where to install it on my site?

I have been working on a zen cart install just to get an idea of what I need to do to make it work.
I am now ready to try and build it for real and have it replace my current website.
My question is where is the best place to install it, for Google and SEO purposes, (to get noticed).
My old website is in the public_html directory, and my current Zen Cart build is in the
Public_html\horse_cookie_store directory.
Is it best to just put the zc build in the public_html, or should it be in its own sub-directory.
k1

the zen cart version will be 151
I will install via ftp not using the hosting company's, (DirectNic) installatron.

I vote for root, it'll help you keep things more simple.

At this point there is a lot of stuff in the public_html folder.
Are you saying just put zcinstall there and do an install?
k1

I'd clear all the stuff out of the root (public_html) directory and install Zencart there, unless you have a very good reason not to.

Yes, having lots of unrelated folders mixed in alphabetically with ZC folders and files will cause everlasting annoyances, or worse if one of them happens to have the same name as a ZC folder. Make one or two appropriately named folders to hold non-ZC stuff, then upload the ZC fileset to /public_html/ and run zc_install.

I have installed my Zen Cart in the root directory.
This directory also holds my current website until the Zen Cart installation is complete.
When I click on "online catalog" from inside Zen Cart it takes me to my old website.
If I change the name of the index.html file however and do the same, click the "online catalog". link it goes to the
Zen Cart store.
Anyone know if there is a way to make the domain address still go to my website, index.html and the "online catalog" go to my Zen Cart, index.php
As it is right now I can't leave my website up while I build my Zen Cart install.
k1

ken1:

I have installed my Zen Cart in the root directory.
This directory also holds my current website until the Zen Cart installation is complete.
When I click on "online catalog" from inside Zen Cart it takes me to my old website.
If I change the name of the index.html file however and do the same, click the "online catalog". link it goes to the
Zen Cart store.
Anyone know if there is a way to make the domain address still go to my website, index.html and the "online catalog" go to my Zen Cart, index.php
As it is right now I can't leave my website up while I build my Zen Cart install.
k1

Here's the problem faced: you have two files that essentially serve the same purpose to present a website in the same directory. Further, you are wanting to post live a work in progress. The suggestion is to have your store in a temporary directory until you are ready to have it replace your existing site. If it's not ready for that, then issues associated with what others have discussed are likely to occur. Otherwise, you would need some sort of redirect(s) to possibly get the correct index file to be presented. That may even mean to have a redirect for the link(s) from ZC at least until the store replaces the site.

All the votes for "put it in /public_html/" assumed you were talking about the final ready-to-use install. For customizing and testing your site while an existing site occupies the domain root, a subfolder is the only reasonable location. When it is ready to go live, move it to the root following the tutorial in FAQ.