I'm trying to install an add on module

I've never installed a module before...how do I do it?
I downloaded the "Checkout without accout" module or "cowoa".
I uploaded this to my file manager, but how do I make it work?
I know its an easy question but I'm not sure how to do it.
Thanks!

all modules are different but should have a readme that explains the installation. The mod you are looking at has them in the install folder

usually the steps are:

Backup your site and database (make sure you do this)

download the mod

change any YOUR_TEMPLATE folders to your templates name (if you don't have a template you need to make one instead of using the base template)

if the module requires file overrides make sure you don't have any previous overrides in the files using a tool like WINMerge

once you have verified the files and renamed the folders you push the files to your server.

if the mod requires a SQL patch go in the admin area and select Tools->Install SQL Patches

Test the mod

if you have a testing area behind your live site you may want to install a few there first if you are uncomfortable, or find someone that is willing to help you out

Thanks for the detailed reply, its very helpful. I think my problem is that I'm downloading the mod, but its not downloading to a folder with different files its just saving as a microsoft word document and when I open it its just a few pages of random text that is unreadable. I don't know why its doing this, maybe someone knows why?

post the mod name or a link to it and I'll see what I can do

I figured my last question out, Im just trying to install the mod now, I've never installed one before.
The first response was very helpful but I'm still trying to figure it out. Do I upload the whole folder or just the "includes" folder within the folder?

Backup your site and database (make sure you do this)

download the mod

change any YOUR_TEMPLATE folders to your templates name (if you don't have a template you need to make one instead of using the base template)

if the module requires file overrides make sure you don't have any previous overrides in the files using a tool like WINMerge

once you have verified the files and renamed the folders you push the files to your server.

if the mod requires a SQL patch go in the admin area and select Tools->Install SQL Patches

once you have made the folder name changes and compared the files you would just upload (ftp) them to your server at the appropriate level. If you have the include folder then you would want to push the include folder to the level where the include folder is located

mine is at the root so i would just go to the root level and ftp

if you have a directory for zencart that has the include folder inside of that you would open that directory then ftp the include folder into that directory.

if the mod is done correctly the file structure should match that of zencart and the override structure

Thanks for your reply again.
I still have not been able to get it working.
This is where I'm at...
-Changed all "YOUR TEMPLATE" to my custom template.
-I then uploaded the 2 directories "add ons" and "install" to my server. My "includes" folder is in the root where the 2 directories have been uploaded.
-So the "add ons" folder and "install" folder" are in the same place as the "includes" folder.

There are 2 things that I think I am possibly doing wrong.

1. Do the 2 mod directories that I uploaded have to be in the "includes" folder or just in the same location with it like where I have it now.
2. Do I need to install an SQL patch possibly to get it going?

Ok so here is where I'm stuck hopefully someone can quickly clear things up for me. I don't want to upload the wrong folders and mess up my website. Do I upload the 'includes' directory or the 'OVERWRITES-RIDES' folder, or both? I pasted the steps below.

STEP 2 - Upload the includes directory to your zen cart directory. For most FTP clients the directory structure of the /includes directory should be preserved, and the files should "fall" into their proper places. If your FTP client isn't capable of this, you might have to manually place each file according to where they appear in this mod.

STEP 3 - Eleven default files are over-ridden for this mod(FOUND IN OVERWRITES-RIDES FOLDER):
/includes/languages/english/YOUR_TEMPLATE/login.php
/includes/languages/english/YOUR_TEMPLATE/logoff.php
/includes/languages/english/YOUR_TEMPLATE/checkout_confirmation.php
/includes/languages/english/YOUR_TEMPLATE/checkout_payment.php
/includes/languages/english/YOUR_TEMPLATE/checkout_shipping.php
/includes/languages/english/YOUR_TEMPLATE/gv_redeem.php
/includes/modules/YOUR_TEMPLATE/create_account.php
/includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/templates/tpl_login_default.php
/includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/templates/tpl_checkout_success_default.php
/includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/templates/tpl_checkout_payment_default.php
/includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/common/tpl_header.php

Five stock Zen files are over-written for this mod(FOUND IN OVERWRITES-RIDES FOLDER):

/admin/orders.php
/includes/classes/order.php
/includes/modules/pages/gv_redeem/header_php.php
/includes/modules/pages/password_forgotten/header_php.php
/includes/modules/pages/login/header_php.php

I figured it out. Thanks kellan4459 for your help.

hockley:

I figured it out. Thanks kellan4459 for your help.

sorry I didn't follow up, busy week. I'm glad you got it figured out.