Database-Only Upgrade Instructions

Warning!

This is not the standard upgrade procedure. It will DEFINITELY cause you to lose functionality associated with your older customizations and could break things as you will have configuration settings with no associated files (sideboxes, template, etc.).

Doing a database only upgrade might be appropriate in situations like this:

• you are coming from Zen Cart 1.5.4 or older version, and you don’t have time or budget for a proper upgrade.
• your hoster just updated PHP to a version which is not compatible with your older Zen Cart software.
• you have minimal customizations and your current template is not mobile compatible.

You will lose your customizations, but you won’t lose your data and you’ll be using the latest software, which is more secure.

You will be using the responsive_classic template initially. You can always add a new template later after your store is up and running.

Setup

1. CRITICAL: Back up your site
2. CRITICAL: Backup your database
3. Create a new directory called “test” and put the latest version of Zen Cart into it. We’ll call this your test site.
4. Then create a new database and load your old database in it
5. Do any database conversions necessary - only necessary if you have custom date fields
6. Next, change the two configure.php files to utilize the new directory and database This way … when you attempt to upgrade you are “practicing” to see where the problems, if any will happen
7. Run the installer at https://www.YOURSITE.com/zc_install
8. Choose the Upgrade option

Now you have an up to date copy of your database with an up to date copy of the Zen Cart files.

Copy from live site

1. Copy the /images folder from your live site onto your test site
2. Copy in any new images you created from your live site’s includes/templates/YOURTEMPLATE/images folder to the test site’s includes/templates/responsive_classic/images folder
3. Copy in any new images you created from your live site’s email folder to the test site’s email folder

Customization

1. Customize the following files, referring to your live site to see what needs to be changed:

• includes/languages/responsive_classic/english.php
• includes/languages/english/responsive_classic/email_extras.php
• admin/includes/languages/english/email_extras.php

Testing

1. Create a test order, take it all the way through to checkout success, then view the order in your test admin. Make sure everything is working as expected.

Updating PHP

• Update your PHP version if appropriate.

If you have a little more time …

It’s worth your while to switch from the Responsive Classic template to the Bootstrap template. It looks much better and it’s just a bit more work. Redo the customization step above for the storefront files:

• includes/languages/bootstrap/english.php
• includes/languages/english/bootstrap/email_extras.php