Multisite Module or Separate Website

[EC web]

Hello all !!!
I posted earlier in another post about the multisite module. You can see the post here:
https://www.zen-cart.com/showthread....ight=multisite

But I have been reading the read me file for this module and the other posts in the thread and I'm not sure about all the back end trouble I could have with this. I am by no means a website building expert. Far from it. But I do have some basics under my belt, but not sure I want to tackle this.

Anyways, my question here is. What is my other option? I can easily create another zen cart under my second domain name and move my products that I want to separate to the new website. Also I am familiar with how to link up paypal etc. But my trouble is, I don't want to have to have my customers recreate a new account. I would like them to be able to go to the new website (different domain) and be able to log in with the other site's customer data. Is this even possible? Can I duplicate the customer database to the second zen cart?

My concerns are:
I am currently using v.1.5.1
my website is www.earthscauldron.com
I have another domain name www.rootlady.com on the same server and want to create another site and move half my products to this other domain to keep products separate. Mainly, those buying soap for example, might not want to see folk magic and vice versa.

I don't want to loose customer information or have to have them create a new account. Future sales and new customers will have the option as to which website they want to use. They will not have to do both, nor will I be transferring new customers from one to another, just existing customers that already shop with me. (There will of course be a link on the website that points to a page letting them know where to find the items from here on).

I want two websites here www.earthscauldron.com (soaps, candles, incense, herbs, oils, henna) and www.rootlady.com (folk magic, services, etc.) the customers I currently have usually don't buy both, it's either one or the other and I don't want to scare off someone looking for handmade bodycare with a talisman (see what I'm saying)

So, I guess my main concern here, to make a long story short is copying my customers from one site to another but keeping both customer databases intact.

Any help or suggestions you may have would be greatly appreciated. I need to add a separate store here for half my products that includes my old customers.

Thank you so very much!

[kobra]

I am currently using v.1.5.1
They will not have to do both, nor will I be transferring new customers from one to another, just existing customers that already shop with me

Make sure to create your new cart with this same version fresh

Then you have options
1) import only the customer related tables
address_book
customers
customers_info

Enter the products you want manually

2)import the full database and delete from the admin the products you do not want
There may be some issues with orders etc and my account display owing to deleted items

[EC web]

Thank you for your response. I got to the point earlier where I was ready to export/import the db. I did that and cannot see the info in the new database. Is this because I need to change the config files info? Or maybe I'm doing something else wrong. I used the instructions in the tutorial file on how to export/import and followed them to a tee. I also tried importing both zipped and unzipped file. Nothing. I'm sure this is a simple answer, but I wanted to check before I went any further to make sure I'm not missing something. The only thing I can think of is maybe the config files?? Thing there is I don't want both sites using the same database, wouldn't that mess it up?
So lost here....
Thanks in advance for your help.

[EC web]

I'm not sure what more info to add here.
The databases are different names/passwords
Is this causing a problem? maybe the info in the imported database reads xxx123 instead of the new sites db user/pass ooo456 ???

[EC web]

ok. WHOA!
My old (but still in use) db has prefixes in the phpadmin of zen_products.
My new db does not have them BUT after importing the old db info into it has them ALSO, a list just below the others. Now, if I go into the config files and add the prefix, all the db info shows up that I want, but I cannot log into the admin anymore. with either set of usernames/passwords. I am going to mess around with this and see what is up, I know this can be fixed easily (I think) but I wanted to post an update to whats going on in case you are reading this before I come back or anyone else has an issue.
I'm wondering if I can copy the info from "zen_products" to "products" and make this issue go away.
Will post back.

[kobra]

I cannot log into the admin anymore.
I'm wondering if I can copy the info from "zen_products" to "products" and make this issue go away.

What would the products table have to do with logging in??

[lruskauff]

What would the products table have to do with logging in??

They don't, he is talking about two different problems at once but he speaks my language :) ( my husband can't understand how I think either.)

Ec web, I would do one thing at a time.

First, each store has its own set of configuration files, one in admin/ includes and the other in includes. You need to adjust settings in both files. There you set up your paths to your store AND your database info. Here you will change your database name, prefix, passwords, etc.

As for your new database file,I think it would be easier to recreate it with the same prefix and then reimport the datA instead of copying within the database and then having to delete a bunch of records.

I am generalizing here, so if you need specifics, please ask.

Linda