Alright so I’m building a new site while my current site is up and running. I’ve hit some product template and metafields points where changes need to be made to the product on the backend. However, that would change my current site. Is there a way to make these changes in the background for the new site without affecting my current site?
For reference I am not on a 2.0 theme, and am moving over to Enterprise. I haven’t bought the theme yet (maybe not possible until you buy it?)
I can do most things on Shopify but am weirded out that I’ve never had to do this or think about it.
Hi @chrissss are you on Shopify Plus?
If yes I suggest you to create a Development Store and select to import data from your current store so that you can develop and test all features before going live.
Once you have completed the development you can copy the new theme to the current store.
Just remember that you need also to create all Metaobjects and Metafields that you created on the development store also on the live store.
Okay awesome! The development part makes a lot of sense. But some clarification…
Just remember that you need also to create all Metaobjects and Metafields that you created on the development store also on the live store.
Would I be able to do this before launching the new store without affecting my current store? For example, if I had to set certain products to a specific template how would I do that and have a store ready to go and keep my live store the same?
I think I’m understanding now. When it is under a new “Store” all of the products are copied over to where I can make these changes without affecting my current store. Then I am able to copy/transfer this development store into my current store?
The first part is right. You can create a development store and populate the data from another store to speed up the development of new feature and have something as similar as possible to the live store.
Isntead transferring the development store to the current store is not an operation that can be done automatically when the new theme is ready.
You have to perform the migration manually.
- The theme can be copied from development to live
- But all media assets, meta object and metafields that you create on the development store need to be copied manually also on the live store when you are ready (or using some applications that allow to bulk export/import data)
This is time-consuming and for this reason, I try to avoid creating a development store if it is not really necessary and instead try to work on a development theme on the current store.
If you just need to develop a new theme and add some metafields or metaobject I think that is better if you work a development theme on your live store.
Ah okay understood. This is what I was fearful of as I wanted zero downtime, but perhaps I can just wait to click “save” until I’m ready to go haha. I appreciate your help.
You are welcome, let me know if you have other questions
