isntalling wordpress in directory, then making it live

[SeanFL]

I have a user that has a current html site (hosted on dathorn). He's going to a new wordpress based site (same website). He wants to be able to work on the new wordpress site, then take it live.

My thoughts were to install wordpress into a directory (site, wp, etc.). Then at a later time, forward the main index.html to that directory. What if he wants to get rid of having it a directory level down...is there an easy way to change the directory where WP exists?

Any thoughts on the best way to do that? I've found a few pieces written on how to do it; they all seem to be based on old wordpress versions and I'm wondering if there's an easier/quicker way.

http://codex.wordpress.org/Moving_WordPress#Moving_WordPress_Within_Your_Site

Thanks much for guidance. Sean

[djn]

Some suggestions (from someone who hasn't played with WP since long ago, admittedly):

- set up a subdomain for your WP instance; it will still live in a directory, but Wordpress would not know this, so it should be easier to eventually move it to the root;

- keep track of all modifications and customizations, should the moving anyhow end in tears you'll be able to reinstall WP from scratch and re-apply any customization; the best way to do this is to use a child theme of the default one where all your modifications should live (google 'Twenty Ten child theme' for tutorials);

- as always, the best time to do a full database back-up is before touching anything