Existing product files

I'm thinking of building a new site with a new template in 1.5 on the side and then switching over when its done. The only thing I want to make sure of, is that I can then add all of my existing product files with meta information, so I do not have re-do 600 products. Can I just add old files to the new files when I'm ready? I have 1.3.9h now with a template.

Also - I've learned the disaster of Temp. Monstr. Any reliable places other than the free .info site? Is Zen Flavor terrible too?

Thanks.

Your products and meta information are in your database, not PHP files. Part of upgrading is to transfer the old database content and massage it to fit correctly in the new db (zc_install does this for you, with the db upgrade option).

Got it. Thanks 42.

Just be sure to take VERY good notes of all the things you change in the Admin and any SQL patches you install, so you can re-do them again when you go live with a fresh new copy of your live database with all its up-to-date data.

Hmm. You mean all the settings and stuff I have in the admin now or do you mean what I will be changing from this point on? Will I have 2 separate admins or just one? Really, I want to have the one that is working fine stay there and have the other off to the side.

Maybe I'm thinking about this incorrectly. I am thinking of doing 1.5 as a completely new install and separate, rather than an upgrade of my cart now.

If I understand you correctly, you want to KEEP your current LIVE store running while you build a new 1.5.0 store, right?

The SMARTEST way to do that is this:

a) keep your live store running, as-is. With its own admin. Own database. Own folder of files on the server. Everything as-is.

b) build your new store. THIS IS ONLY FOR TESTING AND PREPARING FOR LIVE DEPLOYMENT.

But, when it comes time to "go live", your temporary "new" store will be out-of-date because you'll have new customers, new orders, new payments, new products, etc in the live store.

So, simply upgrade your live shop (since it has the most current data) (THIS IS AFTER YOU'VE BUILT AND TESTED YOUR "TEST" 1.5.0 SITE IN PREPARATION):
a) put your live shop down for maintenance
b) backup your live database for safekeeping
c) replace all the php files/folders/images/everything with the new files (except the configure.php files which stay the same)
d) run zc_install and choose database-upgrade
e) re-do any admin settings relevant to the new setup (since you took notes while you did any additional customizing in your temporary 1.5 site)
f) turn off down-for-maintenance
g) do a test transaction to be sure checkout works
h) Do another backup of everything for peace-of-mind.
Take a deep breath.

You can then delete your temporary 1.5.0 site (files and database) because it's no longer needed. It was only ever used for "staging" to prepare yourself for the actual live upgrade of the live shop.

ADDENDUM:
If you are considering changing webservers or hosting companies, do ALL of your upgrade activities BEFORE or AFTER the move. NOT DURING. You want to make sure the site is working correctly before moving to another server, and if you confuse the picture by doing an upgrade at the same time, then you make it nearly impossible to determine whether your problems are the result of "moving" or a result of errors in "upgrading". So, always upgrade before OR after, but never "during" a move.
More about moving to another server here: http://www.zen-cart.com/content.php?142-i-want-to-move-my-zen-cart-installation-to-another-host-or-a-different-server

You are right.

I am going to do this exactly as you said (slowly) step by step. Thank you for the detailed description DrByte. I really appreciate the experts that take the time to help the new guys when you probably have much better things to do.

Thank you very much, DrByte. I got your message in my "Quick Up-date box" question, re UPGRADE FIRST. I've known I need to do it, but have really been fearful of bringing our highly tuned (working very well, thank you) site down. And the old adage "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" is true, too.

But with your steps above, I think it's do-able without too much pain.

Where can I find release notes (features esp.) of 1.5 v 1.39x ?

And I am constantly amazed at new discoveries of features and flexibilities and adaptability of this FANTASTIC platform. THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

regards,

Greg

beyerg:

Where can I find release notes (features esp.) of 1.5 v 1.39x ?
In both the forum release announcement and the /docs/ folder of the zip.

Hi,
This thread is almost exactly what I was looking for.
And I always look for the Dr in the forum posts. The advice is always the best way to go (even if it may seem difficult at first).
So thanks in advance for this thread.

I too am building a new site, then switching.
But I also want to switch to a new server.
Do you have any tips / recommended procedure that you would amend to your previous post #6.
Thanks again.
Jason A.