Setting up Zen Cart on Windows XP using Xampp - a howto

After much confusion and hair pulling I decided to setup Zen Cart on my home system running XP Professional. I've got to say that when you see a test site running on your own comp it really makes things much clearer.

I'll try to give as concise as possible step by step procedure for getting this all working and hopefully this will help all you fellow Zen'rs setting up and configuring a site (which can later be uploaded to a server).

Files to download

Download Zen Cart
zen-cart-v1.3.7-full-fileset-12302006.zip
http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=83781&package_id=171544

Download Xampp for Windows
xampp-win32-1.6.0a-installer.exe
http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp-windows.html
Xampp is the program which runs MySQL, PHP and Apache webserver on your local system (make sure you have the disk space as this is a 250+ mb download)

Install Xampp
Double-click on xampp-win32-1.6.0a-installer.exe to start the Xampp installation. Follow the install instructions up to where it asks if you want to run Apache/MySQL/FileZilla as a service. (I chose to run MySQL & PHP as a service. Filezilla is an ftp program and is non-essential for testing on a local system) Running these applications as a service means that they will run at bootup on Windows. If you don't want this then you can manually start them from the Start Menu>Programs>Apache Friends>Xampp>Xampp Control Panel

Open Xampp control panel (if installed as a service the icon will be in the systray or start manually as indicated above). Start Apache and MySQL (if not already started).

Create the Database
In your browser's address bar type:
http://localhost/xampp
If everything is installed successfully you'll see the Xampp opening screen. Choose your language to proceed to the next page.
Towards the bottom of the navigation bar on the left side click on "phpMyAdmin". You will now see a page that shows information on Server & Protocol hosts etc.

There are only two fields that need to be populated in order to create your database:

CREATE NEW DATABASE - enter in the name of your database (zencart, zen ... whatever ... make note of whatever you call it as you'll need this info when setting up Zen Cart).

COLLATION ... click on the down arrow and at the very bottom of the list select utf8_unicode_ci ... this should match identically the field a little higher up "MySQL connection collation:".

Once you've populated the Create New Database name field and Collation field click Create ... when you see the screen that says " Database <name you selected> has been created." You are done!

Install the Zen Cart Files
For Zen Cart to work correctly with Xampp it needs to be installed in the Xampp subdirectory htdocs
C:\Program Files\xampp\htdocs\

Unzip the file zen-cart-v1.3.7-full-fileset-12302006.zip to the above directory. By default this will probably create a directory called:
zen-cart-v1.3.7-full-fileset-12302006
rename this to something simple (ie: store, zen, zencart)

Install the Zen Cart Program
In your browser's address bar type:
http://localhost/<name of your store> (the directory you just changed in htdocs)

You should now see the Zen Cart Installer page:
Follow the steps up to the Database Setup page ...
You now need to enter the name of the database you created earlier with phpMyAdmin into the Database Name field. Click "Save Database Settings " and you should see all the pretty ~'s scrolling across the screen.

On the Store Setup page I found it very helpful to install Zen Cart with the Store Demo. This is a mockup store with products etc. Some of the things that are very useful are the attributes set for certain products, tax rates etc which you can access via the admin page. Seeing actual examples really makes all the difference and takes the pain out of trying to find answers.

After you successfully have installed Zen Cart you given the option to visit either the online store or the admin area. This part is up to you.

http://localhost/<name of your store> to access your test store
http://localhost/admin ... to access the admin panel
bookmark these for easy access

When you first access the test store the first thing you notice is that there are two red warning signs at the top of your page ... these will always be present on your test site until you follow the instructions on the warnings.

Anyway, I hope this works for you.
See this link:
https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=54
on how to migrate your files up to your server

Brian

xampp-win32-1.6.0a-installer.exe

Goh Koon Hoek suggests an EARLIER version???

schoolboy:

xampp-win32-1.6.0a-installer.exe

Goh Koon Hoek suggests an EARLIER version???

I never understood what you meant by that.

NOW I KNOW!!!
You're trying to promote your book!
I just bought and received it,
very informative ...

1 down ... 399 pages to go ... :smartalec:

Ajeh:

1 down ... 399 pages to go ... :smartalec:

399 pages exactly! (I had to check)
:cool:

oh .. buy the book ... everything I posted about setting up a local configuration is in there! with much more detail!

This thread was incredibly helpful and easy to follow. It's been over six months since I did any Zenning and I was dreading things - now I'm all charged up! Thanks.

hint for the challenged - rename the zc-install and for includes/configure just right click the file - properties - read only (this will probably be located C:\xampp\htdocs<your_store_name>)

The Zen - eStart book is on the way but now I don't have to wait!!

life is good!

:cool:

You are more than welcome! Thank You :cool:

It's great to see folks having fun...
May I intrude with a question?

CURRENT CONFIG
I already have a ZEN CART store hosted on a Windows platform using IIS Server 6.0. I bought THE book when it was first released... and it is one of the best user/developer/ document I have ever purchased.

MORE DETAILS
I have decided to assist a friend in developing his web site. He is using an Apache server -
I have the latest Apache/PHP/MySQL combo as my localhost for port 80; however, I do not use it for the ZEN-CART web site previously mentioned - because it is on an IIS server.

THE book says to use an earlier version of XAMPP - and before installing it, UNINSTALL the current Apache Server/PHP/ etc.

I respect the book, and he states in the book to use xampp-win32-1.4.16-installer.exe because the current version of ZEN-CART (1.3.7) cannot utilize the latest version of xampp.

QUESTION:
Can I use the latest version of XAMPP now? Will 1.3.7 work with the latest updates using the latest version of XAMPP? I will uninstall Apache, PHP, etc per GHK - I truly respect him and his advice - but, for me it seems that it would be smarter to install the latest version of XAMPP, provided it will work.

What is the consensus? (or is that conZENsus :smile: ) of opinions?

Respectfully,
jund

He wrote the book off of 1.3.7...that being so, I am sure what he says to use to run it was based off the advice of the zen cart team.

You could also pm him and ask him his advice, he posts on this forum.

Thanks godspeed27
jund

That is precisely my doubt and the subject of a recent post.
I cannot understand why he recommends an earlier version which, incidentally, did not work for me.
I could never get that version of Xampp to run Apache, even after opening port 80 both TCP and UDP.
What I got instead running was...IIS.
I uninstalled Xampp, disabled IIS, and loaded wamp5 (thanks to user Get 'em fast, read post).
Great performance!!
It doesn't have a mail server, though, but it works beautifully.
Now my problem is how to install Zen Cart and mail test accounts on that server, but should be pretty easy.

Does XAMPP come with mod rewrite (for SEO URL)?

I perfer Wamp5 but to each his own I will give it a try. Thanks for the wounderful tut....:D

Go to the support site for the book
https://www.cucumbermedia.com
and check the errata
KH says that ZC works officially with MySQL 4.x, having backtracked from his previous wording.
I have installed latest version of XAMPP, 1.6.1, however I did a modification (thanks to KH who suggested the fix), to have it run PHP4, until the dev team tests further on PHP5 and MySQL5.
Just stop Apache and run php-switch.bat in XAMPP home dir.
Not a fix for the masses, that is why KH recommends an earlier version of XAMPP that (theoretically) works with PHP4 and MySQL4, which is what the dev team supports.
I have had no problems at all with the latest version of XAMPP, however ZC doesn't support it as of this writing, and KH has to be in sync with that.
I agree with: KH is the Man, thanks for all the hard work.

ckosloff:

That is precisely my doubt and the subject of a recent post.
I cannot understand why he recommends an earlier version which, incidentally, did not work for me.
I could never get that version of Xampp to run Apache, even after opening port 80 both TCP and UDP.
What I got instead running was...IIS.
I uninstalled Xampp, disabled IIS, and loaded wamp5 (thanks to user Get 'em fast, read post).
Great performance!!
It doesn't have a mail server, though, but it works beautifully.
Now my problem is how to install Zen Cart and mail test accounts on that server, but should be pretty easy.

Thanks for the latest Post - I was completely unaware of the support Cucumber provides... you made my day!
Respectfully,
jund

Briank58:

After much confusion and hair pulling I decided to setup Zen Cart on my home system running XP Professional. I've got to say that when you see a test site running on your own comp it really makes things much clearer.

I'll try to give as concise as possible step by step procedure for getting this all working and hopefully this will help all you fellow Zen'rs setting up and configuring a site (which can later be uploaded to a server).

Files to download

Download Zen Cart
zen-cart-v1.3.7-full-fileset-12302006.zip
http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=83781&package_id=171544

Download Xampp for Windows
xampp-win32-1.6.0a-installer.exe
http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp-windows.html
Xampp is the program which runs MySQL, PHP and Apache webserver on your local system (make sure you have the disk space as this is a 250+ mb download)

Install Xampp
Double-click on xampp-win32-1.6.0a-installer.exe to start the Xampp installation. Follow the install instructions up to where it asks if you want to run Apache/MySQL/FileZilla as a service. (I chose to run MySQL & PHP as a service. Filezilla is an ftp program and is non-essential for testing on a local system) Running these applications as a service means that they will run at bootup on Windows. If you don't want this then you can manually start them from the Start Menu>Programs>Apache Friends>Xampp>Xampp Control Panel

Open Xampp control panel (if installed as a service the icon will be in the systray or start manually as indicated above). Start Apache and MySQL (if not already started).

Create the Database
In your browser's address bar type:
http://localhost/xampp
If everything is installed successfully you'll see the Xampp opening screen. Choose your language to proceed to the next page.
Towards the bottom of the navigation bar on the left side click on "phpMyAdmin". You will now see a page that shows information on Server & Protocol hosts etc.

There are only two fields that need to be populated in order to create your database:

CREATE NEW DATABASE - enter in the name of your database (zencart, zen ... whatever ... make note of whatever you call it as you'll need this info when setting up Zen Cart).

COLLATION ... click on the down arrow and at the very bottom of the list select utf8_unicode_ci ... this should match identically the field a little higher up "MySQL connection collation:".

Once you've populated the Create New Database name field and Collation field click Create ... when you see the screen that says " Database <name you selected> has been created." You are done!

Install the Zen Cart Files
For Zen Cart to work correctly with Xampp it needs to be installed in the Xampp subdirectory htdocs
C:\Program Files\xampp\htdocs\

Unzip the file zen-cart-v1.3.7-full-fileset-12302006.zip to the above directory. By default this will probably create a directory called:
zen-cart-v1.3.7-full-fileset-12302006
rename this to something simple (ie: store, zen, zencart)

Install the Zen Cart Program
In your browser's address bar type:
http://localhost/<name of your store> (the directory you just changed in htdocs)

You should now see the Zen Cart Installer page:
Follow the steps up to the Database Setup page ...
You now need to enter the name of the database you created earlier with phpMyAdmin into the Database Name field. Click "Save Database Settings " and you should see all the pretty ~'s scrolling across the screen.

On the Store Setup page I found it very helpful to install Zen Cart with the Store Demo. This is a mockup store with products etc. Some of the things that are very useful are the attributes set for certain products, tax rates etc which you can access via the admin page. Seeing actual examples really makes all the difference and takes the pain out of trying to find answers.

After you successfully have installed Zen Cart you given the option to visit either the online store or the admin area. This part is up to you.

http://localhost/<name of your store> to access your test store
http://localhost/admin ... to access the admin panel
bookmark these for easy access

When you first access the test store the first thing you notice is that there are two red warning signs at the top of your page ... these will always be present on your test site until you follow the instructions on the warnings.

Anyway, I hope this works for you.
See this link:
https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=54
on how to migrate your files up to your server

Brian

Hello, I have followed the above instructions but when Icome to Create the Database and type the following url into a browser I get a HTTP 403 forbidden error.

The website declined to show this webpage
HTTP 403
Most likely causes:
This website requires you to log in.

I seem to be getting this alot, when I have tried to install Zen Cart I also get this error

Can anyone please help ? :unsure:

Is your live server (not the localhost one) a windows server?
jund

I am trying to install this on my local machine rather then a server, I would like to have a play around before uploading to a live server.

Thanks
Emma

Thank you for the reply - and the update. I understand your local server is Apache, but I was wondering what your hosting server was.

As you probably understand, the Apache way of doing things is very different from the Windows 'way.' Especially regarding permissions - and I just didn't want to see you waste your time if the two were different.

As long as you are having fun, learning, and figuring things out :smile:.

Respectfully,
jund

Minnie,
Upon installation of ZC you will see a screen asking you twice if you want to use SSL and it clarifies, don't select yes unless you are sure that SSL is working.
Quick fix, delete your installation directory under htdocs and when re-installing ZC select No for the above two questions.
Let me know how this works.