Question:
We need to test multi store virtuemart extension on localhost. How to do that?
Answer:
On localhost, first you need to create virtual domains on your local
computer. Their names can be same as your live domain. If name is same
you can generate and use your full license. Creating the same virtual
domain name on local pc as your live domain name, is recommended. If you
are testing with different domain names on localhost than actual live
domains, you should get the trial license. After installation and
enabling the plugin, trial and full license generation links can be seen
in
Joomla back end >> plugins manager
Creating
live sub domains on servers can be done in your hosting cpanel. Creating
sub domains on your local host can be done in your hosts files and
apache vhosts configuration. Here is a detailed article on that.
http://www.cyberstream.us/post/2011/05/apache-configuration-how-to-create-multiple-domains-on-localhost
So, first create a domain like
YourMainSite.com
and a sub domain
demostore1.YourMainSite.com
Exact procedure is given in the above mentioned article.
After creating that YourMainSite.com on your localhost, you will be able to access your localhost with the following address;
http://YourMainSite.com
(this is just a virtual domain and actually your localhost)
demostore1.YourMainSite.com
is
also a virtual subdomain and that should also point to the same Joomla
installation. Again, keep in mind that with our solution, there is one
and only one installation of Joomla and Virtuemart. Multiple front ends
can be shown from that.
After doing so, when you will access
http://YourMainSite.com
and
demostore1.YourMainSite.com
You
will see two separate stores. Products, categories, Joomla content,
modules, template etc. will be shown as you configured according to the
screenshots given in this article.
Option 2. Access sub stores as sub folders:
You can also access your sub stores (or vendor stores) as sub folders of your main site. Like the following:
http://YourMainSite.com/demostore1/
http://YourMainSite.com/demostore2/
Here demostore1 and demostore2 are sub stores for different vendors.
For this sub folder style you just need to turn ON the option 'Vendor sites in sub folders' in
multi store plugin's back end parameters.
You must turn OFF the native multi vendor feature of Virtuemart in Virtuemart Global Configuration.
Return to the main page for Multi Store Multi Vendor Virtuemart GOLD Version