Is there a simple way to upgrade for the first time?

Hello,

My site is https://www.microfist.com/zencart
-I am using version 1.3.8
-I've never upgraded to any previous versions
-I've never installed any plugins/addons, and never customized any templates, the only thing that I have done was adding new products, description, pictures in the admin. Also putting my own logo, I know that I've more work to do, but this is just the beginning. My question is what is the simplest way to upgrade knowing this information that I mentioned? can I just make a copy of the current database, do a full installation of version 1.5.1 then restore the database?

any thought would be appreciated.

Fiston

https://www.microfist.com/zencart

Check out the FAQs ... http://www.zen-cart.com/content.php?140-how-do-i-upgrade-my-site

I've checked that already, my question was if there is an alternate way of upgrading.

Evidently you don't want to do it the reliable way. Everybody wants a shortcut.

So try this VERY RISKY AND VERY UNOFFICIAL WAY:
0. Don't do this if you have ANY customizations to ANY of the PHP files other than the 2 configure.php files.

1. backup everything and be sure the backup is reliable, since this whole "alternative" process is risky.
2. delete all your Zen Cart files from the server, after copying the 2 configure.php files to your PC
3. upload the new version files, and put back the 2 configure.php files
4. run zc_install and choose Database Upgrade
5. log into your Admin and remove and re-install all your shipping/payment modules, and of course re-entering all the settings. (If you skip this some modules won't work because new features have been added to them which won't be visible until you do.)
6. Now redo all your images, language/text changes, template, logos, etc.

Doing it this way is really fast and simple, but your store will be OFFLINE the entire time until you're completely done. And you can't go backwards. And if you encounter errors/problems you won't have any way to allow purchases until you have fixed your errors/problems.

The longer official upgrade instructions insulate you from downtime and lost sales and from having your customers see any unpleasant errors, and from search engines deindexing your site due to errors.

Your choice.

I would never directly update ANY site (whether Zen Cart or not) without first testing the update in a COPY of the site to be sure there would be no gotchas or downtime or search engine penalties for errors, etc. But if you're willing to accept those risks, feel free to take the shortcut.

DrByte:

Evidently you don't want to do it the reliable way. **Everybody wants a shortcut.**Yep..:yes: and then they will run back to this forum desperately looking for help to fix what wouldn't have been broken in the first place had they followed the recommended upgrade path..

and in my years of IT experience, when there is no recommended shortcut, and you take a shortcut, it ALWAYS ALWAYS leads to issues that take as much if not MORE time to address than just simply doing it the right (recommended) way to begin with..

IJS..