Update template to new upgrade

Hi all,

I'm new to this so please bear with me. My host is upgrading my zen cart from 1.3.5 to 1.38. He is putting it in a new database, but he said my template is not compatible with the 1.3.8 so I need a new one. He has transferred everything but the template and is waiting on that. However I just got my template not long ago (not installed by me) and can't afford another one so if I can find a way to save it that would be wonderful. I have been reading everything I can find on how to make the template work with the new version. Tutorials, forums, websites but honestly I don't understand much of what I am reading. All the instructions I have seen are hard to follow. I got a video that helped me make a Custom folder and did that, but what do I do now? Is it possible for anyone to give me step-by-step clearly understandable instructions.
Thank you for your time.

We might be able to help if we had a link to your site.

I'm sorry I forgot to out that in

http://www.sweetpeapetsupplies.com

this is the link he gave me for where he is upgrading
http://sweetpeapetsupplies.com/shop/

In the interim, in order to not have the site down for long, go to http://(sorry, site offline)/.

Click on Demo and go to the Template Switcher Sidebox on the right. Select a template to view.

You may find something in there that will tide you over till a better solution can be found.

Also, investigate the override system in the tutorials. This might have been avoided if the override system were used.

Your issue highlights a couple of things. Firstly, it provides a good example of why zenners must abide by the custom template and over-ride "rules". If you have followed these "rules", then the task of upgrading your template is far more "organised" than it would otherwise be.

Unfortunately, there is no "automatic" process that will upgrade the code files. The process has to be done by making COMPARISONS between the new CORE files (1.3.8a), and their correspondingly named files in your template (1.3.5)

For example... You may have a file in the following location:

/includes/templates/YOUR-1.3.5-TEMPLATE/templates/common/tpl_main_page.php

You need to COMPARE this with 1.3.8a:

/includes/templates/template_default/templates/common/tpl_main_page.php

You would use WINMERGE (freeware) to do the comparison. Winmerge will also enable you to cross-reference and cross-edit the files. So you would look at both files in winmerge to see what code has been modified. You would then "transpose" the new code bits into your 1.3.5 file, thereby bringing it up-to-date.

It's not that difficult, but a heavily customized template will be a time-consuming exercise!

starfox, at first glance it would seem your custom Template was properly created, uses its own 'dogzen' dir. which should follow the overrides system throughout.

I see no reason why your Template should not work but best way to find out is to use it with 1.3.8a. But perhaps that was already done as I can see the 'shop' dir. is not using the default Template, not sure what is being used actually.

Perhaps this step was overlooked when your Template was carried over / setup:

Admin > Tools > Layout Boxes Controller : reset button near page bottom

Presuming the overrides system is properly done, this will update Zen Cart to use your Template settings and images.

Hi Website Rob, Thank you for your reply. I just tried the reset button but that didn't fix it. It still has just the pink background on the "shop". If I remove the dogzen folder from "shop" folder the template goes back to the default on there and stays dogzen on the live site. I checked and the dogzen folder is in the shop/includes/templates folder, should it be in the Custom folder instead? Also my host hasn't made new install live yet, but that shouldn't matter for the template should it?

Your 'shop' dir. is correctly using your Template. The Template is not coded correctly for 1.3.8a which is why it is not working. Shouldn't be working on your other site either unless you are using 1.3.0 or less of Zen Cart.

If you want to use your current Template it will have to be recoded.

Ok.. thanks everyone for all your help. Appreicate it :smile: