upgrading from 1.3.6 to 1.3.7

[immy]

hey up all how do i go about upgrading my version without wipeing all the customer data and all the existing files i have on my site ?

[kobra]

Here is the recommended method:

There are examples on how to make a new directory such as /new_shop and create a new database ...

Then backup the Live Database ...
note: you will do this a couple times during the upgrade processes

Load the backup of the Live Database to your new database for the /new_shop

Load the new version of Zen Cart to /new_shop

Copy your existing:
/includes/configure.php
/admin/includes/configure.php

to the
/new_shop/includes/configure.php
/new_shop/admin/includes/configure.php

Edit the 2 files and change the paths and database information to reflect the new path for /new_shop and the new database name, username and password

Run the /new_shop/zc_install and UPGRADE the database

Copy the files in:
/new_shop/includes/templates/classic

To your new template directory:
/new_shop/includes/templates/your_template_dir

Edit the file:
/new_shop/includes/templates/your_template_dir/temp_info.php

and enter your template name ...

Copy the files in:
/includes/languages/english/html_includes/classic

to your templates directory:
/includes/languages/english/html_includes/your_template_dir

NOTE: be sure to change permissions to 777 if you wish to edit these from the Admin ...

To build your templates and overrides with the new v1.3.x method, start with the language files you already customized and upgrade them to include all of the new defines in v1.3.6

Beyond Compare from scootersoftware.com is a great tool for making these kind of changes and comparing original files with old files to bring them up to date ...

There are numerous posts on this in the forum and the FAQs and Wiki to help you along ...

Keep track of changes to the configuration settings that you make ...

Later, when you have everything perfect, you will be setting your Live Shop to Down for Maintenance and doing a backup again of the Live Shop database, empting the tables in the /new_shop database and loading the most recent backup from the Live Site and re-running the /new_shop/zc_install and Upgrading the current data again ...

Then you need to move your Live Shop to /old_shop and /new_shop to your Live Shop location ...

NOTE: be sure to update the 2 configure.php files with the Live Shop path but do NOT change the database information ... the New Live Shop will use the New database ...

Read this a few times slowly and you will start to see the pattern to this ...

This method allows you to upgrade your site slowly and carefully without taking down your Live shop until the last possible moment and for the briefest amount of time ...
##############################___
Linda McGrath

[icklebits]

I've read this several times and could you just clarify a few points please?

It says:

"To build your templates and overrides with the new v1.3.x method, start with the language files you already customized and upgrade them to include all of the new defines in v1.3.6"

What do you specifically mean by that? I need it in laymans terms please!

Secondly:


"..., empting the tables in the /new_shop database and loading the most recent backup from the Live Site and re-running the /new_shop/zc_install and Upgrading the current data again ..."

Thirdly, I don't have my shop in a folder. It literally starts at www.icklebits.co.uk not www.icklebits.co.uk/shop or anything so how do I do the following bit? Do I delete all the old files first or just overwrite them??

"Then you need to move your Live Shop to /old_shop and /new_shop to your Live Shop location ..."

Fourthly I don't get this bit either:

"NOTE: be sure to update the 2 configure.php files with the Live Shop path but do NOT change the database information ... the New Live Shop will use the New database ..."

Is there anywhere that has how to upgrade in laymans terms because I understood the previous instructions up until the bits above!

Thanks! I keep putting it off but I now see that I have an old version of purpleshades templates so everything needs updating! Argh!

Thanks!

[afo]

Get a program like WinMerge and open the 1.3.6 files you modified next to the 1.3.7 files. Incorporate your 1.3.6 changes (for instance, the name of your site) into the 1.3.7 files and save the 1.3.7 files in your custom folder. I'm assuming you already know about the overrides.

The references to /old_shop and /new_shop assume that you have your live cart in one folder (even if it's the root of your site) and 1.3.7 in a different folder where you've been tinkering with your template and stuff.

What you can do is create a second database and install 1.3.7 in its own folder and use the second db to test with. If you like, you can export your live db and import it into your test db, so you have data while you're testing. When you're happy with the look of your 1.3.7 site, take down the live site for maintenance and copy ALL the 1.3.7 files (including zc_install) to the live site. When you run zc_install, it should prompt you to upgrade your database only because it'll recognise your site as being 1.3.7. The db upgrade will keep all your current data.

[icklebits]

Thank you. I really think it would be easier for me to pay somebody to do it for me. The problem I have is I tried to do this a month or so ago and completely messed it up. I lost all my data some how or other and got in a right state! I just don't know anything about computers. Its literally gobbledegook to me. I read the words and I know they are english but all my mind sees is "blah blah blah"....LOL

Thanks anyway! Will have a go someday.......

[icklebits]

Actually, could you just clarify something please.

Is the product details, customer details and ez pages all stored in this database thing? If I back that up then thats all I need to worry about if it all goes wrong?

If I know that all that important information is in this database thing you mention then I won't need to worry so much??

I'm sorry. I didn't realise that having a website would be so technical!