Can I Copy and paste the zen cart to get two sites?

Hello there,
I am planning on having 2 zen carts on the same site, I was wondering If I have already downloaded all the files that I have made on my zen cart right now, like I downloaded the whole folder, can I upload it again into another folder, like say my old one was mysite.com/happy and now I downloaded the happy folder, I changed its name to sad, can I upload it as is without changing anything to it? so I would have mysite.com/happy and mysite.com/sad at the same time?

I know it is kind of a silly question, but I wasn't sure if I upload just the files like that without doing anything about SQL or installation file I might mess something up.

If there is ANYTHING I have to do with SQL please tell me, I am not used to SQL.

You can do this copy as you listed it or load direct from your computer to the new directory ...

Then you can run the new install on the new directory using a new database ...

You can have as many copies of Zen Cart running as you like on your server ...

BUT ... you need to use a different database, and specify that different DB_DATABASE name in your second store's configure.php files. Otherwise all your files will be using the same database, and will not really be different stores.

I recommend loading via FTP from your existing clean copy of Zen Cart v1.3.7.1 as then your files remain clean and you should have less problems ... plus you can then run the /zc_install the same way you did before from your new directory and all will be automatically configured for you like the first time ...

Okay, well you are kind of saying, install a new zen cart, after that, just upload all the files except for the configure.php?
Just confirm, I don't want to mess everything up.

Yes.
Basically ... just remember a new install requires going through the same steps you did on the first install with a new directory and new database ...

Ajeh:

Yes.
Basically ... just remember a new install requires going through the same steps you did on the first install with a new directory and new database ...

Okay so you mean I could upload the same exact files, change my configure.php to 777 and then run the zc_install? after that it will install everything brand new and at the same time i will have all my design and stuff up there?

Precisely ... :smile:

Or, if you have CPanel ... you could get tricky ...

There is a method to copy an existing directory to a new directory ... then you just need to edit the 2 configure.php files that came from /happy to:
/sad/includes/configure.php
/sad/admin/includes/configure.php

the difference being ... you are less likely to break everything if you just reload via FTP all of the files to the new directory /sad and start from the /sad/zc_install with your new directory and new database ...

NOTE: be sure to make the new database, username and password before running the /sad/zc_install ...

ElBasha:

Okay so you mean I could upload the same exact files, change my configure.php to 777 and then run the zc_install? after that it will install everything brand new and at the same time i will have all my design and stuff up there?

Assuming you've not installed any contributions which alter the database, etc, yes.

DrByte:

Assuming you've not installed any contributions which alter the database, etc, yes.

This is weird, I have went and made a new database from my webhost (dreamhost) and made them automatically install zen cart for me. I did that and then I came to the install place, everything went smoothly, after I finished installing and changed the configure.php to read only, the website works fine but the admin website doesn't work, it says page not responding. Any idea? Is it because I have 2 zen carts in or what?

ElBasha:

after I finished installing and changed the configure.php to read only, the website works fine but the admin website doesn't work, it says page not responding. Any idea?If you make the files not read-only again, does it work properly? Perhaps you made the permissions too strict?

I don't think so, I used 444 like I used for the old one, I just made a new directory and installed it all over again and worked though.
Thanks.

Now my question is, what exactly should I upload so I have the same sideboxes and all the extra things I had on my old one? Like what folders should I upload?

ElBasha:

Now my question is, what exactly should I upload so I have the same sideboxes and all the extra things I had on my old one? Like what folders should I upload?

Those are all handled via database settings, and can be configured in Admin->Tools->Layout Boxes Controller.
You will need to manually set all your admin settings again :blush:

DrByte:

Those are all handled via database settings, and can be configured in Admin->Tools->Layout Boxes Controller.
You will need to manually set all your admin settings again :blush:

ohh, what about all the plugins I have added? all the page editing and stuff?

ElBasha:

ohh, what about all the plugins I have added? all the page editing and stuff?
DrByte:

ElBasha:

Okay so you mean I could upload the same exact files, change my configure.php to 777 and then run the zc_install? after that it will install everything brand new and at the same time i will have all my design and stuff up there?

Assuming you've not installed any contributions which alter the database, etc, yes.

If you want an identical copy including all settings, customers, products, orders, etc, you will need to backup your old database, and import it into your new database.

ElBasha:

ohh, what about all the plugins I have added? all the page editing and stuff?

If you want an identical copy of all add-ons and customization that you have made then you are not trying to install a Clean Zen Cart but rather a clone so to speak of your existing site ...

In this case, you would want to either copy the directory from /happy to /sad via your Control Panel and then redo the 2 configuration files:
/sad/includes/configure.php
/sad/admin/includes/configure.php

If you want all of the database information as well, then you would need to export all of the database structure of the tables plus the data and import this into your new database that you made for /sad ...

Next, you would need to customize a few things in the Admin specific to the /sad vs /happy shops ...

Hi all just want to make sure I understand after going through most of the threads for setting multisite. I think the Copy and paste the zen cart to get two sites or three methods suites me most. I want to set for another two sites, site2 and site3, which will share the same templates as my site1. Only the products will be diffrent. All sites will share the same admin and log in for the customers.
When Obasan says

Ajeh:

1)In this case, you would want to either copy the directory from /happy to /sad via your Control Panel and then redo the 2 configuration files:
/sad/includes/configure.php
/sad/admin/includes/configure.php

2)If you want all of the database information as well, then you would need to export all of the database structure of the tables plus the data and import this into your new database that you made for /sad ...

3)Next, you would need to customize a few things in the Admin specific to the /sad vs /happy shops ...

Questions:
1)To redo the configure.php as in what to be amend?

2)For the export of the database, I will need to access to phpmyadmin to export and import the data?

3)What would I need to customize over at the admin?

Sorry that I have to make all things clear as I dont want to mess things up over my site1 which is already on 'live'. And I am no good on this. Your reply will be appreciated, Thanks.

The two configure.php files:
/includes/configure.php
/admin/includes/configure.php

will need the paths changed for the directories used ...

The database needs to be loaded into the new database for the new site ... it depends on the size if you can do this with phpMyAdmin with an export/imort or not ...

Once the new site is able to run with the new directory and database ... In the Admin, you will want to change emails and such as needed ... any paths in the Configuration ... Sessions ... and in the Configuration ... Logging ...

Then, you will need to customize anything else that you want different, just like setting up a new shop ...