How do I know what the "new" version files are?

Jeffries Productions:

I currently have 1.3.8a, So you are saying I can just download and install 1.3.9f and run upgrade?

I was getting the impression that I had to run all the updates from 1.3.9a to 1.3.9f because I have such an old version...

As far as your database goes, running zc_install to do the data upgrade will let you do the jump in one step. The database-upgrade step is fast and easy with just a few clicks.
BUT
As far as your website files are concerned, yes, you can do the jump from 1.3.x to 1.3.9f in one "jump". But that jump (regardless which older version you're jumping from) involves comparing all your existing files with original version files, to identify all your customizations, and then adapting all those customizations into the new version you're upgrading to.

So, regardless what version you're jumping from-or-to, the process is the same: compare and merge. So, there's no point in going to 1.3.9a and then to b and then to c when you could go directly to "f".
If there's a "g" that comes out later, the process is much simpler because there'd likely only be a small handful of files to address, and likely no database changes.

It's all outlined in the Upgrade Instructions included with your Zen Cart files, and also in the online Tutorials/FAQs, in greater detail than I've stated here, including the steps to do the entire upgrade in a TEST COPY of your site so you can sort out any problems you may encounter, without affecting your live site until you're ready to go there too.

It sounds way more complicated than it really is.

nigel's point about zenids simply boils down to this: If you're going to embed the URL to any products or pages in your site, either into videos or emails or other products' descriptions, simply DO NOT include the "&zenid=12313423525" part, since when you do that you make it possible for customers to jump in on other customers' shopping sessions.

Normally a zenid only shows up on the first click to the site, or on changing to SSL mode if using shared SSL. Every click after that normally doesn't show a zenid in the links or URL address bar, unless your browser can't set cookies properly or your server has a configuration problem.

But all this is completely separate from the upgrade discussion that you started this thread for.

DrByte:

As far as your website files are concerned, yes, you can do the jump from 1.3.x to 1.3.9f in one "jump". But that jump (regardless which older version you're jumping from) involves comparing all your existing files with original version files, to identify all your customizations, and then adapting all those customizations into the new version you're upgrading to.

So I should just upload all the 1.3.9f files, got it. Should I run zc_install, or upgrade?

Then I will worry about my customizations after.

Thanks

Forgive me for not understanding why you're not understanding what I've explained repeatedly already for you.

I just upgraded and now have these alerts:
Warning WARNING: Site is currently set to Down for Maintenance ...
NOTE: You cannot test most Payment and Shipping Modules in Maintenance mode
Warning Your database appears to need patching to a higher level. See Tools->Server Information to review patch levels.
Warning WARNING: EZ-PAGES HEADER - On for Admin IP Only

"Warning Your database appears to need patching to a higher level. See Tools->Server Information to review patch levels." I went under tools and there is only Tools->Server/Version info and there is no information in there to help me out. How do I fix this?

"NOTE: You cannot test most Payment and Shipping Modules in Maintenance mode" I checked my payment module and under paypal express checkout it says "(debug)" Is this a problem and how do I clear this message?

Where do you define "Header Title Catalog"?

Jeffries Productions:

Warning WARNING: Site is currently set to Down for Maintenance ...
NOTE: You cannot test most Payment and Shipping Modules in Maintenance modeThat message appears when, as it says, your store is in Down For Maintenance mode.
That occurs either when you manually set it to Down-For-Maintenance via Admin->Configuration->Website Maintenance ... or when you attempt a database upgrade.
When you do upgrades, it sets the store into maintenance mode until you've done all the upgrade steps you need to do in your admin (as per the documentation) such as resetting all your payment/shipping modules, etc.
So ... finish following those instructions, and then manually set the maintenance mode off again.
Jeffries Productions:

Warning Your database appears to need patching to a higher level. See Tools->Server Information to review patch levels.That message appears when your store detects that your database version doesn't match the PHP code expectations.
It tells you to view the Server Information screen to review the version details there, which will be a clue to what the real problem is. Perhaps you can share what you're seeing there?
Jeffries Productions:

Warning WARNING: EZ-PAGES HEADER - On for Admin IP OnlyThat means you've set your EZ-Pages settings to only show certain sections to visitors using IP addresses noted as being used by yourself. ie: in your case, your customers won't see the EZ-Pages Header bar because of your present settings.

DrByte:

That message appears when your store detects that your database version doesn't match the PHP code expectations.
When I was at the update databse screen I hit the button, I believe its called retry or recheck. (after I did the initial upgrade database.)

DrByte:

It tells you to view the Server Information screen to review the version details there, which will be a clue to what the real problem is. Perhaps you can share what you're seeing there?

Server information:
Server Host: ....ver.net (97.....207)
Database Host: ....ource.com (173....4.8)
Server OS: Linux 2...5.1.el5PAE
Database: MySQL 5.0.91-log
Server Date: 08/25/2010 15:41:11
Database Date: 08/25/2010 15:41:11
Server Up Time: 15:41:11 up 132 days, 21:52, 0 users, load average: 2.59, 2.75, 2.87 HTTP Server: Apache
PHP Version: 5.2.8 (Zend: 2.2.0)
PHP Memory Limit: 64M
PHP Safe Mode: Off
PHP File Uploads: On
Max Size: 8M
POST Max Size: 8M
Database Data Size: 23,232 kB
Database Index Size: 803 kB

Directly below that section, it tells you 'Zen Cart Version" and "Database Version" and "version history". That's what we need to know.

ahh, IC.
" Zen Cart 1.3.9f
Database Patch Level: 1.3.8
v1.3.8 [2009-09-12 18:09:37] (Fresh Installation)
v1.3.8 [2009-09-12 18:09:37] (Fresh Installation)"

I am 100% sure I just uploaded all of .3.9f before I did the upgrade. I'll try it again.

So, that reveals that you've updated your PHP files, but you've not yet done the zc_install "database upgrade" step fully yet.
Did you skip it? or did you do it and get errors?

I first got an error. Tried it again, and dint get an error. hit the re-check button and then hit done.

Now after doing it again. I got this error again:
1253 COLLATION 'latin1_general_ci' is not valid for CHARACTER SET 'utf8'
in:
[CREATE TABLE counter_history_clean as SELECT * FROM counter_history WHERE 1 GROUP BY startdate COLLATE latin1_general_ci;]

I understand what that means, but does that mean I have to go through all the tables and change all the character sets to utf8?

I just checked my database and my,
MySQL connection collation: utf8_unicode_ci

and ALL of my tables say under collation: utf8_unicode_ci.

Where could this be going wrong?

you can try this software i have written to make the diff file for you.
http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?t=162781
download the application here http://www.scrapbooker.site90.com/zc_auto_upgrader.zip

That collation error comes from the fact that the system defaults to latin1, not utf8, but your database is utf8.

You can override that by editing the /zc_install/includes/installer_params.php to set DB_CHARSET from latin1 to utf8

Ok I believe that went well.

My last concern is how do I edit this "HEADER_TITLE_CATALOG" to say "Home"?

Is it common to get all of these again when you update you site?

"This content is located in the file at: /languages/english/html_includes/YOUR_TEMPLATE/define_main_page.php

You can quickly edit this content via Admin->Tools->Define Pages Editor, and select define_main_page from the pulldown.

NOTE: Always backup the files in /languages/english/html_includes/your_template"

Jeffries Productions:

My last concern is how do I edit this "HEADER_TITLE_CATALOG" to say "Home"?
Apparently you deleted this line from your /includes/languages/english/your_template/header.php:```
define('HEADER_TITLE_CATALOG', 'Home');