Setting up Zen Cart on Windows XP using Xampp - a howto

[ckosloff]

DBs pass and user name are created when you install Zen Cart, not in phpmyadmin.
If you already have a database then most probably your user is root and pass blank, just a guess, I'm not the one who should know...

[francesca_ph]

DBs pass and user name are created when you install Zen Cart, not in phpmyadmin.
If you already have a database then most probably your user is root and pass blank, just a guess, I'm not the one who should know...

hey hey, i got it for dis one!!!
thx!!

[ckosloff]

yo mite improve da spelin

[barco57]

ok thats funni.....

[pbirk]

Thanks for your help!

[cufflinks2wear]

Hi! I already have a site live on my server. Someone helped me set it up - so which means I have not used xampp before in my life.

Now I want to make some major changes to my site but I want to do it using xampp first for obvious reason.

How do I transfer my current live site to my PC? I hv installed xampp.

What do I do next? Do I FTP the public_html folder into xampp/htdocs?

what about the database?

thank you for your help

[ckosloff]

What do I do next? Do I FTP the public_html folder into xampp/htdocs?

This is written assuming that you have read the appropriate chapters in the manual, describing the process of setting up xampp on your local machine.
If you haven't, STOP, buy the manual and read first.
OK, this will be kinda tut for all similar questions.
First, you have to understand that there are two elements in Zen Cart: the files (.php) and the database to which it connects (mysql).
The connection is made via two configure. php files: one in /includes, and the other one in admin/includes (or whatever you have renamed your admin folder to).
Both should be set to read-only after you finish modifying them.
The local site's configuration is of course different than the one online.
It is easy to understand the differences, but if you feel daunted, there is an easy and sure-fire way to do it: Install zen cart in your xampp, create a database according to instructions.
Once everything is connected, save the config files somewhere, you can then delete the installation (not the database), these are your config files for the local install.
Then save save the config files for your live cart.
Yes, you need two sets of config files.
Second step, is bringing the live folder into the xampp htdocs folder.
You can ftp everything, but I use a faster way:
ask your webhost to give you "jailed SSH" access to your site.
Then use a free SSH client like Putty to SSH into it, the webhost will tell you what port to use.
You access with same usern and pass that you use for Control Panel.
Once in there type the following Unix command:
tar czvf public_html.tgz public_html
You can rename the red part to the date to keep track of these files.
It will create this compressed file in your home directory in seconds.
You then download via ftp of File Manager.
With a free program like 7zip you uncompress these files to your htdocs directory and name the new directory something like "local".
You now have the files, next comes the database.
For that you use phpmyadmin, provided in your Control Panel.
It will show your live database, select it and then click Export.
Make sure that, apart from the default settings, Add if not exists and Add/drop table are checked.
Check save as file (again, to use the date for the name works best for me).
If you want to read the SQL, select sql, this may be good for learning purposes, if not select .gz which will make for smaller files.
Download the sql to hard drive, best in a folder where your compressed files already reside, so you have both in one folder, the folder can be named after the date too.
Next you have to import into your local installation.
Go your local PHPmyadmin, select your local database and click on Import, navigate to the folder where you saved the sql and select it, click go.
If you get an error after that , it means that you haven't replaced the live configure files with your local set.
There are FAQ, wiki, and threads that expand on this.
Ask me questions, but READ THE MANUAL FIRST.
If the answer is in the manual I will not answer.
I am planning to write a full tut in .pdf, with snapshots et al, but for now the witch is taking me to the beach.
Says good for my health after all those hours sitting at the comp.
And, it is the aftermath of the holiday.
Pres. Zelaya is going back to Honduras, down with fascist coup!

[kburner]

Hi! I already have a site live on my server. Someone helped me set it up - so which means I have not used xampp before in my life.

Now I want to make some major changes to my site but I want to do it using xampp first for obvious reason.

How do I transfer my current live site to my PC? I hv installed xampp.

What do I do next? Do I FTP the public_html folder into xampp/htdocs?

what about the database?

thank you for your help

I loaded Zencart and started using without the book! Now, I have the book and would like to have the test site. Not sure how to setup without disturbing my current running site. I would like to install on portable hard drive I purchased that has lots room.

I have ftp files to my drive already. Do I install XXAMP next?

How are you able to do this?
Kim

[kburner]

I have been using zencart on live site. I am trying to setup Xampp. I am stuck in directions with this one...

The local site's configuration is of course different than the one online.
It is easy to understand the differences, but if you feel daunted, there is an easy and sure-fire way to do it: Install zen cart in your xampp, create a database according to instructions. DONE


Once everything is connected, save the config files somewhere, you can then delete the installation (not the database), these are your config files for the local install. Where do I find the config files. I do not see traditional public file or my admin??? And is it the install folder that I can delete?

Then save save the config files for your live cart.
Yes, you need two sets of config files.

Thanks, Kim

[kburner]

I have been using zencart on live site. I am trying to setup Xampp. I am stuck in directions with this one...

The local site's configuration is of course different than the one online.
It is easy to understand the differences, but if you feel daunted, there is an easy and sure-fire way to do it: Install zen cart in your xampp, create a database according to instructions. DONE


Once everything is connected, save the config files somewhere, you can then delete the installation (not the database), these are your config files for the local install. Where do I find the config files. I do not see traditional public file or my admin??? And is it the install folder that I can delete?

Then save save the config files for your live cart.
Yes, you need two sets of config files.

Thanks, Kim

Think I may have gotten above figured out...
My c:windows/system32/drivers/etc/hosts file looks like this:

# Copyright (c) 1993-2006 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
#
# For example:
#
# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host

127.0.0.1 localhost
127.0.0.1 www.example.com # For browser access
127.0.0.1 www.mail.example.com # For email access
127.0.0.1 www.example.com # For mercury mail server

Is this correct?

Thanks, Kim