Upgrade strategy ... (and server move)

[DrByte]

utf8 is the format in which the data is stored. Using utf8 will make your site more compatible with future versions, and is the industry standard. Older versions used iso-8859-1 which didn't support non-english characters without some odd complicated translation. Running the conversion utility fixes those.

[montello1984]

In which case do I have to do that? I only have English characters in my datebase

[DrByte]

In which case do I have to do that? I only have English characters in my datebase

In my opinion you should make the conversion. It takes 90 seconds using the tool I mentioned in #4 in my earlier post.
That will leave your database in utf8 format, which means it will be compatible with future versions of Zen Cart, and will also mean you won't have to change a bunch of PHP files in every new ZC version to tell it NOT to use utf8 when it's designed for utf8.

[montello1984]

Ok - I have made some progress ...

The Database is on the new server; and is in the utf8 format.

All the product images have been uploaded.

I have a virgin installation of Zen Cart up on my staging server ....

But it is not picking up the SQL database or the product images ... :-(

Any tips?

[DrByte]

On the old server, in /includes/configure.php what is the setting for DB_PREFIX ?
What is the same setting on the new server?

[montello1984]

here is the file; seems to have the correct DB credentials:

<?php
/**
* @package Configuration Settings circa 1.5.4
* @copyright Copyright 2003-2014 Zen Cart Development Team
* @copyright Portions Copyright 2003 osCommerce
* @license http://www.zen-cart.com/license/2_0.txt GNU Public License V2.0
* File Built by zc_install on 2015-01-27 11:45:51
*/


/*************** NOTE: This file is similar, but DIFFERENT from the "admin" version of configure.php. ***********/
/*************** The 2 files should be kept separate and not used to overwrite each other. ***********/

// Define the webserver and path parameters
// HTTP_SERVER is your Main webserver: eg-http://www.your_domain.com
// HTTPS_SERVER is your Secure webserver: eg-https://www.your_domain.com
define('HTTP_SERVER', 'http://www.petticrows.co.uk');
define('HTTPS_SERVER', 'https://www.petticrows.co.uk');

// Use secure webserver for checkout procedure?
define('ENABLE_SSL', 'false');

// NOTE: be sure to leave the trailing '/' at the end of these lines if you make changes!
// * 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', '/catalog/');
define('DIR_WS_HTTPS_CATALOG', '/catalog/');

define('DIR_WS_IMAGES', 'images/');
define('DIR_WS_INCLUDES', 'includes/');
define('DIR_WS_FUNCTIONS', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'functions/');
define('DIR_WS_CLASSES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'classes/');
define('DIR_WS_MODULES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'modules/');
define('DIR_WS_LANGUAGES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'languages/');
define('DIR_WS_DOWNLOAD_PUBLIC', DIR_WS_CATALOG . 'pub/');
define('DIR_WS_TEMPLATES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'templates/');

define('DIR_WS_PHPBB', '/');

// * DIR_FS_* = Filesystem directories (local/physical)
//the following path is a COMPLETE path to your Zen Cart files. eg: /var/www/vhost/accountname/public_html/store/
define('DIR_FS_CATALOG', '/home/dragon/public_html/catalog/');

//the following path is a COMPLETE path to the /logs/ folder eg: /var/www/vhost/accountname/public_html/store/logs ... and no trailing slash
define('DIR_FS_LOGS', '/home/dragon/public_html/catalog/logs');

define('DIR_FS_DOWNLOAD', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'download/');
define('DIR_FS_DOWNLOAD_PUBLIC', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'pub/');
define('DIR_WS_UPLOADS', DIR_WS_IMAGES . 'uploads/');
define('DIR_FS_UPLOADS', DIR_FS_CATALOG . DIR_WS_UPLOADS);
define('DIR_FS_EMAIL_TEMPLATES', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'email/');

// define our database connection
define('DB_TYPE', 'mysql');
define('DB_PREFIX', '');
define('DB_CHARSET', 'utf8');
define('DB_SERVER', 'localhost');
define('DB_SERVER_USERNAME', 'dragon_petticrow');
define('DB_SERVER_PASSWORD', '****************');
define('DB_DATABASE', 'dragon_onlineshop');

// The next 2 "defines" are for SQL cache support.
// For SQL_CACHE_METHOD, you can select from: none, database, or file
// If you choose "file", then you need to set the DIR_FS_SQL_CACHE to a directory where your apache
// or webserver user has write privileges (chmod 666 or 777). We recommend using the "cache" folder inside the Zen Cart folder
// ie: /path/to/your/webspace/public_html/zen/cache -- leave no trailing slash
define('SQL_CACHE_METHOD', 'none');
define('DIR_FS_SQL_CACHE', '/home/dragon/public_html/catalog/cache');

// EOF

[montello1984]

Ah .... it seems to be connected now ... dunno why that has suddenly changed.

I think I just now need to do some customisation of colours.

Thanks for all your help so far.

[montello1984]

OK - I think I have sort of worked it out ...

Something a bit odd is going on regarding how various components are connecting.

If I add the text:
80.76.216.10 www.petticrows.co.uk
to my hosts file I see the staging site on the new server and a virgin ZC install with no products.

If I then remove that line from my hosts file I see a virgin ZC install with my products.

If I view the site on another PC I see the old site as I expected ... old ZC install

Something odd is going on when I mess with the hosts file to re-direct the browser to the staging site.

Any thoughts?

[DrByte]

OK - I think I have sort of worked it out ...

Something a bit odd is going on regarding how various components are connecting.

If I add the text:
80.76.216.10 www.petticrows.co.uk
to my hosts file I see the staging site on the new server and a virgin ZC install with no products.

If I then remove that line from my hosts file I see a virgin ZC install with my products.

If I view the site on another PC I see the old site as I expected ... old ZC install

Something odd is going on when I mess with the hosts file to re-direct the browser to the staging site.

Any thoughts?

That would be the normal caching that your browser does, as well as IP address caching that your PC does.
You'll need to clear your browser cache and cookies, and also "flush IP routes" (google for "windows flush routes"). Or just use 2 PCs.

[montello1984]

To see the old install go to www.petticrows.co.uk and click "On-line shop"

To see the staging version you will need to add this line to your hosts file:

80.76.216.10 www.petticrows.co.uk