Installation question

I have a site in production right now, and it is in a domain/folder called apeekintoyesterday.com. I want to install zen-cart without disturbing my production site, and make it live when I've got it ready to go.

Here's my question - where to put the Zen-Cart installation? I could create a sub-domain, but if I do that, won't it change the URL my customers will access once I go live? For example, if I name the subdomain "store", wouldn't my URL change to be store.apeekintoyesterday.com? I don't want my URL to change once my zen-cart installation is live.

Or, should I put it in a folder under the apeekintoyesterday.com? If I do this, am I going to have an issue with the index.html file that resides in the apeekintoyesterday.com folder? And if I put it here, how do I access it while testing (what URL)?

It is quite common to create a 'test' dir. - apeekintoyesterday.com/test

Install Zen Cart there and password protect the 'test' dir. so others (including Search Engines) cannot access it.

Do whatever you and when ready "Copy" your files to where you want them to be. Then you need only to change the URL / Paths within the two config files to be live.

Caution: might want create a new database for when you go live so the two do not use the same database. Then you can continue to use the 'test' setup for testing purposes without interfering / affecting your live site.

Thank you! Now can you tell me how to password protect my test directory on the server? I'm using CuteFTP.

That's usually done in your hosting control panel.

Ok i have a question about installation. since i cant seem to create a new thread i hoping someone will help me if i post in here. I just downloaded the Zencart and am trying to put into my website. i thought first to just try and run it with out making any changes.

i have updated the php.ini file. i am running this on my local machine using WAMP. i was getting a fatal error until i edited the php.ini now im getting 3 warnings that i cant seem to find a fix to.

Warning: main(localization/.php) [function.main]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in C:\wamp\www\Shopping\shopping cart\phpcart\phpcart.php on line 0

Warning: main(localization/.php) [function.main]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in C:\wamp\www\Shopping\shopping cart\phpcart\phpcart.php on line 0

Warning: main() [function.include]: Failed opening 'localization/.php' for inclusion (include_path='.;C:\php5\pear') in C:\wamp\www\Shopping\shopping cart\phpcart\phpcart.php on line 0
"PHPCart Single License", "domain" => "", "altdomain" => "", "version" => "4.60", "expires" => "2009-08-16 00:03:56", "supportexpires" => "2009-08-16 00:03:56", "items" => "0", "accounts" => "0", "license" => "d711-7233-9159-6cf3" ); ?>License file is missing

they are all failing at the localization/.php but i dont seem to see this anywhere in any of the files i have. i was wondering if the / shouldnt be there? and possibly if you know what line i need to edit because half of the file is encrypted so im not entirely sure where it is seeing that part of the file. I am not sure why im getting the last part about the license because i have it in the phpcart file.

any help would be great thank you

Woo hoo! I did it!! Of course, it's just the bare bones, but still - it's installed. And I can enter an order, check USPS web site, send GC's. Big woo hoo!

If I have a test database/test environment on my server that is totally separate from my production environment, is there any reason to configure my PC and install there for testing?

If your Hosting account allows you to run the two sites separately without problems, that would be the best setup.

Don't forget though, you still need to have a duplicate copy (i.e. backup) of both sites on your personal computer. This would include regular backups of both databases as well. That way, if anything happens to your Hosting account or you decide to switch Hosters, you have all the files the need and will not be inconvenienced. That way your site(s) can be back up and running in no time if you have a problem. :smile: