In creating a new currency import option, I inadvertently replaced the local.xml file on my dev site with the one on my live site, causing the dev site to redirect to the live site. I think I have fixed this but would like a further explanation as to what this file actually does and what I may have changed by copying the live file onto the dev site (I fixed it by changing the database login information, but it would be nice to know if there was anything I had missed).
Can anyone help?