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Copy website tool — using Stencil sites in the Nexcess Client Portal

Let's explore using the "Stencil Feature" in the Nexcess Client Portal — with the Stencil functionality describing a copy website tool that lets you save time and energy generating a new site.
Client Portal Nexcess Web Development WooCommerce WordPress
3 min read

Overview

In our article, How to easily set up a WordPress staging site, we give you the tools to copy a live website into a testing site for you to develop, make changes and rearrange your WordPress website without impacting the function of your live site. But what if you create a site, love the design, and want to use the framework for another site you’re developing?

Our Managed WordPress and Managed WooCommerce plans have the answer! These plans include functionality called Stencils for making a copy of your website. A Stencil allows you to save a snapshot of a completed website or a website you’re still working on. Stencils do not count against the disk space used on the server and allow you to easily spin up a new website on the same plan looking exactly the same as the original website you were copying.

You can use the website copy you make as a template for another deployment without having to duplicate the hard work you’ve put into customizing the site. This copy feature will save you a lot of time when you need to quickly get a site up and running with a design you’ve already tested and approved.

Step by step instructions

Here you’ll learn how to copy your website using the Stencil site tool with just a few clicks and a couple of simple steps. An existing Stencil site cannot be modified without destroying the existing one and creating a new one.

To get started, follow the steps below.

  1. Log into my.nexcess.net.
  2. Go to Plans > Select the correct plan:
  4. Click on Stencils > Click Add Stencil:
  5. You’ll be prompted to name the new Stencil site and click Add.
  6. The website copy will take a little while, and the creation process is still pending, the user interface list will show the status of Creating.
  7. The user interface list will populate once a new Stencil has been created with the status of Stable.
  8. To create a new website copy, you’ll need to click the Add Site button and click the Create Using Stencil menu option.
  9. You’ll be prompted to select the Stencil you’d like to copy the website from and name the new website.
  10. Your new website has been created. The Site Dashboard in the Nexcess Client Portal will look like the Site Dashboard for any website in a Managed WordPress or Managed WooCommerce plan.
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