Trying to measure twice and cut once.

[stevens157]

Ok i have an active shop that is working well but is version 1.2.7 and I want to upgrade. IN my haste to set it up I changed the files in the default directory and now will overwrite them when I install the upgrade. Ok well mom used to say of the horse kicks you once it is his fault , he does it again it is yours. So I am trying to set up a version 1.3.6 cart that has the correct overides templates. But i have had some trouble and have read so much I have now confused myself so a few questions.

If I am using a downloaded template that changes the look and feel of the new shop do I need to copy those files to my CUSTOM folders to see the changes I have made in the define pages? Can I set the visual template to the downloaded template and the language to custom and get the same results?

Should the product images be kept in a images/custom/ folder or are they ok in the regular folders?

My last question has nothing to do with the overides per se. I would like to set up the new cart locally so that I dont have to work through my FTP program. I have a connection to my trial database via mysql admin and tried connecting to the cart install program using the address of http://localhost/f:/store/zc_install/ and it wont connect? Is this possible or more a pain in the neck than it is worth?

Thanks for any help.

Mike

[Website Rob]

All your questions can be answered by doing the following.

Backup your Database!

1. Create a subdirectory within your Hosting account and upload your current files. This will be your testbed.
2. Create a new db and import your current one.
3. Upgrade your backup to the newest ZC version.
4. Install new Template.

Steps 1 & 2 will allow you to have a place for testing without affecting your live site.
Steps 3 & 4 will give you experience with updating and installing a new Template. Whatever Template you use should include instructions on where to put the Template files.

Better to have a testbed on your Hosting account as they usually provide all software necessary to run whatever script. For various reasons, this is not always the case when working locally.

[stevens157]

That is what I have been doing. Then after everything is the way I want it I should be able to back up the live databes and just chage the config files to look at the correct database?

[disciple]

No.

You will have to upgrade the database ONLY when you go to change over to a live shop with your new version. You may also have to re-apply any database changes that may have come from mods you have installed.

Rick