Using ProductCart - I want to do a clean install of V4 & keep data

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I want to do a clean install of V4 & keep data

Printed From: ProductCart E-Commerce Solutions
Category: ProductCart
Forum Name: Using ProductCart
Forum Description: Running your store with ProductCart
URL: https://forum.productcart.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3706
Printed Date: 03-March-2025 at 5:30am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.04 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: I want to do a clean install of V4 & keep data

Posted By: caughlan
Subject: I want to do a clean install of V4 & keep data
Date Posted: 12-May-2010 at 4:12pm

Hi - I've been given the heads up by EI that if I do a fresh install of V4 on my current site that I would lose my old orders, products, etc. (I want to do a clean install because my V3 is so heavily modified I need to start fresh with all of the new features.)

Is this loss of data because of incompatible data field mapping? If I use the old database in my PC settings file would it not populate the appropriate fields?

If someone knows what I can do to make sure I don't lose data if I upload all new files i love to know!

thanks
stacelynn

Replies:

Posted By: Greg Dinger
Date Posted: 12-May-2010 at 4:46pm

stacelynn - the key here is to get all of the settings files which are mostly in the includes folder. (On edit: to clarify, the key is to avoid overwriting those settings files.)

If you were to follow this procedure I think you will be safe:

- Make a dev copy of your productcart folder.

- Run a normal upgrade from v3 to v4 against that dev folder. That will result in files being replaced in the includes, pc and pcadmin folders.

- Using a full distribution copy of PC, upload everything that belongs in PC and PCADMIN.

By doing this, you will have (a) correctly upgraded your store from v3 to v4, and I believe (b) you will have largely eliminated any possibility that even the files that are not replaced by v4 will have been overwritten with v4 versions in the 3rd step.

The alternative, and I have done this, requires you use something like total commander to compare your site to a stock copy of the code, then identify all of the files that have shipping settings, email settings, license key authentication and so on. That's harder and I do believe the above approach will be successful.

-------------
GreyBeard Design Group

Certified ProductCart Developer

Web Design/Development/Hosting

http://tinyurl.com/5c8t4t" rel="nofollow - Add-Ons & Custom Code |

Posted By: caughlan
Date Posted: 12-May-2010 at 4:54pm

Thanks Greg - I've had to develop a new site with stock V4 and it will have to replace the old site completely. For various reasons I won't get into here I couldn't go the upgrade and compare route that would have made my life easier - it ended up becoming horrifically time consuming.

I can easily identify files that have the settings you mentioned - but any idea what will happen to the info in my database and if it will populate the way I want it to? I'd hate to lose all of my previous orders, products etc.

Posted By: Greg Dinger
Date Posted: 12-May-2010 at 5:01pm

I'm not suggesting that you do the compare/merge strategy. I understand that would be a lot of work - been there, got the t-shirt.

You just do a normal upgrade as if you had no customizations whatsoever, then upload PC and PCADMIN folders from a full v4 download. It's a brute force means by which you retain your existing database, clobber all of your v3 modifications, and retain all settings.

Alternative is to literally open a scratch database, and have Mark Shipp migrate all of your data. My proposed approach avoids the need for this and should not take more than an hour or so depending on how long it takes you to create the dev folder and upload files.

-------------
GreyBeard Design Group

Certified ProductCart Developer

Web Design/Development/Hosting

http://tinyurl.com/5c8t4t" rel="nofollow - Add-Ons & Custom Code |

Posted By: caughlan
Date Posted: 12-May-2010 at 5:03pm

That makes sense, and is what I was hoping I could do - after I make thousands of backups ;)

Posted By: Greg Dinger
Date Posted: 12-May-2010 at 5:06pm

Using a dev copy of the store folder eliminates the concern for massive backups. Just do it on the side, out of public view, and you still have the live site to refer to as needed.

-------------
GreyBeard Design Group

Certified ProductCart Developer

Web Design/Development/Hosting

http://tinyurl.com/5c8t4t" rel="nofollow - Add-Ons & Custom Code |

Posted By: caughlan
Date Posted: 12-May-2010 at 5:07pm

that's what I'm doing - I'm just paranoid by nature and keep backups spread across the continent Wink