation of finest

[sky writer]

Something to WebsiteBaker-Portable: This is what you need, nothing else.

The current settings are for USB or HDD (and this are the best solutions for offline-presentation), but it is only one little change needed to use it with CD/DVD.
Than you can make your Design or whatever and copy the whole folder to DVD.

Download WebsiteBaker Portable from http://www.websitebaker-portable.com
- extract it
- open the file pms_config.ini (to find in the root-folder)
- edit line 21 from "StartLocal=1" to "StartLocal=0"
- burn the whole folder to DVD
- make a presentation of finest

I followed your instructions and it worked on my PC.  But it doesn't work on my Mac.  Is it possible to run on a Mac?

[dbs]

sorry, can't give mac-support.
hope somebody can help you, but server2go is a windows-application.