How do I backup my site/template before I customize it?

**Vger** · 22 Jun 2011, 06:16 PM

My advice is to use (buy if necessary) a PC and load XAMPP onto that. I have used XAMPP on a Mac, but it's not an experience I'd recommend. You can even get PCs which are perfectly usable as an offline web server being given away on FreeCycle these days.

Vger

**ccgstu5** · 22 Jun 2011, 06:36 PM

Thanks but I have too much hardware now and I am not likely to add any more even free. I guess I will have to find another way to set up my web site on zen cart.

**billc108** · 6 Jul 2011, 09:38 AM

Originally Posted by Vger

The file you should have downloaded is the "Installer" version, which has the following name:
xampp-win32-1.7.4-VC6-installer.exe

Um.... No. This is for Mac, right? So the .exe extension is a dead giveway that you're talking about the wrong file. .Exe's won't work on a Mac unless you're running Windows on it, in which case just follow the Windows instructions.

Do a search for MAMP (that's Mac Apache Mysql PHP) and read the instructions. Personally, I prefer using MacPorts.

But if you have a Mac, you probably already have Apache and PHP installed by Apple. Just turn on System Prefs => Sharing => Web Sharing. The files you'll serve go in Users => your user name =>Sites. I'm not sure if MySQL is pre-installed, as I don't use that myself, but it shouldn't be too hard to find out.

**ccgstu5** · 6 Jul 2011, 11:19 PM

I like zen cart. But I guess that I am not capable of setting up the basics on it. I don't understand what any of the answers I received mean. I guess I will have to find someone to set it up for me or try something else.

**stevesh** · 7 Jul 2011, 11:51 AM

Many of the issues you're having result from trying to install Zencart locally. Much better, IMO, to buy some server space and install it there. Let the host worry about PHP, SQL, etc.

**ccgstu5** · 7 Jul 2011, 03:48 PM

As best I know, it is hosted on hostgator.

**stevesh** · 7 Jul 2011, 05:19 PM

I misunderstood. If your site is hosted remotely, you don't need to deal with all the XAMPP, MAMP, etc. That's server stuff and is already taken care of by Hostgator.

Your original question had to do with accessing files on the server. Have you installed and used Filezilla ?

**ccgstu5** · 7 Jul 2011, 08:00 PM

It has been so long since I started this, I am not sure what my original problem was. But in any case, I can not figure how to set up the first page with what I want it to say, in the format that I would want or in the color I want and with my logo.

**Vger** · 7 Jul 2011, 11:16 PM

At the top of this page is a link to the Zen Cart manual "e-Start Your Web Store with Zen Cart". Have you tried buying that?

Vger

**ccgstu5** · 8 Jul 2011, 09:22 PM

All of the material I have read so far has not been any help. Might be my reading skills are slipping.

I guess I figured that someone has some magic that will suddenly tell me how to set this up. Remember I only need help with the basic front page set up. I know how to add merchandise, set up mailing costs, change prices etc. It is only page one original set up that I can't handle. I doubt the book will help, but I may as a last resort try it.