How to clean up default install by removing example related files?

The default install even with no sample data selected seems to install the sample data files/products types and so on. I'd expect them to be missing so that it was a clean slate (so to speak) for customers to setup their own. Perhaps I just downloaded the wrong version. For example: "/images/dvd/*" files are not deleted.

Is it possible to get a "clean" install uncontaminated by the example store files?

What do I need to do to achieve this?

What other unnecessary files can I delete after install (license.txt and install.txt being obvious ones)?

Thanks

Matt

license.txt ??? Do you drive a car without a license?? this should stay with the install.

the product images can be removed and the items in the dowload area and this should get about 200-300k

kobra:

license.txt ??? Do you drive a car without a license?? this should stay with the install.

the product images can be removed and the items in the dowload area and this should get about 200-300k

lol, you are right I'm happy for the license.txt to remain. Bad example for me to use. I'm targeting files not functionally required for an "empty" zen-cart. License.txt is an understandable exception.

So in the desire to remove all example store related files and changes what do I need to do to make the installation example store related free.

I'm looking for a distinct list of files and changes:

Here is what I have so far:
Lines with a ? mean I am simply not sure. They may refer to an entire directory. So this line ( /images/matrox/) would mean: delete the directory and everything it contains. This line ( /images/attributes/*) would mean: delete all files and sub folders in the /images/attributes folder.

? /media/
/media/thehunter.mp3
/download/.zip
/images/attributes/
/images/banners/*
/images/call_for_price.jpg
/images/categories/*
/images/dvd/
/images/gift_certificates/*
/images/gt_interactive/
/images/hewlett_packard/
/images/matrox/
/images/medium
/images/microsoft/
/images/samples/
/images/sample_image.gif
/images/sierra/
/images/banners/*
/images/large/small.jpg
/images/large/dvd/
/images/large/microsoft/
/images/manufacturers/*
/images/matrox/
/images/medium/dvd/
/images/medium/microsoft/
/images/medium/dvd/
/images/medium/microsoft/
/images/microsoft/
/images/samples/
/images/sierra/
/images/uploads/
/docs/ (Retain these but perhaps don't upload them to a live server)

So can anyone improve/correct this list of files/folders to be deleted for a clean version of zen-cart? Can anyone talk me through what admin steps I need to make to remove example categories and so on.

Obviously I just after a clean version of Zen-Cart that I can customize uncontaminated (so to speak) by the unnecessary example files/tables/data. I'm trying to build and detail the steps I'd need to take to get there.

Matt

For removing demo items from the default upload, a DOS batch file I've used in the past is this:```
REM This script deletes the files used for the Demo Products in Zen Cart's default install
REM Applicable for Zen Cart v1.3.x
REM

del images\1_small.jpg
del images\1_small_00.jpg
del images\1_small_02.jpg
del images\1_small_03.jpg
del images\2_small.jpg
del images\3_small.jpg
del images\9_small.jpg
del images\b_b_grid.gif
del images\b_c_grid.gif
del images\b_g_grid.gif
del images\b_p_grid.gif
del images\b_w_grid.gif
del images\pixel_black.gif
del images\pixel_silver.gif
del images\pixel_trans.gif
del images\sample_image.gif
del images\small_00.jpg
del images\sooty.jpg
del images\test_demo.jpg
del images\waybkgnd.gif

del images\attributes\a_bugs_life_blue.gif
del images\attributes\a_bugs_life_brown.gif
del images\attributes\a_bugs_life_green.gif
del images\attributes\a_bugs_life_orange.gif
del images\attributes\a_bugs_life_purple.gif
del images\attributes\a_bugs_life_red.gif
del images\attributes\a_bugs_life_silver.gif
del images\attributes\a_bugs_life_white.gif
del images\attributes\a_bugs_life_yellow.gif
del images\attributes\beloved_orange.gif
del images\attributes\beloved_red.gif
del images\attributes\beloved_yellow.gif
del images\attributes\color_blue.gif
del images\attributes\color_green.gif
del images\attributes\color_orange.gif
del images\attributes\color_red.gif
del images\attributes\color_silver.gif
del images\attributes\color_yellow.gif
del images\banners\crw-zen-banner.gif
del images\banners\dvd_movies.jpg
del images\banners\featured.jpg
del images\categories\box_of_color.gif
del images\categories\category_dvd_movies.gif
del images\categories\category_free.gif
del images\categories\category_hardware.gif
del images\categories\category_software.gif
del images\categories\gv_25.gif
del images\categories\subcategory.gif
del images\categories\subcategory_action.gif
del images\categories\subcategory_action_games.gif
del images\categories\subcategory_cartoons.gif
del images\categories\subcategory_cdrom_drives.gif
del images\categories\subcategory_comedy.gif
del images\categories\subcategory_drama.gif
del images\categories\subcategory_graphic_cards.gif
del images\categories\subcategory_keyboards.gif
del images\categories\subcategory_memory.gif
del images\categories\subcategory_mice.gif
del images\categories\subcategory_monitors.gif
del images\categories\subcategory_printers.gif
del images\categories\subcategory_science_fiction.gif
del images\categories\subcategory_simulation.gif
del images\categories\subcategory_speakers.gif
del images\categories\subcategory_strategy.gif
del images\categories\subcategory_thriller.gif
del images\dvd\a_bugs_life.gif
del images\dvd\a_bugs_life_00.gif
del images\dvd\a_bugs_life_01.gif
del images\dvd\a_bugs_life_02.gif
del images\dvd\a_bugs_life_03.gif
del images\dvd\a_bugs_life_04.gif
del images\dvd\a_bugs_life_05.gif
del images\dvd\a_bugs_life_06.gif
del images\dvd\a_bugs_life_07.gif
del images\dvd\a_bugs_life_08.gif
del images\dvd\a_bugs_life_09.gif
del images\dvd\beloved.gif
del images\dvd\blade_runner.gif
del images\dvd\courage_under_fire.gif
del images\dvd\die_hard_3.gif
del images\dvd\fire_down_below.gif
del images\dvd\frantic.gif
del images\dvd\lethal_weapon.gif
del images\dvd\no_picture.gif
del images\dvd\red_corner.gif
del images\dvd\replacement_killers.gif
del images\dvd\speed.gif
del images\dvd\speed_2.gif
del images\dvd\theres_something_about_mary.gif
del images\dvd\the_matrix.gif
del images\dvd\under_siege.gif
del images\dvd\under_siege2.gif
del images\dvd\youve_got_mail.gif
del images\gift_certificates\gv_10.gif
del images\gift_certificates\gv_25.gif
del images\gift_certificates\gv_5.gif
del images\gift_certificates\gv_50.gif
del images\gt_interactive\disciples.gif
del images\gt_interactive\unreal_tournament.gif
del images\gt_interactive\wheel_of_time.gif
del images\hewlett_packard\lj1100xi.gif
del images\large\1_small_00_LRG.jpg
del images\large\1_small_02_LRG.jpg
del images\large\1_small_03_LRG.jpg
del images\large\1_small_LRG.jpg
del images\large\2_small_LRG.jpg
del images\large\9_small_LRG.jpg
del images\large\dvd\a_bugs_life_00_LRG.gif
del images\large\dvd\a_bugs_life_01_LRG.gif
del images\large\dvd\a_bugs_life_02_LRG.gif
del images\large\dvd\a_bugs_life_03_LRG.gif
del images\large\dvd\a_bugs_life_04_LRG.gif.HIDE
del images\large\dvd\a_bugs_life_05_LRG.gif
del images\large\dvd\a_bugs_life_06_LRG.gif
del images\large\dvd\a_bugs_life_07_LRG.gif
del images\large\dvd\a_bugs_life_08_LRG.gif
del images\large\dvd\a_bugs_life_09_LRG.gif
del images\large\dvd\a_bugs_life_LRG.gif
del images\large\dvd\beloved_LRG.gif
del images\large\dvd\blade_runner_LRG.gif
del images\large\dvd\courage_under_fire_LRG.gif
del images\large\dvd\die_hard_3_LRG.gif
del images\large\dvd\fire_down_below_LRG.gif
del images\large\dvd\frantic_LRG.gif
del images\large\dvd\lethal_weapon_LRG.gif
del images\large\dvd\red_corner_LRG.gif
del images\large\dvd\replacement_killers_LRG.gif
del images\large\dvd\speed_2_LRG.gif
del images\large\dvd\speed_LRG.gif
del images\large\dvd\theres_something_about_mary_LRG.gif
del images\large\dvd\the_matrix_LRG.gif
del images\large\dvd\under_siege2_LRG.gif
del images\large\dvd\under_siege_LRG.gif
del images\large\dvd\youve_got_mail_LRG.gif
del images\large\microsoft\imexplorer_A37_LRG.gif
del images\large\microsoft\imexplorer_b3c_LRG.gif
del images\large\microsoft\imexplorer_jgk_LRG.gif
del images\large\microsoft\imexplorer_LRG.gif
del images\large\microsoft\intkeyboardps2_LRG.gif
del images\large\microsoft\msimpro_LRG.gif
del images\manufacturers\manufacturer_canon.gif
del images\manufacturers\manufacturer_fox.gif
del images\manufacturers\manufacturer_gt_interactive.gif
del images\manufacturers\manufacturer_hewlett_packard.gif
del images\manufacturers\manufacturer_logitech.gif
del images\manufacturers\manufacturer_matrox.gif
del images\manufacturers\manufacturer_microsoft.gif
del images\manufacturers\manufacturer_sierra.gif
del images\manufacturers\manufacturer_warner.gif
del images\matrox\mg200mms.gif
del images\matrox\mg400-32mb.gif
del images\medium\dvd\a_bugs_life_MED.gif
del images\medium\dvd\beloved_MED.gif
del images\medium\dvd\blade_runner_MED.gif
del images\medium\dvd\courage_under_fire_MED.gif
del images\medium\dvd\die_hard_3_MED.gif
del images\medium\dvd\fire_down_below_MED.gif
del images\medium\dvd\frantic_MED.gif
del images\medium\dvd\lethal_weapon_MED.gif
del images\medium\dvd\red_corner_MED.gif
del images\medium\dvd\replacement_killers_MED.gif
del images\medium\dvd\speed_2_MED.gif
del images\medium\dvd\speed_MED.gif
del images\medium\dvd\theres_something_about_mary_MED.gif
del images\medium\dvd\the_matrix_MED.gif
del images\medium\dvd\under_siege2_MED.gif
del images\medium\dvd\under_siege_MED.gif
del images\medium\dvd\youve_got_mail_MED.gif
del images\medium\microsoft\imexplorer_MED.gif
del images\medium\microsoft\intkeyboardps2_MED.gif
del images\medium\microsoft\msimpro_MED.gif
del images\microsoft\imexplorer.gif
del images\microsoft\imexplorer_A37.gif
del images\microsoft\imexplorer_b3c.gif
del images\microsoft\imexplorer_jgk.gif
del images\microsoft\intkeyboardps2.gif
del images\microsoft\msimpro.gif
del images\sierra\swat_3.gif
del images\samples\1_small.jpg
del images\samples\2_small.jpg
del images\samples\3_small.jpg
del images\samples\4_small.jpg
del images\samples\5_small.jpg

rd /Q images\dvd
rd /Q images\gt_interactive
rd /Q images\hewlett_packard
rd /Q images\matrox
rd /Q images\microsoft
rd /Q images\samples
rd /Q images\sierra
rd /Q images\large\dvd
rd /Q images\large\microsoft
rd /Q images\medium\dvd
rd /Q images\medium\microsoft

del media\thehunter.mp3
del download\ms_word_sample.zip
del download\pdf_sample.zip
del download\test.zip
del download\test2.zip
del download\unreal.zip

Thanks DrByte. Thats a very complete listing for the images/downloads and media.

Can anyone else elaborate on any php files related only to the example store that we could safely remove.
Is there any SQL to run that would remove any related table/DB entries from a newly installed zencart install.

Also can you or someone point out where I'd be able to make a suggestion for the Zen-Cart development team. I have suggestion for features and would like to plea a case for their inclusion or at least make them known.

Thanks again for the listing.

Matt

I do not know your reasoning for wanting to remove any of this as it can or can not be used...mess with the DB at your own risk. It can not be a space concern.

Remember that this is under GPL license and therefore requires that the credits remain intact.

Suggestions are in their own forum subject "Code Matters" and "Features Wish List"

kobra:

Remember that this is under GPL license and therefore requires that the credits remain intact.

Suggestions are in their own forum subject "Code Matters" and "Features Wish List"

Thanks Kobra. No intention of removing credits. Simply example related unnecessary files.

kobra:

I do not know your reasoning for wanting to remove any of this as it can or can not be used...mess with the DB at your own risk. It can not be a space concern.

It's an approach, a mindset if you like. There are practical reasons too but these can be easily argued against as not that important. It's very much a glass half full or half empty type of issue. I didn't want them, didn't expect them, didn't ask for them and just want to clean up.

I am in the camp reducing clutter, of not keeping files and unnecessary files around if they not being used or needed for live functionality accessible. Others I know would argue whats the harm in keeping them around if you're not using them.

I was surprised, when after choosing not to install the example store, the files were there anyway. I won't be selling DVD/CD's and so on. As such I was hoping for a clean install so I could build up the attributes/product types and so on. Now they are there to confuse things, be linked too, confuse me and so on.

I strive for clean simple code when I code, I strive for a clean Zen install containing only the files (or could need) it needs for the store it holds.

I'm aware the technical reasons for removing them are perhaps weak, but I'd also argue so were the reasons for including them when the example store install is not selected. Wouldn't it have been better perhaps to have them in the zc_install directory and only copy them across IF the example store install was selected?

Just my two pennies worth. I've seen other posts that are looking to clean up the Zen install as well and I'm sure it could be debated in a different thread perhaps one with a poll.

Matt

The only part of Zen Cart that you want to remove for a "clean" install is the images as you have been told twice.

Do NOT remove any of the .php files or you will break things. The rest of the data is stored in the database and as long as you have not said yes to the demo products during installation you are clean.

On a webserver where security permissions are more important than the convenience of installation, there are practical reasons why we cannot simply copy the images etc "only" if the demo products are selected.

If you wish to remove those items (ie: the list I posted earlier) prior to installation, so as to end up with a cleaner and smaller upload, you are free to do so without problem. In addition to the list above, you could also skip the mysql_demo.sql file in the zc_install/demo folder.

Removing products installed via the demo .sql script is easily done simply by deleting all the categories in your catalog. However, there are a number of other settings and items added which are far more complicated to simply remove with a single menu choice. As such, there is no "remove demo products" option built-in. It is cleaner to do a fresh database-wipe by re-installing, if you want to delete demo products.

In fact, we often recommend that folks install two shops -- one with demo products, so they can use it to experiment and test with, and see how various types of products and attributes are configured, etc; -- and another one for the live shop, starting without the demo products.

Thanks people, that makes a few things a lot clearer now. I am impressed with ZenCart and don't want to be thought of as putting it down. I'm simply trying to ascertain its suitability and understand whats what. It is fairing very well so far against other offerings. I still have the SEO urls and data import aspects/addons to test but thats nothing to do with this thread.

The only part of Zen Cart that you want to remove for a "clean" install is the images as you have been told twice.

Not true ;). I want to remove more. But I understand what I think you are getting at. It may not be wise too and hopefuly there may not be need too..

I am new to this project so thank you for your patience. Let me outline my original post install goals and invite comment.

I first installed ZenCart with the example store and played. I was pretty sure it'd do what I need. I then wiped the DB and installed again without the example store expecting to build my own up.

When I logged in I saw a lot of things I related to being specific to the example store. I also found all the files still present. So I got to trying to figure out what I'd need to do to "clean" ('tidy' might be a better word) it up for a blank store so that the example store specific options/files didn't get in the way/confuse me or clutter things up.

My original post install task list stood as:
1> In the EXTRAS menu there were:
Record Artists (admin/record_artists.php)
Record Companies (admin/record_company.php)
Music Genre (admin/music_genre.php)
Media Manager (admin/media_manager.php)
Media Types (admin/media_types.php)

I had no use for these, would rather they were not present or at least not displayed and I didn't know how to remove/hide them.

2> In the CATALOG:Categories/Products menu the drop down contained "Product - Music". I can see where to edit this but not where to delete it. It's a 'product type' right?

3> Remove all the files and folders (listed above in this post) that were the images related to the example store. Just to tidy up.

I couldn't see anything else obviously example store/music related so I was going to leave it there.

That's what prompted the original question. I now invite comment on the above, especially regarding points 1 and 2.

DrByte your response was very helpful and I now grasp why the files were present by default rather than copied across, thank you. I'm lucking in that I don't have to worry about a apache and the FTP user being different UID's.

Matt

To your #1 point, you can remove the music options from the "Extras" menu by deleting the /admin/includes/boxes/extra_boxes/product_music_extras_dhtml.php file.

As to #2, yes, Product-Music is a product-type. There are a number of technical and practical reasons why there is no built-in delete function to remove items from the product-types list. Most notably is that invariably someone makes such a deletion and then later wishes they hadn't, and has all kinds of questions on how to put it back. As such, it is better to leave deletions to those who understand database complexities and are comfortable adding/deleting such items. I'm sure that if you fall into that category you'll be able to quite easily find the related table from which to delete the entry you wish not to see.

Thank you DrByte

Yes I can navigate the DB and remove it. At least I understand now why it remained there. I will probably just adjust it to suit.

My vote would be that it should be named something else like "Product - Custom" rather than Music since like the extra boxes it is specific to the example store and may confuse new users. At least named "Custom" it would slightly more obvious it could be edited.

I've going to distill this thread into a "How to remove the example store" document and post it up somewhere on here to aid others similarly confused.

Many thanks everyone for your help.

Matt