Configure.php with SSL Shared

The "strange characters" could be a result of mixing character sets between latin1/iso-8859-1 and utf8. That's a huge topic in itself, and unless you REALLY need to change things, it's usually better left alone, kinda.

At the VERY least, you should do your v1.5 "test" in a separate folder+database, leaving your 1.3.8/1.3.9 site live until you're ready to RE-DO the upgrade DIRECTLY on the live site. But let me be clear: do NOT upgrade your live site directly without FIRST testing EVERYTHING in a completely separate temporary COPY so you can iron out any quirks.
Since you don't have to re-import anything into your LIVE database in order to upgrade, you won't run the risk of damaging data by accidental character-set changes caused by exporting into files with the wrong encoding, etc.

I blogged about this very procedure: see the Blogs section of this site.

Thanks again for all your input. The test site will be a bit more work, but probably safer. I may wait until after Christmas, which is always very busy. At least I now have a plan, and won't get caught on 4/1 when they drop 5.2 PHP support.

I really like Zen-cart, but please understand why I was concerned when my problem went unanswered for so long. As I mentioned in the PM, we depend upon our online store. I feel much more comfortable now.

Starting the conversion this weekend, and thought I'd try using the 1.3.8 config files (as mentioned by DrByte earlier) in the 1.5.0 I had already downloaded. It's still dropping the domain name on SSL. I read under SSL the domain is HTTPS_SERVER + DIR_WS_HTTPS_ADMIN, but that doesn't seem to be happening. I'm getting "https://ssl.perfora.net/rdswebs.net/store150/adminXXX/login.php?camefrom=index.php&zenAdminID=blahblahblah" instead of "https://ssl.perfora.net/michellegibson.net/rdswebs.net/store150/adminXXX". Even if I enter it in the address bar, Zen-cart changes it. I even added our server (rdswebs.net) to the 'DIR_FS_ADMIN' and catalog statement.

Also, as an FYI, I thought I'd install 1.5.1 if that's germane. I was going to upgrade my server on Monday, but I want to update my stores first.

Here is the admin config:
// Define the webserver and path parameters
// Main webserver: eg, http://localhost - should not be empty for productive servers
// HTTP_SERVER is your Main webserver: eg, http://www.yourdomain.com
// HTTPS_SERVER is your Secure webserver: eg, https://www.yourdomain.com
// HTTP_CATALOG_SERVER is your Main webserver: eg, http://www.yourdomain.com
// HTTPS_CATALOG_SERVER is your Secure webserver: eg, https://www.yourdomain.com
/*

• URLs for your site will be built via:

• HTTP_SERVER plus DIR_WS_ADMIN or
  

• HTTPS_SERVER plus DIR_WS_HTTPS_ADMIN or 
  

• HTTP_SERVER plus DIR_WS_CATALOG or 
  

• HTTPS_SERVER plus DIR_WS_HTTPS_CATALOG
  

• ...depending on your system configuration settings
  */
  define('HTTP_SERVER', 'http://rdswebs.net');
  define('HTTPS_SERVER', 'https://ssl.perfora.net/rdswebs.net');
  define('HTTP_CATALOG_SERVER', 'http://rdswebs.net');
  define('HTTPS_CATALOG_SERVER', 'https://ssl.perfora.net/rdswebs.net');

// Use secure webserver for catalog module and/or admin areas?
define('ENABLE_SSL_CATALOG', 'true');
define('ENABLE_SSL_ADMIN', 'true');

// NOTE: be sure to leave the trailing '/' at the end of these lines if you make changes!
// * DIR_WS_* = Webserver directories (virtual/URL)
// these paths are relative to top of your webspace ... (ie: under the public_html or httpdocs folder)
define('DIR_WS_ADMIN', '/michellegibson.net/store/adminXXX/');
define('DIR_WS_CATALOG', '/michellegibson.net/store/');
define('DIR_WS_HTTPS_ADMIN', '/michellegibson.net/store/adminXXX/');
define('DIR_WS_HTTPS_CATALOG', '/michellegibson.net/store/');

define('DIR_WS_IMAGES', 'images/');
define('DIR_WS_ICONS', DIR_WS_IMAGES . 'icons/');
define('DIR_WS_CATALOG_IMAGES', HTTP_CATALOG_SERVER . DIR_WS_CATALOG . 'images/');
define('DIR_WS_CATALOG_TEMPLATE', HTTP_CATALOG_SERVER . DIR_WS_CATALOG . 'includes/templates/');
define('DIR_WS_INCLUDES', 'includes/');
define('DIR_WS_BOXES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'boxes/');
define('DIR_WS_FUNCTIONS', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'functions/');
define('DIR_WS_CLASSES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'classes/');
define('DIR_WS_MODULES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'modules/');
define('DIR_WS_LANGUAGES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'languages/');
define('DIR_WS_CATALOG_LANGUAGES', HTTP_CATALOG_SERVER . DIR_WS_CATALOG . 'includes/languages/');

// * DIR_FS_* = Filesystem directories (local/physical)
//the following path is a COMPLETE path to your Zen Cart files. eg: /var/www/vhost/accountname/public_html/store/
define('DIR_FS_ADMIN', '/kunden/homepages/5/d232125156/htdocs/rdswebs.net/michellegibson.net/store/adminXXX/');
define('DIR_FS_CATALOG', '/kunden/homepages/5/d232125156/htdocs/rdswebs.net/michellegibson.net/store/');

define('DIR_FS_CATALOG_LANGUAGES', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'includes/languages/');
define('DIR_FS_CATALOG_IMAGES', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'images/');
define('DIR_FS_CATALOG_MODULES', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'includes/modules/');
define('DIR_FS_CATALOG_TEMPLATES', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'includes/templates/');
define('DIR_FS_BACKUP', DIR_FS_ADMIN . 'backups/');
define('DIR_FS_EMAIL_TEMPLATES', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'email/');
define('DIR_FS_DOWNLOAD', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'download/');

// define our database connection
define('DB_TYPE', 'mysql');
define('DB_PREFIX', '');
define('DB_SERVER', 'localhost:/tmp/mysql5.sock');
define('DB_SERVER_USERNAME', 'dboredacted');
define('DB_SERVER_PASSWORD', 'redacted');
define('DB_DATABASE', 'dbredacted');
define('USE_PCONNECT', 'false'); // use persistent connections?
define('STORE_SESSIONS', 'db'); // use 'db' for best support, or '' for file-based storage

// The next 2 "defines" are for SQL cache support.
// For SQL_CACHE_METHOD, you can select from: none, database, or file
// If you choose "file", then you need to set the DIR_FS_SQL_CACHE to a directory where your apache
// or webserver user has write privileges (chmod 666 or 777). We recommend using the "cache" folder inside the Zen Cart folder
// ie: /path/to/your/webspace/public_html/zen/cache -- leave no trailing slash
define('SQL_CACHE_METHOD', 'database');
define('DIR_FS_SQL_CACHE', '/kunden/homepages/5/d232125156/htdocs/michellegibson.net/store/cache');

?>

Your assistance is greatly appreciated.

Never mind; they were the same comments as previously ...

lat9, I think I responded to your comments. Yes, I have an .htaccess file. You obviously are not having any problems running 1.5 at Zencart? Are you using their webhosting, or do you have a managed or dedicated server?

Thanks to all who have responded, and particularly to the time DrByte spent on it. I'm still working on it, but I'm not sure it's a Zen-cart problem. I saw Internet Explorer change the name I entered (no, nothing to drink). I went to Firefox and it worked. I'm still working out the kinks, and have to install the credit card update, but I think the config issue has been resolved by using the old config -- just as DrByte said it would.

DrByte, thank you very much for the CEON manual credit card entry info. The mod works like a charm.

While we have passed the new certification (with 1.3.8 using e-mail), our processor doesn't require it. Our daughter (store mentioned above) uses Square-Up, and they don't require it, either.

DrByte, you are a lifesaver.