Import Database

[CnTGifts]

Can i install a fresh install of 1.50 and then import portions of my database including orders and customers from a 1.39 install?

[countrycharm]

Can i install a fresh install of 1.50 and then import portions of my database including orders and customers from a 1.39 install?

Short answer, Yes you can. I did it that way for a client of mine that was running zen cart 1.3.8.

[CnTGifts]

whats the easiest way to go about it?

[countrycharm]

whats the easiest way to go about it?

You go to your v1.3.9 phpMyAdmin database, go to export and export the tables you want to import your zen cart v1.5.0 database. It's not a hard process unless you don't know anything about phpMyAdmin. If you don't know in that case you would hire someone to help you.

[DrByte]

NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you do that then you will have database tables that have different structures than what the PHP code expects, and will thus run into errors, and then you'll be back here asking for support on how to fix probably the hardest problem to ever sort out.

Do a COMPLETE backup, and import the COMPLETE database, and upgrade the COMPLETE database using zc_install. That's the smartest, safest, and official way to do an upgrade.

Clearly if you need to ask the questions you're asking then your knowledge isn't strong enough to handle all the zillion issues that will arise if you cheat in the process. Sorry if you find that statement offensive, but it's a fact, and if you bust everything by doing it the wrong way then it's going to cost you big bucks to get an expert to clean it all up for you.

There's NO NEED WHATSOEVER to take the shortcuts you're suggesting in your first post. Take the COMPLETE database forward to your new site.

If you don't understand why I'm saying that, then clearly you absolutely need to NOT take the shortcuts you're talking about.

[countrycharm]

NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you do that then you will have database tables that have different structures than what the PHP code expects, and will thus run into errors, and then you'll be back here asking for support on how to fix probably the hardest problem to ever sort out.

Do a COMPLETE backup, and import the COMPLETE database, and upgrade the COMPLETE database using zc_install. That's the smartest, safest, and official way to do an upgrade.

Clearly if you need to ask the questions you're asking then your knowledge isn't strong enough to handle all the zillion issues that will arise if you cheat in the process. Sorry if you find that statement offensive, but it's a fact, and if you bust everything by doing it the wrong way then it's going to cost you big bucks to get an expert to clean it all up for you.

There's NO NEED WHATSOEVER to take the shortcuts you're suggesting in your first post. Take the COMPLETE database forward to your new site.

If you don't understand why I'm saying that, then clearly you absolutely need to NOT take the shortcuts you're talking about.

DrByte I will agree with you that doing a complete backup of your old database is the best way to go about doing things and then using the zc_install, but in some cases that's not completely necessary. Smarter yes but not completely necessary on a fresh install of zen cart v1.5.0. And example would be when you start from scratch and wanting to import your orders and customers from your tables in your old database. That's my 2 cents worth.

[DrByte]

I completely disagree if the database structures are not identical beforehand. And in this case the structures have SEVERAL HUNDRED DIFFERENCES. If you read the first post above, they're asking about doing an upgrade, which means their database structures are different.

And, since most people will make WAY TOO MANY *incorrect* assumptions about WHICH tables to copy, they have no business getting into that area whatsoever. Especially when they have no idea what they're doing and thus have no idea how to recover from it.

Are you volunteering to fix their problems for them, after they've follow your advice and they can't get their store working?


I know that I'm using strong language, and I mean no disrespect to anybody posting here or reading this. I have to keep in mind that this support site is for helping people USE their stores, not break them. To keep them running, not shut them down. They rely on correct answers, not answers that run them down the wrong path or into territories they've already indicated they don't belong in.

[DivaVocals]

And example would be when you start from scratch and wanting to import your orders and customers from your tables in your old database. That's my 2 cents worth.

and this can be accomplished by following a proper upgrade procedure. What's to be gained by bypassing the upgrade??

I completely disagree with your statement if the database structures are not identical beforehand. And in this case the structures have SEVERAL HUNDRED DIFFERENCES. If you read the first post above, they're asking about doing an upgrade, which means their database structures are different.

And, since most people will make WAY TOO MANY *incorrect* assumptions about WHICH tables to copy, they have no business getting into that area whatsoever. Especially when they have no idea what they're doing and thus have no idea how to recover from it.

Are you volunteering to fix their problems for them, after they've follow your advice and they can't get their store working?


I know that I'm using strong language, and I mean no disrespect to anybody posting here or reading this. I have to keep in mind that this support site is for helping people USE their stores, not break them. To keep them running, not shut them down. They rely on correct answers, not answers that run them down the wrong path or into territories they've already indicated they don't belong in.

Nods in agreement..

In my working experience, too often shortcuts lead to issues that take LONGER to fix than going the "long way" in the first place would have taken.. Folks need to just do it the right way and save yourself the headache.

I don't understand why people think they SHOULD/COULD shortcut the database migration. What does this accomplish??? If you have data from old add-ons you want to get rid of (items in the configuration and configuration_group tables), RUN THE UNINSTALL SQL for that add-on before backing up and upgrading and the problem is solved..

[countrycharm]

and this can be accomplished by following a proper upgrade procedure. What's to be gained by bypassing the upgrade??




Nods in agreement..

In my working experience, too often shortcuts lead to issues that take LONGER to fix than going the "long way" in the first place would have taken.. Folks need to just do it the right way and save yourself the headache.

I don't understand why people think they SHOULD/COULD shortcut the database migration. What does this accomplish??? If you have data from old add-ons you want to get rid of (items in the configuration and configuration_group tables), RUN THE UNINSTALL SQL for that add-on before backing up and upgrading and the problem is solved..

I completely disagree if the database structures are not identical beforehand. And in this case the structures have SEVERAL HUNDRED DIFFERENCES. If you read the first post above, they're asking about doing an upgrade, which means their database structures are different.

And, since most people will make WAY TOO MANY *incorrect* assumptions about WHICH tables to copy, they have no business getting into that area whatsoever. Especially when they have no idea what they're doing and thus have no idea how to recover from it.

Are you volunteering to fix their problems for them, after they've follow your advice and they can't get their store working?


I know that I'm using strong language, and I mean no disrespect to anybody posting here or reading this. I have to keep in mind that this support site is for helping people USE their stores, not break them. To keep them running, not shut them down. They rely on correct answers, not answers that run them down the wrong path or into territories they've already indicated they don't belong in.

I didn't say this intentionally to start a conflict so I will bow out gracefully.

[DivaVocals]

I didn't say this intentionally to start a conflict so I will bow out gracefully.

No conflict on my part. I simply wanted to point out that some of these upgrade shortcuts are not necessary and they don't "gain" anything. They can cause more issues than is necessary.