understanding urls

[Clinton Brits]

I've set up an apache server in order to test my website because of it's speed during development. I've now started using a SEO tool that performs certain tasks to help improve my website but when it asks for a url i give it the [localhost...] website and for some reason it can only use a www.somesite.com. This means i need to run the test, edit the page, upload it to the server and then test. Not only is this painfully slow but it also chews up quite a bit of bandwidth.

Is there anyway to have a www. address on localhost ie
www.mysite.com and have the software use this as opposed to [localhost...]

[g1smd]

In your HOSTS file on your PC add

example.com 127.0.0.1

.

You'll need to search for that file, location varies depending on the OS.

[Lexur]

There are two steps you need to take to make it work.

1. Modify your hosts file under (probably) \Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts and add the following entry: 127.0.0.1 www.mydomain.com

2. Turn off your proxy dection from the IE, if needed. Go to Tools->Internet Options->Connection->LAN Settings, uncheck everything

[Clinton Brits]

Much appreciated

[g1smd]

Apologies! I got the two elements the wrong way round.

In any case, once you get there, the file itself usually has several lines of comments telling you the exact format to use.