Going Live Help Please

[chipman]

We have been developing a site for several weeks now and it is tested and ready to go live. The ver is 1.38 and it has been using a custom template with images that are almost all custom. The inventory and banners are working and you can purchase through the checkout process. We have installed the fedex module but not configured it yet, and also plan on installing a credit card api and processor. We have not done these as we want to be live first. All of the site is currently residing in a sub directory of the root ie /zen/ to make the site go live I have been told different ways

1. copy all files to the root and repair broken links.

1. The other is to write in the htaccess file the link to index.php

Can someone with Zen experience please couch me through what has to be done it would be greatly appreciated.

site is currently at http://paradiseimports.com/zen

Thank you
Chipman

[Website Rob]

It is a great idea to have a testing area for working on new things without interfering with you live site.

With your current setup you need only copy all files one level higher.
Edit both 'config' files and remove 'zen' in any paths.
Should also create a new database for use with the 'zen' dir. keeping two separate database.
Password protect the 'zen' dir. to prevent any Public access; this would include Search Engines and prevent you from being dinged with duplicate content.

Shouldn't be more than 2 hr. job, which includes ironing any kinks, which you should expect.

[fairestcape]

Rather than use re-directs (htaccess), it's better to move (copy) the file system to the root directory.

I always COPY the site (files), leaving the originals in the sub-directory until I'm confident the root version works. The process involves:-

1. COPY the directories and files over to the root - best done using your host c-panel. Can be done using FTP (where you copy the site to your local drive, then re-ftp it to the root) but there's the risk of corrupting files during FTP.

2. When you have a clean copy in the root directory, you just need to edit the two configure.php files (copies now resident in the root file structure) to establsh the PATHS... eg:

// * DIR_WS_* = Webserver directories (virtual/URL)

// these paths are relative to top of your webspace ... (ie: under the public_html or httpdocs folder)

define('DIR_WS_CATALOG', '/zen/');

define('DIR_WS_HTTPS_CATALOG', '/zen/'); 

... to:

// * DIR_WS_* = Webserver directories (virtual/URL)

// these paths are relative to top of your webspace ... (ie: under the public_html or httpdocs folder)

define('DIR_WS_CATALOG', '/');

define('DIR_WS_HTTPS_CATALOG', '/'); 

(There are a couple of places where the path will also refer to zen and these need to be changed as well).

3. You may need to re-set CHMOD permissions on various directories - particularly those requiring 777 permissions, such as the images folders - see the zencart documentation for a list of files requiring CHMOD changes.

4. If you have any hard-coded internal links - especially in defined pages, then you need to point these to the appropriate files/resources now in the root folder.

5. You probably need to re-set the cache key. Get fix_cache_key.php from the free software add-ons and load the file to your root installation, then run this file via your browser (just type in your url and the filename - www.yourwebsite.com/fix_cache_key.php). This will re-set the cache key in the database. Delete the file when complete.

6. Test the site.

7. rename index.php in your zen folder to index.txt, and put a BLANK index.html file in that folder (for security).

8. When you are happy (after a couple of weeks) that your root installation is OK, you can safely delete the installation in the zen folder.

[chipman]

Thank you for your help I noticed you mention 2 configure files are you speaking of the ones in the includes directory and the admin includes directory

Thanks

[chipman]

Thank you for your help I noticed you mention 2 configure files I assume you are speaking of the ones in the includes directory and the admin includes directory I changed them and it seems to work perfect thank you again

Nice to see people who know what they are talking about and willing to help.

You are awesome

Thanks

Chipman