Database and Uploads Syncing in WordPress | Manual and Automatic

In this video, I go over how to sync your Database and Uploads from a live server to your local development server. I show off an easy (paid) way to do it and a manual (free) way to do it. Either way can be helpful to #WordPress freelancers! It just depends on how often this is something you need to do.

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#Freelancing #Database

[WPCasts]

Correction! Do not find and replace the SQL file using a text editor. As other comments pointed out, it will mess up serialized strings. It would be better to use a different plugin or the WP-CLI! I apologize for the misinformation. It was a dumb mistake 😩

[perfectbee]

I purchased WPMigrate, largely because of what I saw here. I was already interested in it but greatly respect the opinion and insight here and it put me over the edge. However, WPMigrate is pretty good but has one fatal flaw that may result in my asking for a refund. In short, it's a delicate little flower!

For example, if I do a sync from my production server to a local server it might run for, say, 30 mins downloading files, etc. But if it has ANY issue at all during that process - a minor network outage, for example - it will report an error and completely roll back the sync.

I just had this happen (again) on another server sync after about 30 mins. At about the 93% mark I had a file fail download, for whatever reason. The file involved was utterly minor (and actually not necessary - would have happily removed it). But there is no Ignore or even Retry option - it just rolls back the entire sync. Very frustrating indeed.

It doesn't really matter how often this happens - even if it is rare, the inability to take any action to workaround this makes sync a very nerve wracking process, until complete.

[DaveMcHale]

Nice video dude! Constructive feedback on a few things in your "manual" process you showed ... the reason manually editing a SQL file makes you a monster (as you put it :) ) is because doing a find/replace risks messing up your serialized data. You should grab the SearchReplaceDB tool made by interconnect and use that, or use the command available via WP-CLI (which was built from interconnect's code) for doing your search/replace instead, since those tools WILL properly update serialized data string lengths.


Second, yes simply downloading the wp-content folder makes sure that viewing your content works that uses those files, but it won't actually add the images to your Media Library since unfortunately the database doesn't update itself when new files are physically added to the folder. To do that, you need to use something like the "Add From Server" plugin after downloading the physical files, since that can create the database entries for those uploads.



Good presentation though and I'm subbed now. Cheers!

[LucXX]

First of all. ThumbsUp for the nice "intro". Made me smile. Thanks for the video!

[niay]

Could we sync WP by NAS? What I mean is we don't really host on own NAS, but handle it local (avoid lag or file transfer/ upload time ), then sync/ update to the online version, maybe daily.
Keep data is only for backup, sorry I just new for NAS and wordpress.

[zakariaelou]

Does WP Migrate automatically ignore its own environment specific settings? Thanks!

[mikexavier]

I've been using updraftplus to create a backup of the live site, then restoring from that backup on the local version of the site (which does the search and replace for you). I would love to hear your thoughts on the downsides to doing it this way vs using sequel pro / ftp / SearchReplaceDB by interconnect (as Dave mentioned)?

I think like you said when you start actively working on lots of clients sites, something like WP Migrate DB Pro would be amazing.

[TheDrumChannel]

I assume that if I had a local sql table behind the companies firewall and I wanted to sync from that to the Wordpress site database - the plug in that you mentioned could do a push (local sql data >wp database) rather than a pull

[johanstam]

Is there a smart way to sync WooCommerce entities from old design live site before uploading new design local site?

[IAMATUNKU]

Hey Bro. Thanks for the videos, I am wondering if you can help to solve a related problem.:
I am developing a WP site of a hotel which uses a standard Hotel management System Plugin, however the chanllene is that due to the location of the Hotel and the cost of running the internet 24/7, i am tasked to find a way that the live website and the local website sync such that all changes made on the local site will be updated on the live site and vis visa. Note i can not afford to replace either entries on the database ie. either of the local or live database entries.
i only need to update them with either/both entries. Also i need to be able to ensure that this is done automatically as soon as the local server is connected to the internet.

i fell really stock and need help.
Thanks

[imoddi]

Tank you for sharing this information!

[ezswan]

ok so is it necessary to even have the blog posts on your dev site? cant you just exclude pulling the blog posts and also the same thing when you upload to production site? so can you upload to production site without deleting blog posts?

[MariaTheresaZulueta]

Hi does wp migrate pro works with builder as well such Elementor?

[baztheman]

can you confirm what you have done is a COMPLETE site migration? Meaning, when you sync the sites from remote, you are going to wipe out the local site? What about making just one or two changes?

[birdbrainsolutions]

I've seen your videos since the 'how to fix slow wordpress' one, please create one on how to setup underscores theme, especially the nav menu part.. Basically I want to create a theme like oceanwp with underscores

[TheMarouuu]

How about "What's up you Wordpress Castouts!", has a nice ring to it :)
Great video as always!

[fakegray]

WP Migrate no longer has separate plugins for media files. You might need to update the video.

[birdbrainsolutions]

oh hi, didn't see you there on this video either, lol

[woutertt]

The Roots sync script with Trellis is worth checking out as well!