"No worries of lost customization wording and logos" for upgrades

It would be great if the ZC admin had the ability to make an upgrade backup of all the files that have customizations in such that once the upgrade was finished a button could be pushed and all the backup files were moved back into place.

These are some of the potential files to do this to:

/includes/configure.php
/includes/languages/english/*
/includes/languages/english/html_includes/*
/admin/includes/configure.php
/admin/includes/languages/english/*

also the logo.gif files that get copied over

Maybe the files to move over could be added to or removed in the database or a file?

shrimp-gumbo-mmmhhh:

It would be great if the ZC admin had the ability to make an upgrade backup of all the files that have customizations in such that once the upgrade was finished a button could be pushed and all the backup files were moved back into place.

These are some of the potential files to do this to:

/includes/configure.php
/includes/languages/english/*
/includes/languages/english/html_includes/*
/admin/includes/configure.php
/admin/includes/languages/english/*

also the logo.gif files that get copied over

Maybe the files to move over could be added to or removed in the database or a file?
While that sounds easy, the devil's in the details, especially in those language files.

Language constants get added (and sometimes removed) in new releases. If you're not doing a file-compare on those language-file overrides, then you're facing the possibility of having undefined constants used in your storefront and admin.

Those undefined-constant issues are warnings in the PHP 7.x series and will be errors (i.e. whitescreen possibilities) for PHP 8+.

True! Maybe there could be something in the upgrade about be sure to add these variables to these files? or maybe the new variables could be appended to the backup files?

Thank you!

There are a couple of factoids you're just not going to be able to change.

Shortcuts aren't and Adapters won't.

I can do an upgrade in a really short time but, it's really because I am familiar with all the steps and the sequence of doing them that works.

There is no magic wand nor should there be. The outcome is too important.

You really do have to merge your changes onto the new version. That's how upgrades are done.

Failing to do that will produce extremely hard to debug issues.

OTOH, if you have money to burn, by all means do this and then call me when you have problems!

Hello, I am not referring to addon's or changes I have made to Zen Cart..... referring to the things a regular zen carter with just the basic package has and upgrades to the next..... the logo's.... the "Welcome to #### Store..." , "Meta tags ".... everything that causes someone who has a simple cart to freak about copying all their information they had to spend time updating to make the Zen Cart their store... Thanks for the thoughts on this!

This is why it is highly suggested to use the template override system (doesn't necessarily address the two configure.php files). By using a template directory that is not part of the original install, then changes made by installing/upgrading the other files do not directly impact the modified files... That said, then the modified files need to be reviewed against those base template files to capture the changes lat9 was discussing.

Note that in future versions of Zen Cart, the language files are going to be transitioning to array type variables to support the language defines instead of the existing constant defines. It appears that defines will still be supported, but by transitioning away from those defines, won't get "duplicate" defines. Will instead possibly get told that don't have a particular definition when attempting to use something not otherwise "described" or declared.

Thank you!

Here is info on template overrides: https://docs.zen-cart.com/user/first_steps/overrides/

But the override system doesn't work if we use the responsive_classic template? Should we be renaming the responsive template then in the locations discussed in the above document so that we do not have our information overridden? Thank you!

shrimp-gumbo-mmmhhh:

Thank you!

Here is info on template overrides: https://docs.zen-cart.com/user/first_steps/overrides/

But the override system doesn't work if we use the responsive_classic template? Should we be renaming the responsive template then in the locations discussed in the above document so that we do not have our information overridden? Thank you!
If your site's template is based on the responsive_classic, you should make a clone for your own use. That will help to 'protect' you on upgrades.