Overview / Concept
Web Engine has the ability to clone an existing website. This allows an editor to copy an existing website and quickly create a new website, without having to build a new website completely from scratch. This can help divisions, unions, conferences or even local churches to quickly stand-up a new website from a website that is already running and proven.
The copy will be exactly that, a copy of the existing website. This means, after cloning a website, the person cloning should review the clone, to ensure everything is working properly. Additionally consider the website title, SEO information, etc.
How to clone
From the Web Module, there are two paths for cloning a website at this time.
From the "Manage sites" interface:
- Click on the button "Add website"
- Select option "Clone an existing website" (upper right corner of the screen)
- if the button is not there, talk with your administrator as your rights need to be adjusted.
Or
- Locate the website to be cloned
- Under the actions column, click on the menu icon (3 dots), select "Clone site"
- if the option is not there, talk with your administrator as your rights need to be adjusted.
In either case the cloning interface will appear. With the second option, the source website will already be filled in, as the website to clone has already been chosen.
Fill out the following fields:
- Site to clone: choose which website you would like to clone
- Entity: select owner (entity) of the website
- For this entity: if the website resides under the current entity.
- For another entity: if website should reside under another entity.
- Target entity: select alternate entity from list
- Once cloning is successful, switch entities to see the website
- New name: Name for the new website
- Primary domain: enter domain name
- Use a relaunch domain name, while website is prepared for the final domain.
- ex: (your website name).staging.web.adventist.cloud
- Enable built-in analytics: Always check, if anyone needs website traffic statistics
- Groups: If backend users require access, create a group
- Add user: skip this initially. Add users later
- Click on "Clone" button
- The cloning process might take a few minutes, depending on website size.
Review the cloned website
As mentioned above, this website is a copy of the original. Therefore it is important to review any information for the source website and update it with the information for the new website!
Copyright Responsibility
- The content on an existing website may have certain licensing restrictions. There could be images, logos, icons, audio, text, video or download files that are licensed to or by the original entity who owned the website being cloned.
- The website may have implemented a design that has been developed by a third-party. Ensure that you have clarified with the owner of the design that you are allowed use of the website design.
- It is the Responsibility of the user who is cloning a website, that they review all website content for all potential licensing issues.
Next Steps
Create a robots.txt file to block search engine indexing of the relaunch website.