Quick Installation question

[cwcgroup]

My Zen Cart installation (1.3.8a) was done automatically by my host (BlueHost).

I just received my copy of the of Zen-Cart owner manual and it goes through the tedious task of installing on my local computer. Is this step necessary? I can't see that it is, but I also don't want to skip a significant step.

Thanks.

[colemanpa]

I lot of people like to have a local copy of there cart, a mirror image of there live site with a separate database, so as you update, and add, and change things you can do it to the local copy first, see if it breaks the cart (test it), then after you have figured out how to make it work on your cart put it on your live site, so having a local copy of the cart can be important, and following the book you will be doing all the things the book wants you to do on something other then your live site.

[kobra]

I just received my copy of the of Zen-Cart owner manual and it goes through the tedious task of installing on my local computer. Is this step necessary? I can't see that it is, but I also don't want to skip a significant step.

This is only for you to have a development base seperate from your live store -

An alternate is to have a second install in a folder or a sub-domain just for testing - NOTE: with a seperate Database...

SO answer is No to the local XAMP install this is not a requirement but making changes to a live store should always be done with the store in the down for maintenance mode and Backup Backup Back up.

Files if making file changes Database if making DB changes & both if doing something that impacts both

[cwcgroup]

Thanks for response. Very much appreciated. This forum is 10x better than paid support!

[afo]

I have Zen Cart unzipped on my local drive, but I don't have it setup to run. I edit the files I want to change and then FTP the changes to the website. I find it easier that way, plus you can see the folder/file structure, so some of the instructions are clearer.