How to Test Cpanel Skins(Themes) before installing on server?

[kiran_rs]

Hi All,

With Cpanel Forum Help only i downloaded basic Skins & modified them as per my requirement.

Actually i dont have ROOT access for server, I got only reseller account.

My hosting Company will install the user customized Skin into their Reseller Account.

Now the Problem is HOW to TEST the modified Skin before sending it to my Hosting Company?

Pleaze Help me to Test the Skin before sending to Hosting Company.

Test means, i wanted to know all links working fine OR NOT?

Thanks in Advance,
Kiran R S

[PWSowner]

Why not ask the hosting company if they can put the cpanel skin in your home directory and symlink to it? That would give you full access to the skin, for testing, editing, or upgrading, and it will still work.

Just an idea.

[kiran_rs]

Thanks Squirrel,

But i dont know much about server side, Actually what i have to ask for my Hosting Company?

Is it 100% Safe? Is my Hosting Company Agree to do This?
What actually i ask them to do?

Can You Explain me step-by-step? Pleaze...

[PWSowner]

You need to ask them if they will let you put your theme in your home directory and symlink to it. They will know what you mean. When you ftp to your site, you should normally see something like:
- mail
- public_ftp
- public_html
- tmp

What you are asking them would make it so when you log in, you will see more like:
- mail
- public_ftp
- public_html
- tmp
- yourtheme

If they are willing to do that, they may just create the theme directory and let you upload it, or they may put it there for you. Either way, from then on, you have full access to your theme to do what you want, and it will automatically be added to the list of themes to choose from. That's what the symlinking does. It makes it appear to be where cpanel looks for themes, while it is actually in your space.

If they do this for you, from there you can do what you want with the theme as if it's just another part of your website.

Just remember, custom themes/skins do mean the work of keeping it up to date with cpanel updates and changes. Some cpanel updates don't require you to do anything, but sometimes they change how something works, in which case custom themes do need to be updated.

[kiran_rs]

Thanx for explaining Squirrel,

If they Simlink the Themes Directory in my Home Directory, Can i get my installed themes into WHM while Creating New Accounts?

[PWSowner]

Cpanel themes normally belong in the directory:
/usr/local/cpanel/base/frontend

Any new theme put there will automatically show up in WHM. By putting the theme in your directory and symlinking it to that directory, it will appear to the server as if it were actually where it belongs. That would mean that yes, it would automatically become one of the themes available in WHM.

[kiran_rs]

Thanks again Squirrel,

But my Hosting Company Created "Themes" Directory in "public_html" instead of home "/" Directory & Simlinked it to /usr/loca/cpanel/base/frontend

Is it works fine Now OR Itz only works if "Themes" Directory created in Home "/" directory of my Reseller Domain.

Pleaze help me.

[SoftmegUK]

It shoulnd't matter where the've put it as the symlink is going to the correct place, I wouldn't advise moving the folder now, leave it where it is and have fun editing your theme

[kiran_rs]

SoftmegUK, Thnaks for help.

My hosting company is already moved that "themes" folder into my home "/" directory.

Now lets see whether the uploaded themes works OR not?

[kiran_rs]

Everything works fine, But i'm getting only one theme i.e.themes In my WHM.

I'm getting only a main Directory "themes" as a new theme.

But i'm also Uploaded other 3 themes into separate sub-directory into "themes" main directory.

But i'm not getting other themes uploaded.

how to symlink Sub-Directories also?

Pleaze Help me...

[SoftmegUK]

Your webhost would have to set that up for you, explain to them you would like to use 3 themes and tell them to make 3 symlinks

e.g theme1 => /home/youruser/theme1
e.g theme2 => /home/youruser/theme2
e.g theme3 => /home/youruser/theme3

Etc etc.

Hope this helps....

[kiran_rs]

Is it Possible to make any settings like, whenever i create a new Theme Directory in main Directory "themes" , it automatically symlink to /usr/local/cpanel/base/frontend

OR simply is it possible to Symlink all Sub-Directories just like: /home/themes/*.*

I dont know much about Linux & also server side, Itz just my thought.

Bcos i dont want to Trouble my Hosting Company every time when i creates a New theme.

[SoftmegUK]

I dont think that is possible. Why dont you ask your host to add say 5 folders and symlinks that you can then play around with...?

[kiran_rs]

Thanks SoftmegUK,

Thatz the only way i can go for.

[PWSowner]

That would be best. Ask them to create whatever number of symlinked directories you want to play with and have fun.

I PM'd you about your question with some notes.