*Local Install*

I want to install the zen cart on my computer. I don't have any servers or anything, just my computer. Is that possible? If so, how?

You can, but only for testing purpose. You cant run a live site from your own server (because of the connection limit, unless you get a highspeed line from ISP)

I already have it installed on my host site but I want to also have a copy on my computer so that I can more easily modify my css and other site files. It's a little bit of a pain to make all changes while the site is live :(

You can google for xampp, which is a package including apache server, php, mysql, then you can install zencart on your own localhost (on your computer)

The XAMPP setup process is also documented in the e-Start Your Web Store With Zen Cart book :)

In the zc install doc is says to install to local host this will be http://localhost/{zen-cart-directory}/zc_install/
I am confused as to what exactly this is refering to. I have installed xampp and then I tried to open a browser like it says and open the zc install but it gives me an error saying...

"Error Object not Found"

Do I need to have the zen cart folder in a particular place in my computer like inside the xampp folder or something?

On page 46 of the eStart Your Web Store With Zen Cart manual, available in hardcopy or ebook form, it explains that you should put your Zen Cart files in the <xampp-home>/htdocs directory on your computer.

Thank you for your quick response. I apologize for the novice questions and appreciate your assistance.

Since I do not have a copy of the e-book is there other documentation on how to do this?

When it says http://localhost/{zen-cart-directory}/zc_install/ does the portion inside the perenthises refer to the local address of the zen cart folder or the folder one level up from the zc_install folder? And would I need to include the drive and all folders up to the zc_install.
(i.e. localhost/h:/biz/xampp/htdocs/zen_cart/zc_install)

oxymoronz:

Since I do not have a copy of the e-book is there other documentation on how to do this?

Someone wrote a guide for WAMP users, available in the downloads area:
http://www.zen-cart.com/index.php?main_page=product_contrib_info&products_id=586

There are other forum threads discussing XAMPP as well.

You'll likely find some information on the xampp.org website as well.

And/or get yourself a copy of the book -- it's not just an installation guide, it's the Zen Cart administrator's manual.

"localhost" means the "webserver on your computer" ... typically starting at C:\xampp\htdocs
So, if you have your Zen Cart files in xampp\htdocs, you use http://localhost
If you have your Zen Cart files in a subfolder named "zencart" ie: xampp\htdocs\zencart, then you use http://localhost/zencart

Also, you are referencing the "install.txt" file, but you may have missed the first two lines of the file which say:> THE FOLLOWING IS A VERY SIMPLIFIED INSTALLATION DOCUMENT.

WE SUGGEST YOU USE THE HTML VERSIONS IN THE /docs FOLDER FOR MORE DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS.The much more detailed /docs/1.readme_installation.html may be more helpful with many of your installation issues; although it doesn't address Xampp at all.

I have got zc working on my local server now. Is it possible to add new products and attributes to my offline store using xampp or do I have to go through the zen cart admin?

oxymoronz:

Is it possible to add new products and attributes to my offline store using xampp or do I have to go through the zen cart admin?

Xampp is only a tool to let you "run" a copy of Zen Cart on your home computer (rather than a publicly-accessible webserver).
To run Zen Cart on your home computer, you'll have to use it the same way you'd use the public site: via your browser.
To add products to your home computer's database, you'd use your admin area via your browser pointed at your Zen Cart install on your home computer ... ie: localhost/admin

Alright, thank you. I am now in the process of setting up the admin. It askes for a database name. Then it says that the database does not exist. Do I have to create a folder of that name in a particular place?

oxymoronz:

I have got zc working on my local server now.

oxymoronz:

I am now in the process of setting up the admin. It askes for a database name. Then it says that the database does not exist.

Huh?

You said "I have got zc working", but then you start talking about "setting up the admin" and "it asks for a database name" ... That doesn't make any sense.

What exactly did you mean by saying "I have got zc working on my local server now." ?????

I mean that I have installed xampp and I'm able to pull up my site on my local host without being online. After that I opened a browser window and called up localhost/.../admin. That then said it could not be found in that directory and had a link that said "click to install" which brought up the zc page with questions guiding me through the install.

Okay.

You do have to do an install in order to get Zen Cart running.
To do an install requires first unzipping the Zen Cart files to your htdocs folder.
Then you must create a database, a username, and password in your database engine.
Then you must do your Zen Cart install using zc_install.
These are the basic installation steps outlined in the 1.readme_installation.html file I mentioned earlier.

To create your database, you'll need to open http://localhost in your browser, and select phpMyAdmin, and create a database by typing a name into the "create database" field and submitting the form. Xampp already has a user named "root" and a blank password.

Then start the zc_install process. On the database screen, you have to enter "root" for the username, leave the password blank, enter the name of the database you just created in the "database name" field. All the other settings should be fine as-is.

After you've finished the install, you'll have a clean store. Then you can browse the store and the admin by using http://localhost and http://localhost/admin

I encourage you to get a copy of the book.

Okay... so let me slip in here and ask.... I have a "clean shop" set up... but I also have one online on my website... now I need to have a dev copy of the live database (someone else built it for me online and now I have to make changes myself)...

I copied the directory holding all the live code... I ftp-ed it down from my live site....

I then put it in the copied directory into my xampp directory:
C:\Program Files\xampp\htdocs\shop\includes\templates{MyCopiedLiveDir}

Now localhost\shop still does NOT display my copy of the live site... I have also changed the
configure.php
index.php
files but which one should I have changed? The copies in here?
C:\Program Files\xampp\htdocs\shop\includes

Please help. Last time I started dabbling I messed up my install for two days and had to reinstall xampp and MySQL.... once I get a local copy I'll be straight but until then I am too scared to experiment...

Oh, and I have bought the book but its been a week and it has yet to arrive so that will be here anyday now - hopefully - but help still urgently needed.

Awesome. Thanks for the help. Got it all runnin smooth now!