Zencart upgrade question - how to keep my data?

[amebb]

I have a question regarding my shopping cart.

At the moment i am running ZC V1.5.8a. It is working well but i want to upgrade it to the latest version.

So my question is if i was to do a fresh installation on the latest version zencart how hard is it then to migrate all the data from my old ZC installaton?

I am more concerned about the product descriptions, users from the data base etc.

Thank you

[OldNGrey]

I have a question regarding my shopping cart.

At the moment i am running ZC V1.5.8a. It is working well but i want to upgrade it to the latest version.

So my question is if i was to do a fresh installation on the latest version zencart how hard is it then to migrate all the data from my old ZC installaton?

I am more concerned about the product descriptions, users from the data base etc.

Thank you

Relatively easy. These are the basic steps:

1. I export everything from my production database using PHPMyAdmin using the same settings as my regular backups. ( Settings can be provided if required.)

2 If you want everything exactly the same, simply unzip the sql file.

3 Using Mariadb and Heide on my test PC, I load the sql files into an existing ZC2.2.0 database installation.

4 Then using zencart run https:// your-local-IP-address/YOUR-220-databasename/public/zc_install

5 Follow the prompts to upgrade.

The above steps will mirror my zc158a database contents.

This is just for migrating the data, as you have asked.
======================================================

If you have made code changes or have old plugins that use additional database fields there may be more work required.

I personally have made improvements when moving from 158a so I have additional steps to perform before Step 3 above eg remove table prefixes, change database engine for all tables.
When the database is loaded I also have some sql scripts to run to clean out some redundant settings eg old ozpost values and honeypot values.

[swguy]

The "upgrade data format" step is literally built in to Zen Cart. No external tools needed.

Be sure to make a backup of your database in its existing 1.5.8 format, then run zc_install after installing the latest version:

https://docs.zen-cart.com/user/upgra...nstall-process

[amebb]

Relatively easy. These are the basic steps:

1. I export everything from my production database using PHPMyAdmin using the same settings as my regular backups. ( Settings can be provided if required.)

2 If you want everything exactly the same, simply unzip the sql file.

3 Using Mariadb and Heide on my test PC, I load the sql files into an existing ZC2.2.0 database installation.

4 Then using zencart run https:// your-local-IP-address/YOUR-220-databasename/public/zc_install

5 Follow the prompts to upgrade.

The above steps will mirror my zc158a database contents.

This is just for migrating the data, as you have asked.
======================================================

If you have made code changes or have old plugins that use additional database fields there may be more work required.

I personally have made improvements when moving from 158a so I have additional steps to perform before Step 3 above eg remove table prefixes, change database engine for all tables.
When the database is loaded I also have some sql scripts to run to clean out some redundant settings eg old ozpost values and honeypot values.

Thank you so much for your help.

From the database i would require the customer user data plus anything else that is related to the products we have in the store.

The product descriptions can be copied individually if i have too.

Was not looking forward to doing this but i guess that time has now come..lol

Thank you

[dbltoe]

With the addition of System Inspection (formerly ModList), there's hardly a time that I would do anything but a database-only upgrade.

Load the latest ZC version, going through all the steps to finish the install. Replace the created DB with the old. Run zc_install and click on Upgrade.

After completion, go to the Admin >> Tools >> System Inspection. It will show you what mods were being used in the old database but are not found in the new install.

One by one, load the latest versions of the missing mods that you want to continue using and are stated as supporting your new version. If you wind up with leftovers, the forum can assist in dealing with those. The "leftovers" may or may not affect site operation. Prioritize their removal by which ones affect your site the most.

BTW, while loading the mods, make sure to get a copy of Clone a Template. Never use any template before cloning it. You'll always have a fallback/testing point if you make a mistake.

[amebb]

Would i not be able to just copy the old data base over to the new one after the new installation?

[dbltoe]

Load the latest ZC version, going through all the steps to finish the install. Replace the created DB with the old. Run zc_install and click on Upgrade.

If your hosting has cPanel, instructions based on how I would do it are at https://myzencarthost.com/index.php?...th-cPanel.html. The only thing to note is that PHP 8.3 or better is preferable to use in today's world.

[amebb]

If your hosting has cPanel, instructions based on how I would do it are at https://myzencarthost.com/index.php?...th-cPanel.html. The only thing to note is that PHP 8.3 or better is preferable to use in today's world.

I have my site hosted with Hostgator. That site is ZC 1.5.8a using php 7.3 i think.

I cannot use the same hosting account to do a fresh install because then i would need to upgrade my php to 8.2+
If i did that then my existing site will not work and i dont want any down time at all.

The solution would be to create another hostgator account and install the new version of ZC and migrate the data from the old site to the new.

After testing the new site i will then direct my main domain name to the new site.

This is the only way i think it can be done.

[dbltoe]

As the directions in the knowledge base article state, putting the test site above the root allows you to select a newer PHP for that location. Your site will still function with no problem, while your test site will use the latest PHP.

If you tried to do it differently, it is extremely difficult to impossible to run separate sites with different PHP settings at one account. I won't go into all the technical mumbo jumbo.

Unfortunately, not all hosts provide cPanel, and a lot that do provide it turn off many features so they can charge you for them. I know that HostGator provides cPanel and usually turns on more features than most. You can Google changing a site's PHP in HostGator, and it talks about PHP MultiPHP Manager

In your cPanel, open it and see if it does not have options for 8.2 or higher. If it does, you can follow the knowledge base article, and the instructions will work.

[amebb]

For some reason my host does not support that option where i can have two sites on one hosting package using two versions of php. I asked them this yesterday and it was not something that they offer.

So, plan B it is then !