Uploading zencart to live server

Hi there,

I've just tried for several times now to upload my customized zencart (1.3.7) to a live server. Uploading worked fine but when I go to the specified folder under my root directory, I'm only seeing the original version of zencart and not my customized one (I've been using the override system). Oh, and the stylesheet doesn't seemed to be recognized either as I'm only getting text.

Everything had just looked great under localhost so I'm at a loss as why I'm getting this now..
I've checked both configure.php files, under includes and includes/admin and they both look just fine with the respective to my folder under 'root' in it.
Strangely enough, if I go to the admin section and log in on the live server I actually see the customization I've made there but not on the actual website itself?!?

What I've tried so far is:

• Uploading my customized version, created a database and configured the 2 config.php files manually.
• Uploading my customized version with the zc_install folder and run it as if a new installation (ending script before getting to configure the Store info).
• Uploading a complete new zencart version and run the normal install, then overriding the files, drop the old tables and import the new ones, configure the config.php files accordingly.
• Installed zencart through Fantastico to see if that worked.

For all above mentioned methods I'm getting the same result: I'm only seeing the original version of zencart without any styling??

Any help or hints as what's going on would be greatly appreciated.

thanks

kpax

You have to go into the Admin and make sure you actually SELECTED the "custom" template from the list of available templates.

Have you done this on the live server yet?

Just uploading alone will not "activate" your custom template.

My suggestion would be to start over as such.

1. Upload all files to the live server (make sure you removed everything from it so you are staring from scratch.
2. Set the proper database path info in your config files (or let the zen install do it for you)
3. Run the install on the live server (I would use the web interface of the Zen install in this case).
4. Select your custom template from the "template selection" area of the admin.

That should be all you need to do to get it to work. It sounds like you are going to "extra lengths" to get it working, and that is not necessary at all.

Thanks a lot for your reply!!

I had indeed 'forgotten' to enable my customized template after uploading to a live server.

However, the problem still persist I'm afraid and eventhough I did the upload and reinstall yet again, I'm getting the same result..

The site is text only with the exception of 2 zencart banner images, which I'd replaced with my own images and the stylesheet doesn't seem to be found either..

I found that my hosting provider is using PHP 5.2.0 which apparently contains a bug but since I'm using ZC 1.3.7 a fix has already been included for this. I also checked the files to make sure the fix was really there and it is.

I'm sure there must be a simple solution to this as nobody else seem to suffer from it?!

Any further input would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks

• Uploading a complete new zencart version and run the normal install, then overriding the files, drop the old tables and import the new ones, configure the config.php files accordingly.

Dropping what tables?? All of them or just ones that you think are what you want?

Try dropping the complete DB and importing a complete DB from your test install...You need the configuration table to capture the settings

I've dropped all tables first and just imported the new tables then.
When this didn't work (well, it worked but it still gave me the same problems as described above) I also delete the DB and created a new one and a new user.

I just don't understand why I can log onto the admin area and it gives me all the customization I've made for it while this doesn't work for the Cart itself??

My installation will go into a subfolder ('testarea3') of my root directory.

I've included the following path changes in admin/includes/configure.php:

define('DIR_WS_ADMIN', '/testarea3/admin/');
define('DIR_WS_CATALOG', '/testarea3/');
define('DIR_WS_HTTPS_ADMIN', '/testarea3/admin/');
define('DIR_WS_HTTPS_CATALOG', '/testarea3/');
define('DIR_FS_ADMIN', '/home/mydomain/public_html/testarea3/admin/');
define('DIR_FS_CATALOG', '/home/mydomain/public_html/testarea3/'); define('DIR_FS_SQL_CACHE', '/home/mydomain/public_html/testarea3/cache');

and includes/configure.php:

define('DIR_WS_CATALOG', '/testarea3/');
define('DIR_WS_HTTPS_CATALOG', '/testarea3/');
define('DIR_FS_CATALOG', '/home/mydomain/public_html/testarea3/');
define('DIR_FS_SQL_CACHE', '/home/mydomain/public_html/testarea3/cache');

Is there anything else, apart from the obvious DB connection details, that would need to be amended?

So when trying to get to the storefront what do you actually get?
An error 404?
A blank Page
The store but?

What might be the basedir settings for the server?

Post a url

A few things.

1. Have you started with a fresh install on the live server and THEN uploaded your customized template folders (which shouldn't affect core code if the overrides are in place).

2. Could there be a corrupt file dealing with the Admin? (This would likely result in a Blank screen and nothing more; same goes if there is a PHP error).

3. Are all permissions set on the server correctly?

4. Are sessions on the server being handled correctly?

5. Did your customized code come from the same version of Zen Cart, or was it created using a previous version? There were a number of code changes that woudl result in parts not working if you try to overlap versions.

As Kobra asked, is there a URL we can look at?

Thanks a lot for your patience with this, guys!!

You can see what it currently looks like under https://www.onthefly.ie/testarea

Whatever I've tried out (see my first post) I'm getting more or less the same screen.

1. I have started with a 'clean' uncustomized install first and then uploaded my customized version over it. I'm only using overrides and none of the core files has been tampered with.

2. I'm not getting a blank screen

3. I've made sure the permissions were all fine as much as I could tell. I'm still getting some permission issues with the bmz_cache folder and its subfolders though eventhough I've given them full permissions.
   I also run the fix_cache_key.php fix tool which didn't change anything though.

4. How can I make sure sessions are handled correctly?

5. Both, the 'clean' and my own customized version are ZC 1.3.7.

thanks

Can you open the admin?

Check that a template is assigned admin > tools > template selection

I did not see in your view source that any template is being addressed

Yes, funnily enough, accessing the admin area works just fine!!
I can normally login and can see all the customization I've carried out. The problem is only with the website itself.

However, in the meantime I think I've narrowed down the cause of my problem to the css files that don't seem to be called. I haven't changed anything in 'html_header.php' and the code looks fine. Since the admin area is getting its styling information from the same files I don't think that file is causing the problem after all.

I then thought that it was perhaps a permission issue caused by an overly restrictive .htaccess file so I renamed my .htaccess under includes/*, - though, to no avail..

Unfortunately, I'm still stuck with that website that simply doesn't load any stylesheets, for whatever reason?!? In FF Web Developer tool under CSS you can see that no stylesheet seems to be attached.

What happens if you try to load the "default" template? Does that work for you? (Since you can access the Admin, you should be able to alter that). What do you get?

kpax:

doesn't load any stylesheets, for whatever reason?!? In FF Web Developer tool under CSS you can see that no stylesheet seems to be attached.

Ok, got a thought. What is the name of your stylesheet? (The exact name). Zen Cart has an automated system of loading stylesheets and it is dependent on how you name them. If you named it differently from the "conventional naming scheme", then it will not load.

So, what did you name yours?

Sorry for the many posts. I have copied the "how to" for style sheets below.Have you ready this yet? This file is found in your /includes/templates/css/ folder.

The CSS files are sent to the browser in this order: (and alphabetically within each case of more than one match):

             style*.css   // are always loaded and at least ONE should contain site-wide properties.
language_stylesheet.css   // changes to ALL pages, when that language is used
          page_name.css   // changes to one page 
 language_page_name.css   // changes to one page, when that language is used
            c_??_??.css   // changes to all info pages in a category
   language_c_??_??.css   // changes to all info pages in a category, when that language is used
               m_??.css   // changes to a manufacturer's listing page
      language_m_??.css   // changes to a manufacturer's listing page, when that language is used
               p_??.css   // changes to a product's info page
      language_p_??.css   // changes to a product's info page, when that language is used
             print*.css   // printer-friendly global usage site-wide changes for printing-only

The 'stylesheet.css' always loads first and should contain the bulk of your CSS selectors. Each file loaded takes priority over previously loaded file(s). To save loading time, only new selectors or selectors whose properties you wish to change should be in the optional CSS files. You can have different overrides for the same page, in different languages, because the two would never be called at the same time.

If someone selected the French language on your site, the 'french_stylesheet.css' would also be loaded. It should only contain the site-wide changes you want to make to 'stylesheet.css'. For example, change a 'background-image' for your French customers.

If someone went to any of the other pages, that page's CSS file would be loaded. Possibly you want different 'background-image' & 'background-color' on each of 'page_x' pages. Possibly you do not want a border around '.plainBox' most of the time, but on a couple of pages you do... and on one of those pages you want it in black and the other in red.

Possibly you created a NEW tag and did a <span class="newtag"> in your Privacy Statement. It is defined in only one CSS file, 'german_privacy.css' as '.newtag { text-transform: uppercase }' Because, in Germany, that phrase must be in all CAPS, but not in other countries.

Use your CSS files and the standard tags as much as possible, just change their properties when needed. If possible, DON'T HACK the core code. Use your CSS files to do the work for you. When the style coding has been removed from the ZenCart code and people have to decide if they want to go without the upgrade ~or~ undo all their hacks and finally learn about CSS... your site will still be up and running. 

Additional information is contained in the 'read_me' file in the common folder.

Juxi Zoza
03/15/05

The problem I'm having is the same with every template, even the default one so I think my own customized template might not even be the culprit here.

I stuck to the normal naming scheme for my stylesheets:

stylesheet.css
style_imagehover.css
stylesheet_css_buttons.css
stylesheet_betterCategoriesEzInfo.css

thanks for your help so far!!

Have you checked your "PRINT" stylesheet? The page looks identical when only that is read.

See my two tests below (using the "default template" directory). I didn't know the name of your custom template so I had to use the default one.

Using all css files:
http://www.zencartoptimization.com/onthefly-test/test.html

Reading on the "print" stylesheet:
http://www.zencartoptimization.com/onthefly-test/test-printcss-only.html

Could it have something to do with that on your end? Again, since I don't have access, the best I can do is offer advice. :)

kpax.

I think I got your answer. :)

It has to do with the settings in your .htaccess file.

See the following link

https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=235

Viola!

econcepts,
By pm kpax stated that even the fantastico installed ZenCart did not parse the stylesheet and this with a "0" byte .htaccess...
The host is looking into the cause
Just FYI