Upgrade 1.3.9h to 1.5.1 - new install

Have been going through the upgrade instructions from 1.3.9 to 1.5.1 and have made copies of website, database, and made comparisons using WinMerge. Alot of the differences in the files are way over my head, and am leaning towards installing new version in another folder, then installing add-ons, and bringing the products over to new store when all is ok. It seems less confusing, at least to me, having limited knowledge of the code behind the files, to bring up a new store and bring the products over when it's set up.

Just confirming, if I create a new folder in website, and install there, that it will create a new database and not interfere with current store. Thank you.

Just confirming, if I create a new folder in website, and install there, that it will create a new database and not interfere with current store.
You must create the database manually - then install will populate it

Then when new version is installed - use phpmyadmin and import a backup of your current database into this new database

Ok, thank you. How is the database structure created? The relations/tables, fields, etc.? I have not done this part of it before. When 1.3.9 was installed originally, it was done from web host, they installed. Since that time, having worked with everything, installed add-ons, etc., I'm ok, I think, with bringing back the add-ons, customizations, etc. (though we will see in reality!), but feel unsure about the database part, any advice very welcome, thank you.

How is the database structure created?
Automatically, by running zc_install

That is great news, thank you. When the new is installed in another folder, will I be able to login to both store admins? I made alot of visual changes, such as sideboxes, etc., and would like to bring them up side by side and go through each admin menu and make those changes in the new one. Thank you for your help.

Yes, by entering the correct url

Thank you! I was jittery about installing, didn't want to overwrite existing. Don't mind taking my time to get the new one the way it needs to be, and bringing the products over later, and being able to run them side by side will be great. Thank you so much for the confirmations and help!

and bringing the products over later,
You do not bring just products over
You import a full DB Backup
Then re-run zc_install and select database upgrade only

Thank you, was not able to get back to this till today, but am working on it now. Appreciate the help, thank you.

Have created new 'demostore' folder in FTP, uploaded unzipped 1.5.1 contents, set folder permissions, and am up to the install page. Have 2 questions - 1st one is regarding Apache .htaccess Support = OFF it shows. Will be talking to host tech support, as also received Register Globals warning, but there was a link on that one that gave more info. What am I looking for when talking to host about htaccess, or is this warning light simply for reference and no impact? Except for the 2 mentioned, the others are all green/checkmarked.

The other is the install button, not being in update mode. This install is in a separate folder outside of running zencart, making sure this is correct to go ahead and install. I realized I am still confused as to the order of things of creating database and install, and do apologize for my confusion. Now that I am going through each step, I realized I did not have the understanding part down very well. Thank you again.

What am I looking for when talking to host about htaccess
That support for htaccess is enabled - - do not know why it would not be

The host walked me through the database part and now the test store is installed, so please disregard.

This is in line with the original thread, but a little more detailed. I'm hoping some one can shed light on this.

Hello all,

So I'm new to zen cart, but been coding for 13yrs so I'm not a total noob. If it matters.
Sorry this is long, I just want you to have all the data to assess the situation.

Background:
I have a client on 1.3.x, they want the site rebuilt. I feel it's prudent to move them to 1.5.x
Note: I refuse to do work on a prod box, so everything is pulled to a local Linux virtual machine.

I've read the 'how to move a zen cart site' FAQ that is recommended in the forums. I come away with the following: (my version is shortened)

1. upgrade before or after, not during.
2. fresh install, then copy the old web files over the new web except config files.
   a. Question: so the only important files are the configs? Or are others specific to the environment?
3. run the SQL import of the old db onto the new db
4. run the cache key php script

my situation: version1.3.x won't install on my Ubuntu 10 for various reasons. I'm not good at building up Linux so I don't want to get into that work/risk. I know I can get 1.5.x running as I've done this successfully on my vm.

What I've tried in an idealistic mind set:
Created the db
Imported the old 1.3 db content
Copied all files including the configs
Modified the configs to be appropriate to the new server (using hints from the 1.5 configs), I mean a db name is a db name, and a path is a path right?

My result: blank page. I'm calling this a failed attempt.

So im thinking another approach would be:

1. Do install 1.5.x with demo data to prove good working install
2. Import all digital assets by hand: images, ebooks, etc
3. Drop all tables
4. Import the 1.3.x database tables and data
5. Read through the how to upgrade from 1.3.x to 1.5.x instructions and only do the database migration sections. (I probably should have read through before posting, sorry.) and hope those migrations are just SQL scripts to run?
6. Then run the cache key php file.

So, for those in the know... Will this approach work? If not what would you do given the above scenario?

I took a quick look into my question and found this thread, "Upgrade 1.3.9 to 1.5.1 - new install"
Is it really this simple? Will this result in a 'copied and upgraded site', that a designer could go in a start doing the new design stuff, with the production content?
"
You import a full DB Backup
Then re-run zc_install and select database upgrade only
"

Thank you much for your time and reply,
Brent

This approach will give you a new vanilla v1.5.1 site with the products, categories, customers, etc. from the old site, but none of the defined store language files. You will want to inspect and carefully import files in /includes/languages/ for your language and custom template (assuming previous edits were correctly done in template override folders).
You may also need to reinstall mods wjich are important to the store's functionality. Some of these may have database components which will have been imported, but these may need to be uninstalled and reinstalled with v1.5.1-compatible versions. This will vary depending on the mod; no blanket answer or assurance is possible.

Hereindenver:

...
So im thinking another approach would be:

1. Do install 1.5.x with demo data to prove good working install
2. Import all digital assets by hand: images, ebooks, etc
3. Drop all tables
4. Import the 1.3.x database tables and data
5. Read through the how to upgrade from 1.3.x to 1.5.x instructions and only do the database migration sections. (I probably should have read through before posting, sorry.) and hope those migrations are just SQL scripts to run?
6. Then run the cache key php file.
   I followed the steps found at http://www.zen-cart.com/content.php?148 when I upgraded from 1.3 to 1.5.0. The steps I took are very similar.

The migration is more then just SQL updates. You will need to install any needed plugins (only use Zen Cart 1.5 compatible ones). You may need to switch plugins as not all plugins from 1.3 have been updated for 1.5. You will need to merge any template and language customizations from the old installation (can be in any override folders) and / or switch to a new template designed for Zen Cart 1.5. You will probably want to get all this working with the demo data if you go that route. Keep in mind there are a couple patches and fixes which have been released in the forums you may wish to integrate.

Almost there (after getting all the above working): 1) write protect the two configure.php files 2) drop all tables and import database from old version 3) run the zc_install and choose "upgrade database". 4) check database and remove zc_install. 5) copy over required digital assets (images, downloadable content, etc). This worked fairly well for me and avoided having left over files from Zen Cart 1.3.

Edit: Looks like gjh42 beat me to the punch, I'd agree with gjh42's assessment.

Great, thank you both very much. I will proceed as you've noted.

-Brent