Many Questions before v1.39 install...

[BenhamCollectibles]

If this is the wrong section, just let me know.

I just happened to download the new 1.39 yesterday. Many questions have come to mind because I know nothing about scripting, really. I am not sure what will happen to my current store if I upload the new files to GoDaddy. I have had people tell me that GoDaddy is not good, but my domain is contracted through them, so I am stuck there.

I have fought my way through 1.38 for quite some time, but I know along the way I deleted many things from the script, and changed many other things. I am really interested in completely getting rid of the old files that I have now, and starting over with 1.39 so I can get a fresh start without having things missing that I don't even know are missing. I am just not sure what to do. I am worried about my database full of customer info as well as past order info. I am not sure how to "back up" my database, or how to get my current database to connect to the new store files. I am not even sure where to start. I read the read me file in the docs folder, and it is confusing. I really want to save my customer info.

I guess there is a Zen Cart book out there that I had no idea existed. That would probably help, but I don't have a boatload of money, or I guess I wouldn't be using a free store. If someone could tell me what the very first thing I should do is, that may help, but I have read many things to this point, and now I am just super confused on what exactly to do. I have been given many suggestions on what to do and not to do, many ideas clashing with each other. Most of that is from coming to this forum and having someone say one thing, and others contradict it, or I just don't understand what is being said. It is also extremely frustrating when I wait DAYS to get a response to a question I asked, just to have that response be a question back at me. I just want to be able to find one place to get all of my answers, that way the answers are consistent. This forum is very helpful, but inconsistent, and the written tutorials are extremely confusing for a person that is not thoroughly educated in PHP scripting. Any suggestions on what I should do, or where I should go online, would be very helpful. Video tutorials on Zen Cart would be the greatest creation ever, next to the creation of the store, of course.

The link in my signature is to my current store that has actually done well for me, but it is full of hacks and pieces that I have stitched together from many different ideas and suggestions from users on this forum. I just feel like I should clean up the files of my store so it works the way you folks intended it to. I would love to be able to change things without having to get into the script. I know Zen Cart is jam packed with features that allow many things to be changed without scripting knowledge. I just don't know how to do things the right way from the very start.

Kristofer Benham

[schoolboy]

There are no short cuts when it comes to upgrading - particularly on a heavily customized site.

IF you have followed the over-ride rules and have a well-maintained CUSTOM template, then upgrading is less of a hassle - but it is still quite detailed.

All code FILES you customized must be COMPARED with their CORE counterpart in 1.3.9c, to make sure that important code changes are incorporated into your customized files.

Also, additional MODULES may not necessarily be compatible with 1.3.9c, so you will have to look at files that such modules may have over-written, to see that they too incorporate essential code changes.

[BenhamCollectibles]

I saw your answer yesterday, schoolboy, and I have been thinking about what I should do after reading what you put. You actually helped me make some of the custom changes that I applied to my current store.

I made many changes on my own before I actually knew that it was bad to make changes right in the site. I don't even begin to remember what changes I have made, but I am sure it was over 100. Because of all of this, I am wondering if I may have changed or deleted some things that were actually good, but I didn't realize it at the time. It is for this reason that I am heavily contemplating deleting the current store files and uploading the new stuff. I am just really worried that I won't remember how to do some things, and my store will be destroyed.

I want to keep the database that I have right now and just connect it to the new store files, but I can't remember how that is done. I am still not certain about whether or not to make this change, but I have been having many problems with the 1.38 version that I am not sure are just normal, or are my fault for changing things. I really need a step-by-step manual of some kind with no giant confusing computer-people words that I don't understand. I may try to search the internet again to see if I can find something helpful that may be there now that wasn't before.

[schoolboy]

I posted this earlier... It may offer further assistance:

http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showth...869#post887869

[schoolboy]

One of the ways in which you can make what I call a "brutal upgrade", is to create a DUPLICATE of your site - either in a SUB-FOLDER on the current domain, or on a completely different server.

Usually, a SUB-FOLDER duplication is sufficient.

So... you COPY (not move) your entire folder and file structure of your zencart installation, into a new subfolder (eg, called duplicate).

You then create a DUPLICATE database, with a different name.

You then edit the configure.php files ( in the duplicated site) to point this duplicated store to the new file locations, and VERY IMPORTANTLY, to the new, copied database.

You must also alter the CACHE path in the database (Use the FIX CACHE KEY tool in the free add-ons).

When you've done the above, you will have two "identical" webshops:

1. www.mywebsite.com
2. www.mywebsite.com/duplicate


I do two other changes before I start messing around in the duplicated site...

a) I change the HEADER LOGOs in both the webshop AND admin to a bright RED banner saying (DUPLICATE OF MAIN WEBSITE). You'd be surprised how easy it is to get confused! You don't want to be making radical experiments on the LIVE site, so a big, red warning banner reminds you where you are!

b) to restrict all access except my own, I put a htaccess password on this directory called "duplicate". (set up in CPanel - Password-protect directories).

My NORMAL STORE goes on happily without any problems, while I can do whatever I like to the "clone"... learning along the way, and making changes I would not dare attempt on the live site.

I keep copious written notes, and sometimes use a dictaphone (remember them?) to record my speech of what I'm doing!