Quick question before upgrading

I have purposely hung on before doing the upgrade to paypal express because of problems that invevitably will come up. Could someone please tell me will all those problems be fixed in the download or do I have to update it and then go and hunt out patches and bug fixes on this website?

I will wait for an answer before updating as I'm petrified of errors!

Thanks for your time!

Donna

Anyone help me please?

Are you concerned about errors from PayPal or Zen Cart? If PayPal, you'd have to check out their documentation on the PayPal Express system.

As for Zen Cart (which I imagine is what you meant), you can avoid pretty much all upgrade errors by following the upgrade instructions in the docs folder of the Zen cart download, docs/2.readme_how_to_upgrade.html. It tells you everything you need to do in order to perform a smooth upgrade, even with lots of customizations.

You'll need a file comparison tool like WinMerge (free) or Araxis Merge ($$$, but more powerful) to complete the upgrade.

Thanks.

I don't have to use the upgrade though do I? I mean it won't make any difference if I leave things as they are will it?

If you want to use the latest version, and access the new features, then yes you have to upgrade.

Clearly it sounds to me like you're a first-time upgrader, and getting cold feet. That's normal; upgrading sounds like a big scary process. Just remember that all you're really doing is comparing text. If you're using a largely stock version of Zen (just a few boxed mods), it's usually a snap. Both programs I mentioned make backups of files before applying changes, so you can always revert.

To me, falling behind is scarier. Depending on what you currently have, 1.3.7 may include critical security fixes. Plus the longer you wait, the further behind in versioning you get, and the harder it will be to make the upgrade later.

Frank,

The other problem I have is that I've been personalising my cart by following instructions in the thread and then found a thread saying that core files shouldn't be changed (english.php ones). Well the thing is they are the ones that were mentioned in the threads and they're the ones I've changed.

I'm worried about the difference it will make you see. Will I lose all my changes? Do I have to do the template again?

Yup, you are right, first time upgrader with very cold feet!

Donna

The team warns against editing core files, because it makes upgrading more difficult, especially if you don't know what you're doing. You need to bring over the new code, eliminate any outdated code, and make sure your own customizations stay in place. Note that merge programs do all of this it's just more files you have to check (beyond your templates).

I would never consider any of the language files to be "core," because by their nature they are meant to be changed. They of course tie into core files, but it's very easy to spot differences, since they're just a bunch of defines.

Plus, all the language files in the catalog work with overrides. So if you edited YOUR_ROOT/includes/languages/english.php, just copy that file to YOUR_ROOT/includes/languages/MY_TEMPLATE/english.php.

This still does not escape the need to upgrade. Moving it to a custom folder will allow you to safely overwrite the original english.php, however now you have to compare that file to the one in your custom folder, adding whatever new defines exist.

icklebits:

Yup, you are right, first time upgrader with very cold feet!
The only way to get over it is to just do it. Remember, you aren't actually upgrading your live site; you upgrade a copy, then test your work locally, or set up a sandbox image of your site to test it. That way you can test without risking your live site, and only push it to the live site once everything is working smoothly. If everything goes to hell, you can wipe it out and start over.

Frank is exactly right. If you edited files without creating a custom template, it's not too late. Install 1.3.7 in its own directory with its own database and start recreating your template. You mentioned english.php as an example. If you edited it without saving it to your own template, make a copy of it in the 1.3.7 test site for your custom template and use something like WinMerge to compare the old english.php to the new default one you just copied. You can make the same changes to the new one and save it to your new template. You can do that for each file you changed. It might be difficult, but if you're careful, you can get it done. Think of it this way... it'll make upgrading easier in future.

To create a very basic custom template (you can build from there), you need:
includes\languages\YOUR_TEMPLATE\english.php
includes\languages\english\YOUR_TEMPLATE\index.php
includes\languages\english\YOUR_TEMPLATE\header.php (to change the logo)
includes\templates\YOUR_TEMPLATE\template_info.php
includes\templates\YOUR_TEMPLATE\common\tpl_header.php
includes\templates\YOUR_TEMPLATE\images\logo.gif
includes\templates\YOUR_TEMPLATE\css\stylesheet.css

Any where you see a \classic\ folder, you can create a folder for your custom template.

Argh...that was all too technical for me. Sorry but I'm a bit dense in the old technical department. I will have to read and reread what you have written and go from there.

When I had my original cart in a "cart" folder I had to copy each and every file over to my main directory individually it took ages. There must be an easier way to do that?

Just do this...

1. Download and install WinMerge (since it's the free one)
2. Download latest version of Zen Cart
3. Download your store from your server
4. Place both stores in the same folder somewhere on your computer
5. Highlight both folders, choose "WinMerge" from the context (right-click) menu
6. Start probing around to see what it does
   Many, many of your concerns will be addressed simply in starting the process. If you're like me,, you'll eventually have one of those "ah-ha!" moments as you begin comparing and merging files.

icklebits:

When I had my original cart in a "cart" folder I had to copy each and every file over to my main directory individually it took ages. There must be an easier way to do that?

I'm not sure what you mean by that statement. ZC is designed to build a custom template without changing files that will be overwritten when upgrading. If you copied "each and every file to my main directory", you may not have followed the custom template outline which will cause problems when you upgrade. All your work will be overwritten. The list in my previous post is what I've found to be the basic files you need and where you need to create them.

For example, if you need to change something in english.php the original file is located in includes\languages\english\english.php. You create a folder in includes\languages\ and call it whatever you want (YOUR_TEMPLATE in my example) and then copy english.php into it, so you end up with includes\languages\YOUR_TEMPLATE\english.php and make your changes in the copy, not the original. When you upload to your website, the YOUR_TEMPLATE directories you created will be uploaded with the rest of ZC. No copying/uploading individual files (unless you need to). Because the ZC upgrade won't include directories called YOUR_TEMPLATE, your work won't be overwritten.

Thank you very very much.! That makes a lot more sense. I wil have a go later on today once I've had my breakfast!!!!

You are right, I probably will have an "aha!" moment, its just getting started really.

Right, fingers crossed that I will be leaving a happy post by the end of the day! :blush:

Darn, I replied to your previous stepby step post and then saw the last one.

I obviously got the instructions wrong back when I started the whole thing months ago.

Think I will just leave it as it is. I'm worried about losing orders and all the products I've put in and if you think I've done it wrong I won't bother taking the risk.

Oh I felt so positive for a minute or two there! :(

Never mind, thanks for your time anyway.

No reason you can't still do the file compare and merge! If you edited core files, you can easily correct that by dropping the proper files into template folders, then overwrite the core with the new version. Compare core to your template,a nd away you go!

Seriously, don't bum out. Do the steps I gave you anyway; it won't be as bad once you do. Remember, it's offline, and won't hurt a thing just to try. :smile:

also your orders, customers and products are stored in the database, so messing around with getting your template overrides correct won't hurt that stuff.

Aw bless. I take it you haven't seen my other thread in this section where I completely and utterly lost my website...LOL

I've decided after that event of today to not bother upgrading it. Maybe I'llhave another go tomorrow....

I still really appreciate your advice and will definitely follow it. I just cant' do anymore today. 7 hours of trying to upgrade has done my head in...and half the poor zenners that tried to help me too probably!

Will keep this thread updated though even if only to help future readers.

Forgot to say that I did get it back with a serious amount of help from other zenners!

Thought I'd best add that bit incase another newbie was reading it and panicked...LOL

I'm off to get chocolate...much deserved and needed!

you might be better off contracting one of the experts to handle this upgrade, and actually get your files back into the right places,

then get them to explain HOW to make your modifications in the future.

How do I do that?

icklebits:

How do I do that?

From your other thread, I think you're ok now. If you want to pay someone to help you, post a request in "Commercial Help Wanted" explaining the situation. Interested people will contact you via PM.