Template Change While Upgrading ZenCart?

[Francois]

I hope someone can point me in the right direction:

My store at www.experilab.co.za is currently running on ZenCart v155 and using the Responsive Sheffield Blue template.
My hosting provider is soon forcing an upgrade to pHp 8.0 so I decided to upgrade to v157.
The Sheffield Blue template has not been updated for v157 so I decided to try the ZC Bootstrap template instead.

I have set up a test site in order to add all plugins and customizations (there are many) and to try out the Bootstrap template. Then I imported (and upgraded) the database from the live site (still only using the test site). However, some template related settings in admin stopped working (e.g. cannot disable show manufacturer, cannot enable ezpages in sideboxes etc.). There must be database settings related to Bootstrap?

Now, I can change the order: install v157 and perform customizations, then import database and finally install the Bootstrap template. But as soon as I need to go live, the final import of the database will cause the same problems, not?

Or should I install (an older version of) Bootstrap on the current (live) v155 and then only export the database?

Finally, there is the option of importing selected table data only from one (upgraded) database to another. (Maybe a bad idea?)

Any help will be appreciated!

ps. I am no serious programmer myself but luckily do have someone to ask when I get stuck...

[swguy]

> I have set up a test site in order to add all plugins and customizations (there are many) and to try out the Bootstrap template.
Suggested order:
- zc_install to update database.
- apply Bootstrap template and switch templates. Tweak to taste.
- Add customizations one at a time, testing as you go.


> Finally, there is the option of importing selected table data only from one (upgraded) database to another. (Maybe a bad idea?)
Don't do this. I wouldn't even recommend experts do this. TONS of potential pitfalls here; it's not worth the risk. If you need to delete things, use the UI or a tool that was built-for-purpose by someone who knows what they're doing (such as Delete Spam Customers).

[Francois]

> I have set up a test site in order to add all plugins and customizations (there are many) and to try out the Bootstrap template.
Suggested order:
- zc_install to update database.
- apply Bootstrap template and switch templates. Tweak to taste.
- Add customizations one at a time, testing as you go.
.

Thanks for the suggestions swguy!

I used the order as above. Now ready to go live so as a final step I need to import the latest version (with updated orders, customers, products etc) of my current database (v155) before switching to the new site. But a lot of things stops working (probably due to plugin additions to the database?).

Still not sure what is the correct procedure...

[swguy]

You should have a test site where you get things working before you go live.

https://docs.zen-cart.com/user/running/local_testing/

[Francois]

You should have a test site where you get things working before you go live.

https://docs.zen-cart.com/user/running/local_testing/

Maybe I did not make myself clear...

I DO have a test site. This is where I did the following:
Installed ZenCart v157
Imported and upgraded a COPY of my live database
Installed the new template
Installed all the plugins and customisations.

Everything is working fine on the test site and I am ready to go live.

BUT, I need to import the latest orders and customers from my (v155) live site. This database in not upgraded yet and do not contain the extra tables/fields added by plugins. How do I get the database on my test site to contain all the LATEST data before going live?

[swguy]

- Re-import your LIVE database on your TEST SITE.
- Go through whatever motions are required to add the fields for your plugins:
- With some plugins, it's just a matter of "Go to Admin > some-page and the plugin will auto update"
- With some plugins you have to run an external SQL script
- etc.

Your database is now updated.

While you're doing the second step, you should take good notes because you'll have to do the same operations when you go live.

[Francois]

- Re-import your LIVE database on your TEST SITE.
- Go through whatever motions are required to add the fields for your plugins:
- With some plugins, it's just a matter of "Go to Admin > some-page and the plugin will auto update"
- With some plugins you have to run an external SQL script
- etc.

Your database is now updated.

While you're doing the second step, you should take good notes because you'll have to do the same operations when you go live.

Thanks for your patience swguy, I think I am slowly getting the picture. Was hoping there would be a less painful way. Been running the shop for over ten years and a LOT of customization has been done over the years and we have learned to rely heavily on some excellent plugins. Will get there eventually...

[swguy]

It's a tough process, I agree. A lot of my business comes from doing upgrades because people just throw up their hands when they see how much is involved.