Upgraded from 1.2.25 to 1.3.37 - Here is how plus review

We have been using Zen for a couple of years now

The last time we updated with code from the Zen site was 1.2.25

Well we decided to undertake the move to 1.3.37 and this is how we did it

1. Made backup of existing database

2. Did fresh install in subdirectory of store main directory

3. Edited newly created database and removed all tables

4. Using backup of old database, restored tables into new database

5. Reran install and selected DATABASE UPGRADE. This detected that we had 1.2.25 db structure and performed all the necessary upgrades to 1.3.37

6. Finished fresh install directions and then checked to make sure install worked and had our data
   6,5 Reinstalled image handler and reports

7. Since we were using BLUESTRIP, found the reloaded version and had to do MANY ANNOYING changes to duplicate our previous customizations. The change from a table-style layout design in 1.2.25 to a the current table-less is a serious PITA.

8. Finally was able to work through all the CSS nonsense (there are still a few minor things need to clean up as it IS NOT perfect) and get it to be the way we want it.

9. Had a few code issues Linda was able to help with a few graciously given pieces of advice(Thanks)

10. Changed config files to match old install

11. Backed up all old site files
    12 Deleted all old site files
    13 Copied in new site files, reset permissions tested and good to go

Overall, save from having to put back in all of our customizations, it was a fairly easy process. The CSS work is a SERIOUS PAIN and far from perfect. Took a look through SEVERAL Zen sites and this seems to be pretty consistent. The design is not perfect and if people go and start fiddling with their browser text size settings, it will break MANY site's layouts. Also from having to go through ALOT of code and based off our our experience with PHPBB, alot of the code in Zen is laid out very well, but there are alot of places that it jumps around too much. We would like to see a bit more consistency in the templating system like phpbb.

Zen is a great platform and I am sure many like us are highly appreciate all the work the developers have put into it. Hopefully this writeup will help those of you who need to upgrade realize it is really not all that hard.

Thanks Zen Cart Team

I’m currently attempting to upgrade from 1.2.25 to 1.3.37 and your post seems very helpful. May I call on you for some assistance if I run into any problems?

Thanks in advance,

-Mike M.

Sure, just ask for anyone on the "Direct" team.

The design is not perfect and if people go and start fiddling with their browser text size settings, it will break MANY site's layouts.

It will remove some of the accessability, but just change the font sizes to fixed instead of relative.

Kim:

It will remove some of the accessability, but just change the font sizes to fixed instead of relative.

Yes, that was the 1st thing that occured to us as well...and we tried it.

Unfortunately the blue strip template we were using in 1.2.25 was remade and it was not a perfect match. There was considerable work on our side to do to get it to match what we had in 1.2.25. When changing the fonts, it brought on some other issues that we really decided weren't worth dealing with on such a generic template.

As far as we see it now, the way we have the template tweaked at this point is about as good as it will get in our application. At some point we might make a completely new and unique template from scratch that will not have so many things that need "tweaking"