My first time upgrading

[mc12345678]

Sorry, I'm seeing two ways. 1. Do nothing, old database dies. 2. Update/import/?? the old database at some point. Is there a third method? Clearly, I'm not super versed on databases. Yesterday, I thought maybe I didn't have one, so could skip that part of the instructions ;)

A third way is a nightmare to get right and has the possibility of blowing away your net presence (as does completely starting with a new database) bringing over only portions of the database such as product and/or orders... remember your product is known on the internet by the browser path to get to it. If your current product of 132 becomes 5, well in for a tough climb back to the search engines. Not a forever loss, but there are ways to take little to no hit as described above by reusing the existing database content.

As to the date issue described the lessons that dbltoe learned the hard way (at least associated with the Zen Cart core data) has been addressed in the database upgrade process. Again that's why that "step" should be practiced on the demo site...

[CosmosK]

Sorry, just want to be clear.

So, I will install the new site and in the install I will point to the old database? Then follow instruction in implementation guide: 6.2 Using zc_install to do The Database Upgrade Step of a Site Upgrade ?

Does it hurt anything to use the old database on my trial run? Can the live site and the demo site both use it?

[mc12345678]

Sorry, just want to be clear.

So, I will install the new site and in the install I will point to the old database? Then follow instruction in implementation guide: 6.2 Using zc_install to do The Database Upgrade Step of a Site Upgrade ?

Does it hurt anything to use the old database on my trial run? Can the live site and the demo site both use it?

If the new code takes action to update the contents of the database that is actively being used by the live (old) site, then the old site will not work correctly. This is why I commented on importing the contents of the database from the live site into the database being used by the new code.

[CosmosK]

How do you do that? The instructions I'm looking at don't say as far as I can tell. Can I copy the database for use on the trial run, then repeat the process (if it works) when I do the actual upgrade?

Thanks

[mc12345678]

How do you do that? The instructions I'm looking at don't say as far as I can tell. Can I copy the database for use on the trial run, then repeat the process (if it works) when I do the actual upgrade?

Thanks

Yes.

Check out try: https://docs.zen-cart.com/user/runni...-your-database

Your situation may be slightly different as far as options but there are plenty of other online resources to address your specific situation or setup.

As always the more detail provided the more others here can help.

[CosmosK]

Ok, thanks! I will try backing up the existing, creating a new, then importing the old into it, then installing a demo site with it. I really appreciate the help.

[CosmosK]

Well, I did that. backed up database, created new, then imported the backup into it. Installed zc into a new subfolder, pointed to new database... and blank. Nothing seems to have come in. Does that sound right?

[swguy]

You have to go through zc_install on the new database, since the schema changes from release to release.

[CosmosK]

Yes, I redid the web install of zc and pointed it to the new database which is a copy of the currently used one. It had me setup a user and password. Both the new configure.php files have the new database indicated.

I'm not sure what I should see, but it seems completely blank. I was hoping something would carry over, but nothing seems to have. Thanks

[mc12345678]

Yes, I redid the web install of zc and pointed it to the new database which is a copy of the currently used one. It had me setup a user and password. Both the new configure.php files have the new database indicated.

I'm not sure what I should see, but it seems completely blank. I was hoping something would carry over, but nothing seems to have. Thanks

When you look at the files of your old/live store. Look in the file includes/configure.php. what does the line look like where there is: DB_PREFIX?