Question about upgrading

[DrByte]

By the way, regarding define DB_PREFIX, if my existing database uses 'zen_', do I keep using 'zen_' or should I leave it blank?

In order to use the data from another database, you must use the same DB_PREFIX in the new site as you had in the old one.

[waterbender]

Thank you :)

[waterbender]

Hi,

When we are happy with the new shop, our next step is to do a backup again of the latest live database live_database2.sql as well as new_database.sql. Then drop the tables in new_database.sql and load live_database2.sql. Then re-run /new_shop/zc_install to upgrade the current data again to include new orders, customers, products etc.

My question is:
Will we lose the third party module changes to database after re-importing live_database2.sql to new_database.sql? If we will, what is the best way to do this so that we don't miss any orders?

[DrByte]

Hi,

When we are happy with the new shop, our next step is to do a backup again of the latest live database live_database2.sql as well as new_database.sql. Then drop the tables in new_database.sql and load live_database2.sql. Then re-run /new_shop/zc_install to upgrade the current data again to include new orders, customers, products etc.

My question is:
Will we lose the third party module changes to database after re-importing live_database2.sql to new_database.sql? If we will, what is the best way to do this so that we don't miss any orders?

Yes. So make a detailed list of those changes so you can make them again quickly by following a checklist.
You can even do a practice run ahead of time, to be sure you've got a thorough list, and that way your actual down-time for the live site will be minimal ... possibly only a few minutes.



As for going live, I'm a firm believer of using the actual live database for the upgrade ... BUT ONLY AFTER you've first done all the testing you already mentioned. Explained here: http://www.zen-cart.com/entry.php?3-...d-of-upgrading ... This still has the same issue you mentioned in your last post, but you remove the risk of lost data because you're not dropping anything, and not exporting/importing either. Just safer that way. Of course, having solid backups is important also.

[waterbender]

Hi DrByte

Getting a bit confused... Am I right that there are two ways of upgrading?
A. Rebuild everything in a separate folder new_shop. When everything is satisfied, upgrade live site directly based on the changes recorded from the new_shop. This is from this article http://www.zen-cart.com/entry.php?3-...d-of-upgrading
B. Rebuild everything in a separate folder new_shop. When everything is satisfied, move live site to a separate folder old_shop and change new_shop to live site. This is from this article http://www.zen-cart.com/content.php?148

I am more comfortable with the second method. It might be more tedious but it seems safer and cleaner. So my next questions is that after I drop the tables in the new database and reload the live database a second time, do I simply re-run the install.sql files of 3rd party modules since the files are still in new_shop. Is there anything else to redo or reinstall?

[DrByte]

So my next questions is that after I drop the tables in the new database and reload the live database a second time, do I simply re-run the install.sql files of 3rd party modules since the files are still in new_shop. Is there anything else to redo or reinstall?

While I can't comment specifically on every change you've made to your site, yes that's the concept. Simply run whatever setup/install process is relevant to the modules/plugins/addons/whatever you've added/changed/upgraded. zc_install takes care of the main core data and structure. And *you* take care of whatever additional components you've decided to integrate on top of it.