Does ZC work with MySql 5.x?

[ckosloff]

Please somebody answer this question.
Thanks.

[gjh42]

It is not fully tested or officially supported, but a lot of people use it successfully.

[ckosloff]

Thanks for swift reply.
I had a hunch that it would be so.
However, please note that this contradicts the ZC manual: "...Zen Cart only works with MySQL version 4.x..." (page 33).
Now that I know that it can work, will install latest version of XAMPP and test it.
I don't think that to install older versions is an elegant solution.
Will post the outcome of my testing.

[Merlinpa1969]

Please remember that this isnt tested fully or supported so the manual is actually correct based on the system recomendations

[ckosloff]

Well, it isn't really accurate.
"...only works..." is not the same as "...not fully tested..."
The proposed solution is not very good.
It is not easy to find the recommended version of XAMPP in Source Forge and it doesn't work very well.
I tried it and had to let it go.
I am enthusiastic about this project and have no will to enter an argument, just pointing this out because as a newbie I got stuck in this early stage.
I just hope the developers find a better solution and update the manual.

[Kim]

Use a live host - easy.

[Ajeh]

If someone were to ask me does Zen Cart work with php 5.x I would say no ...

Even though I write Zen Cart ...

Even though I know it can work with some versions of php 5.x ...

Even though I know of many successful shops with Zen Cart and php 5.x ...

I'd still say No ...

I am not about to say Yes on a question where you might spend your money to run our free software on a server with only php 5.x to find out that it doesn't work because of XXX number of reasons that we have not tested, updated the code for etc.

That would be really dumb as we, the Zen Cart Team, are not ready to commit to supporting php 5.x so it would be very wrong to even suggest this in a book ...

You do not say software runs in an environment that you cannot back it up nor are willing to work 18 hours a day to fix issues that arise from claims that are incorrect ... that would be ... well ... dumb ... don't you think?

[ckosloff]

I am also using a live host...very easy there.
Regarding dumb, we are not talking about php 5, that is not a problem since wamp5 can switch between 4 and 5.
Just MySql5 is a problem for me simply because...the XAMPP version recommended in the book doesn't work.

[canopy]

Sorry its taken so long for me to answer to this thread as I was overseas.

Regarding the comment pointed out on page 33 of the manual, perhaps I should have phrased the wording better (i.e. "works officially" instead of "only works"). Thanks for pointing out the subtlety there ckosloff. I'll update the Book Support site accordingly.

Regarding not getting XAMPP to work properly on your PC, pls send a separate email thru the Contact Us page of the Book Support site and I will try to answer asap. This is to prevent the Zen Cart forums from being used to answer questions not related to Zen Cart.

Lastly, I want to make it clear that it was my idea to include the use of XAMPP in the book as I felt it would be useful for newbies. The dev team had nothing to do with it. If there are problems understanding certain sections of the book, its my fault for not writing it clearly enough. Do send your feedback via the Book Support site if you encounter such instances.

[ckosloff]

Your reply shows objectivity and true greatness of spirit.
You have even included it in your book's errata immediately.
I'm impressed, and deeply grateful for the clarifications.
Regarding XAMPP, I will take this discussion to the Book Support site, I didn't even know it existed.
I am working on WAMP5 now with good results and ease of use, but will install the latest version of XAMPP on another computer and test there, even though that MySQL version is not supported.
That old version of XAMPP is really buggy, or maybe I don't know how to use it.
I guess I will have to wait for the next update of ZC that will support the latest releases of related software.
Will keep you posted via the Book site.
Thanks again for all the help.