How to find out what modules I have installed?

[liam1964]

Like most people, I guess, I have built my website over time (3 years). I am currently running 3.8a and want to upgrade to the latest version. The most daunting task for me is to identify what modules I have added to the "standard install" in this time. Does anybody know of a quick and easy way to do this?

I appologise for yet another dumb question, I don't think I have ever asked a really good one yet :-)

Any help is, as always, greatly appreciated.

[kuroi]

The easiest ways are to review the list that you kept when you installed them, or failing that check to copies of the original files that you put aside before installing them.

If you didn't do either of those things, then there is no easy way to identify them.

The difficult way (which we do when we take on undocumented client sites) is to do a full file comparison between a clean copy of the version of Zen Cart being run on the site and the site files, to identify every single difference and then use our experience to attribute each difference to a specific mod based on our experience of their application on other sites and our interpretation of what they are doing.

[schoolboy]

The difficult way (which we do when we take on undocumented client sites) is to do a full file comparison between a clean copy of the version of Zen Cart being run on the site and the site files, to identify every single difference and then use our experience to attribute each difference to a specific mod based on our experience of their application on other sites and our interpretation of what they are doing.

Yes... there are no short cuts when you / your web manager has failed to keep a written record of what has been added or customised.

[liam1964]

Oh how I would love to be totally SMUG, and say "of course I documented everything" ... but instead, I sit here feeling like a total idiot (and no I can't blame anyone else, this is all my own handywork) ... that I guess is the difference between a "Proffessional" and someone who does this as a "Hobby".

Oh well it is my hobby, and I enjoy it, so I shall start all over again, and build a brand new website, which I think for me is better than trying to "copy" the old one - my customers will thank me :-)

Thanks to both of you for your "words of wisdom", I feel suitably "put in my place"!! :-)

[kuroi]

If it's any consolation, every site we have ever taken on has been undocumented (or at least came with no documentation).

And although several clients have told us that they have no mods installed, we've yet to come across one where it was true!

So an awful lot of people find themselves in your position.

Happily there have already been references to 2.0 having a proper plugin system, so hopefully this is an issue that will sort itself out in time.

[stitchnkitty]

most of your 'look' of your site should be in your override system so unless you have heavily mod you site - it should not be that tough to add the missing mods -

upload your override folders. and then go from there.

[dw08gm]

I maintain a spreadsheet (Lotus123-1997 believe it or not) of all files, transactions and cross-references that has upgrades, obsoletes, mods, and other aspects colour-coded for easy reference.

Currently it exceeds 3000 lines (each file has one line) and contains many obsolete files. When I am ready to go live, I will reduce the lines to working code only.

Sometimes it drives me mad to maintain, but then at other times it helps no end to unravel additions, deletions and edits.

I also maintain other separate spreadsheets, such as for products (100+ ranges), that includes sales blurbs, metatags and other info.

I wish I had an Elsie (for those that have seen the film). That would be a treat.