Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 11

Hybrid View

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    N of San Antonio TX
    Posts
    9,103
    Plugin Contributions
    11

    Default [Fixed v1.5.1] 1.5 Implementation Guide Suggestions

    Forced to be away from normal work, I got to thinking about a recent problem with the installation of ZC. I recalled my volunteering to assist in the maintenance of guides, tutorials, etc and pulled up the pdf guide for 1.5.0 implementation. Looking through the first seven sections, I came up with a few suggestions and clarifications which I submit with full appreciation of the effort already put into this document.

    3. Obtaining the current Zen Cart release -- Pg 6
    For consistency, this title shoudl be "Obtaining the Current Zen Cart Release".

    4. Unpacking snd Uploading the application software files -- Pg 7
    For consistency, this title shoudl be "Unpacking and Uploading the Application Software Files".

    4.4 Advanced Method--Pg 7
    You can optionally save some time by uploading the zip file directly to your server(using FTP etc.), and unpacking it on your site if your hosting company provides you a means of unzipping files on the server side. Talk to your hosting company about this.

    5.1 New Installations--Pg 8
    2) configure.php files
    Is this really necessary or just a way of confusing those who read this after installing? Numerous posts on the forum are a result of someone renaming the dist- files AFTER installation resulting in a non-working cart. Why not just remove 2) and change 3) to 2).

    6.1.4 Step 3 System Inspection -- Pg 14
    Since we are still in the midst of installation instructions, would it not be better to have a warning box (like on page 9) stating:
    WARNING: If you see an "Upgrade CFG Files" or "Database Upgrade" button at this point, there is data in the database. Clicking on the "Install" button with either "Upgrade" button showing will erase any data in the database. For instructions on doing upgrades...

    6.1.5.3 Database Username/Password -- Pg 15 last line add "using"
    ...it is up to you to change it to something strong and secure, using the tools provided by your hosting company.

    6.1.6.2 URL to your Zen Cart store -- Pg 17
    For consistency, this title should be "URL to your Zen Cart Store".

    6.1.6.3 and 6.1.6.4 might need to be moved to page 17 with the image consisting of only the portion applicable to .3 and .4. Then, make a new page with 6.1.6.5, 6.1.6.6, the warning box, and the last half of the existing image on pag 18.

    6.1.6.7 Save System Settings -- Pg 19 Needs to be added
    If all the System Settings on this page are correct, click on the "Save System Settings" button to add the system settings to your database.

    6.1.7 Step 6 Store Setup -- Pg 19
    When any of these items are described as "used to" are we not falsely indicating that there is no need to enter this information elsewhere? Store Owner Email, Store Country, and Zone are simply insertions of database content, not the creation of a variable that will be "used". Store Address on Pg 19 does not have the "used" statement, but does have a correct version of a used statement in the figure on Pg 20.

    6.1.7.1 Store Demo -- Pg 21
    in built is normally spelled inbuilt but even the definition for inbuilt lists built-in as the first answer. Also "You may find it useful load this demo data so that you can get comfortable with the application, before you actually start to build your own store." should be "You may find it useful to load this demo data so that you can get comfortable with the application before you actually start to build your own store." to be more correct.

    6.1.7.2 Save Store Settings -- Pg 21 Needs to be added
    If all the Store Settings on this page are correct, click on the "Save Store Settings" button to add the system settings to your database.

    6.1.8.1 Administrator's User name -- Pg 22
    For consistency, this title shoudl be "Administrator's User Name".

    6.1.8.2 TEMPORARY Administrator's Password -- Pg 22 Warning Box rewrite
    PA-DSS
    You most likely accessed this installation without using SSL. That means there is an extremely
    small possibility that someone could have intercepted your admin username/password. Make sure you enable SSL for your admin page. This will cause your admin password to expire and you'll need to select a new password. This helps ensure that, if someone has stolen your password over an unsecured connection, they'll be unable to use that password any longer.

    6.1.10 --Pg 23 Change to Save Admin Settings and renumber existing 6.1.10 to 6.1.11 (text for 6.1.10)
    If all the Admin Settings on this page are correct, click on the "Save Admin Settings" button to add the system settings to your database.

    6.2.4 Step 3 System Inspection -- Pg 26
    This does not address which button to select for what action nor is the result of clicking "Upgrade Cfg Files" addressed. Instead, we're taken directly to the result of clicking on "Database Upgrade".

    6.2.5 Step 4 Version-upgrade-checkboxes -- Pg 26
    As in Step 3, the various options are not addressed and only the result of clicking "Done with Updates" is addressed.

    7. Post Installation activities -- Pg 29
    For consistency, this title shoudl be "Post-Installation Activities".

    7.1 Changing The Admin Directory Name for Security (By-Obscurity) -- Pg 29
    Second paragraph, second sentence needs another comma and wordage change to avoid possible focus on "easy to guess". "Therefore, before you can access the admin panel, you must change the name of that directory to something much more difficult to guess."

    7.3 Setting directory and file permissions -- Pg 29
    For consistency, this title shoudl be "Setting Directory and File Permissions".
    The first sentence should start "As mentioned in Section 5.1,"
    Last paragraph on the page. N.B. ??

    7.4 Removing the installation directory -- Pg 30
    For consistency, this title should be "Removing the Installation Directory".
    Using "Once installation is completed, you must remove the INSTALL_DIRECTORY?zc_install folder." might keep someone from deleting zc_install prior to installation completion.
    Last sentence could read "Until you remove the zc_install directory, a warning message will appear when you access your storefront.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Posts
    66,363
    Blog Entries
    7
    Plugin Contributions
    274

    Default Re: 1.5 Implementation Guide Suggestions

    Upon cursory glance, do I correctly gather that all your "for consistency" comments are merely capitalization observations?
    .

    Zen Cart - putting the dream of business ownership within reach of anyone!
    Donate to: DrByte directly or to the Zen Cart team as a whole

    Remember: Any code suggestions you see here are merely suggestions. You assume full responsibility for your use of any such suggestions, including any impact ANY alterations you make to your site may have on your PCI compliance.
    Furthermore, any advice you see here about PCI matters is merely an opinion, and should not be relied upon as "official". Official PCI information should be obtained from the PCI Security Council directly or from one of their authorized Assessors.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    N of San Antonio TX
    Posts
    9,103
    Plugin Contributions
    11

    Default Re: 1.5 Implementation Guide Suggestions

    Yep, title case for titles except when something like zc_install is in the title.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Posts
    66,363
    Blog Entries
    7
    Plugin Contributions
    274

    Default Re: 1.5 Implementation Guide Suggestions

    Thanks for the feedback. We'll incorporate some of the suggestions.
    Some appear to simply be differences in expressions or speaking on opposite sides of the Atlantic.

    With respect and appreciation for your detailed feedback, I offer the following responses, clarifications, and questions.

    Quote Originally Posted by dbltoe View Post
    5.1 New Installations--Pg 8
    2) configure.php files
    Is this really necessary or just a way of confusing those who read this after installing? Numerous posts on the forum are a result of someone renaming the dist- files AFTER installation resulting in a non-working cart. Why not just remove 2) and change 3) to 2).
    Yes, it's necessary. You cannot do a fresh install without having configure.php files on the server and setting them writable. Thus step 2 is important.
    If someone chooses to follow PRE-installation steps AFTER doing an installation, and wipes out the installation, then ... well ... am I overly insensitive in suggesting that maybe they deserve those consequences?
    Quote Originally Posted by dbltoe View Post
    6.1.4 Step 3 System Inspection -- Pg 14
    Since we are still in the midst of installation instructions, would it not be better to have a warning box (like on page 9) stating:
    WARNING: If you see an "Upgrade CFG Files" or "Database Upgrade" button at this point, there is data in the database. Clicking on the "Install" button with either "Upgrade" button showing will erase any data in the database. For instructions on doing upgrades...
    I believe there already is the warning you suggest, at the bottom of the screenshot, before the next step.

    Quote Originally Posted by dbltoe View Post
    6.1.7 Step 6 Store Setup -- Pg 19
    When any of these items are described as "used to" are we not falsely indicating that there is no need to enter this information elsewhere? Store Owner Email, Store Country, and Zone are simply insertions of database content, not the creation of a variable that will be "used". Store Address on Pg 19 does not have the "used" statement, but does have a correct version of a used statement in the figure on Pg 20.
    I don't think I'm following what you're suggesting. Do I correctly understand that you're suggesting that the assumption people will make is that everything's optional?
    Technically it is all optional. There will be undesired consequences if invalid or blank information is supplied, as with any and every setting in any piece of software you ever use.



    Thanks for the detailed read and feedback! It's good to know *somebody* reads this stuff!
    .

    Zen Cart - putting the dream of business ownership within reach of anyone!
    Donate to: DrByte directly or to the Zen Cart team as a whole

    Remember: Any code suggestions you see here are merely suggestions. You assume full responsibility for your use of any such suggestions, including any impact ANY alterations you make to your site may have on your PCI compliance.
    Furthermore, any advice you see here about PCI matters is merely an opinion, and should not be relied upon as "official". Official PCI information should be obtained from the PCI Security Council directly or from one of their authorized Assessors.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    N of San Antonio TX
    Posts
    9,103
    Plugin Contributions
    11

    Default Re: 1.5 Implementation Guide Suggestions

    Take a look at http://tinyurl.com/cdnzbg3. Installed thusly:

    1. Loaded zip to site
      • Apache 2.2.17
      • PHP 5.3.6
      • MySQL 5.0.67
    2. Extracted zip to root and renamed folder to zc5
    3. Created blank database
    4. Went to MyDomain/zc5 and clicked on option 2 (Run zc_install/index.php via your browser)
    5. Went through all steps to install
    6. Used filezilla to rename admin and remove zc_install
    7. Logged into new admin and changed password

    At no time did I create a configure.php file or rename a dist-configure.php file. Both were created by zc_install and the cart file was set to 444. I manually changed the admin to 444 from 644

    Thus, the reason I questioned the creation of the files.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Sunny Coast, Australia
    Posts
    3,379
    Plugin Contributions
    9

    Default Re: 1.5 Implementation Guide Suggestions

    Quote Originally Posted by dbltoe View Post
    Take a look at http://tinyurl.com/cdnzbg3. Installed thusly:

    1. Loaded zip to site
      • Apache 2.2.17
      • PHP 5.3.6
      • MySQL 5.0.67
    2. Extracted zip to root and renamed folder to zc5
    3. Created blank database
    4. Went to MyDomain/zc5 and clicked on option 2 (Run zc_install/index.php via your browser)
    5. Went through all steps to install
    6. Used filezilla to rename admin and remove zc_install
    7. Logged into new admin and changed password

    At no time did I create a configure.php file or rename a dist-configure.php file. Both were created by zc_install and the cart file was set to 444. I manually changed the admin to 444 from 644

    Thus, the reason I questioned the creation of the files.
    Thanks dbltoe, bookmarked this thread for further reference. Replicated your steps on a test site and went just fine - great tip indeed.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Posts
    66,363
    Blog Entries
    7
    Plugin Contributions
    274

    Default Re: 1.5 Implementation Guide Suggestions

    Quote Originally Posted by dbltoe View Post
    At no time did I create a configure.php file or rename a dist-configure.php file. Both were created by zc_install and the cart file was set to 444. I manually changed the admin to 444 from 644

    Thus, the reason I questioned the creation of the files.
    You are fortunate that the server on which you are attempting installation apparently has its filesystem configured in such a way that makes that step conveniently simpler. While some might argue it also poses some security concerns, you will certainly enjoy the convenience.

    Unfortunately not everyone has that luxury. Hence the reason for the provision and instructions.

    As you know, it's tough to find appropriate middle-ground when attempting to accommodate a wide variety of server configurations, each of which is configured according to the whims of the server administrator themselves ... seldom are any two servers exactly the same.

    I should also point out that those instructions about creating configure.php files or renaming dist-configure.php files are not in any way "new" to v1.5.

    That said, I do appreciate knowing of your personal experience which makes installation easier than what others may experience. Thanks.
    .

    Zen Cart - putting the dream of business ownership within reach of anyone!
    Donate to: DrByte directly or to the Zen Cart team as a whole

    Remember: Any code suggestions you see here are merely suggestions. You assume full responsibility for your use of any such suggestions, including any impact ANY alterations you make to your site may have on your PCI compliance.
    Furthermore, any advice you see here about PCI matters is merely an opinion, and should not be relied upon as "official". Official PCI information should be obtained from the PCI Security Council directly or from one of their authorized Assessors.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    N of San Antonio TX
    Posts
    9,103
    Plugin Contributions
    11

    Default Re: 1.5 Implementation Guide Suggestions

    @frank18 - I hesitated to put that out for two reasons.

    1. As DrByte stated, we have our servers set to work with the installer as we only do Zen Cart. This is NOT the norm in the real world. It WOULD be interesting to find out which hosts will not allow this simple method of installation.
    2. I feared that someone would stop reading and follow the listed steps I listed as an installation guide. Nothing is as constant as change. I always look for the latest version of anything I install or mod. And, I read the included readme, guide, tutorial, or whatever to see if anything has changed since I last used them.

    @DrByte - I'm suggesting that the installer be reminded that this will not preclude the necessity of adding the information under Locations/Taxes. For example, by stating the zone is "used for tax and shipping and related activities", one could assume that they would not have to enter any other zone information.

    I know that a 3,000 page installation guide would never result in complete, error-free use of Zen Cart. It's just the old tech writer in me.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    N of San Antonio TX
    Posts
    9,103
    Plugin Contributions
    11

    Default Re: 1.5 Implementation Guide Suggestions

    Re: 6.1.4
    Quote Originally Posted by DrByte View Post
    I believe there already is the warning you suggest, at the bottom of the screenshot, before the next step.
    Yes, it is in the figure but, I felt a little more emphasis in the subsequent text (including turning it into another orange box) would err on the side of safety.

    Re: 6.1.7
    Quote Originally Posted by DrByte View Post
    I don't think I'm following what you're suggesting. Do I correctly understand that you're suggesting that the assumption people will make is that everything's optional?
    Technically it is all optional. There will be undesired consequences if invalid or blank information is supplied, as with any and every setting in any piece of software you ever use.
    Under Store Zone, "Again, used for tax and shipping and other related activities."
    If this is actually USED for this purpose, one might expect to see the submitted zone (TX) rather than Florida in the Zones Definitions. IMHO it implies that there is no need to go to Locations/Taxes and set it up correctly. Just another item seen a lot in the forums answered by "Did you set your zone?"
    If it or Store Country are not accessed in the database in order to perform a function, perhaps it should not be implied that it is "used for". With the exception of Store Name, all the other options state "This is displayed..."

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    N of San Antonio TX
    Posts
    9,103
    Plugin Contributions
    11

    Default Re: 1.5 Implementation Guide Suggestions

    BTW, thanks for the kudos on reading.
    I think we'd both agree that there would be far less than the current 177,885 threads if reading were attempted more often.

 

 
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 3
    Last Post: 28 Jul 2011, 04:53 PM
  2. Overide Implementation
    By gaver in forum General Questions
    Replies: 17
    Last Post: 26 Apr 2010, 09:00 PM
  3. osTicket Implementation
    By elausell in forum Managing Customers and Orders
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 30 Jul 2008, 01:35 PM
  4. FIXED Muliple Quantities at FIXED Prices per Multiple Quantity???
    By awarrior in forum Setting Up Categories, Products, Attributes
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 4 Apr 2007, 09:42 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
disjunctive-egg
Zen-Cart, Internet Selling Services, Klamath Falls, OR