CE Phoenix Cart Forum

I want to know what would be the best way to update a heavily modified 1.0.7.18 site to current version. It's heavily modified because I didn't grasp the template system. I couldn't get any edits to work so I used original files instead.

My options are:

a) create a staging site then load all of the addons I plan to use. Then migrate the database.

b) Use the Phoenix update packages (if still available) and update one version at a time.

c) Use @zipurman's updater utility.

Has anyone updated from a similar situation? My biggest concern is that I use a URL rewriter and I don't want to get any urls de-indexed.

Thank you.

lecarlb wrote: ↑Fri Mar 01, 2024 3:41 am Has anyone updated from a similar situation?

Of course, each of your options will work for one scenario/person and not another.
We have used each of the options in different cases.
Recently did a 1.0.7.15 > 1.0.8.21.
The site had lots of addons/modifications and in this case we re-built using a new staging installation of latest version which is maybe your option (a).
Using your option (b) in this case might have caused simultaneous issues in multiple addons/modifications which we find a little overwhelming. Option (a) allows dealing with each issue if/when they occur when each addon/modification is installed/applied. Of course, some addons used had been updated so installation of the latest version caused no issues.
Cannot advise on URL re-writing, never used them.

I shared some thoughts about that here: viewtopic.php?p=10412#p10412

The first post argues the different paths of updating and why I did as I did.

//Daniel

Kofod95 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 01, 2024 7:15 am I shared some thoughts about that here: viewtopic.php?p=10412#p10412

The first post argues the different paths of updating and why I did as I did.

//Daniel

Considering the big jump I need to make I think a fresh start may be the best approach. That's about 24 versions to go through.

I'll have a chat with my host to see if he could set up a site for me to use. I'll do this the right way by using the override template so future updates would be easier.

How did you handle the URL rewriter to keep the same url structure so links won't lose ranking or getting de-indexed?

I prefer using XAMPP to create a local version on my PC where you can test everything first.
Re URL rewriter, I use app.php/addons/paid_addon/name_based_urls_pro it works perfectly on versions above 1.0.8.6 including info pages if you use them.

The amount of changes between 107.18 and 108.21 is enormous, see
https://github.com/CE-PhoenixCart/Phoen ... ..1.0.8.21

And with your core changes, it would be a *nightmare* to try to update.

These words doesn't particularly help you to make a decision, but maybe the best course of action is to simply update BITS of your 107.18 as and when you need to.

EG update the index_nested content module of your 107.18 to use "card component" (here I'm thinking about your recent questions re cards), obviously making a backup copy first so if it all goes wrong at least you can revert any files you break.

lecarlb wrote: ↑Fri Mar 01, 2024 9:14 am Considering the big jump I need to make I think a fresh start may be the best approach. That's about 24 versions to go through.

Yes, I went from a modded 1.0.4.0 to 1.0.8.20 and never regretted taking a fresh start. It gave me plenty of time to sort out hiccups and think about better ways to accomplish certain things.
A fresh start makes the size of the jump matter less.

lecarlb wrote: ↑Fri Mar 01, 2024 9:14 am I'll have a chat with my host to see if he could set up a site for me to use. I'll do this the right way by using the override template so future updates would be easier.

Personally, I like starting with XAMPP, but having a staging site is a nice thing, as it makes it possible to test with actual server configs. I would start with a local install. Collect and test the add-ons, write what you need to write yourself, and then upload it all to a staging site when done.

lecarlb wrote: ↑Fri Mar 01, 2024 9:14 am How did you handle the URL rewriter to keep the same url structure so links won't lose ranking or getting de-indexed?

I didn't - never used one. But Raiwas add-on seems to give enough options that you should be able to have the same URLs from that.

//Daniel

lecarlb wrote: ↑Fri Mar 01, 2024 3:41 am Has anyone updated from a similar situation? My biggest concern is that I use a URL rewriter and I don't want to get any urls de-indexed.
Thank you.

It depends which URL rewriter you are using in your actual store. If it is Chemos SEO URL 2.2 series, my Name Based URLs will produce exact the same as it is based on that.
If you are using ULTIMATE SEO URLS 5 series, the only difference, if your shop is multilange, will be the language versions if your actual URLs include /en, /de, /fr, /es in the URLs for the language variants. Then you can use a rewrite rule in .htaccess to redirect to the new URLs which will use language parameters like ?language=en.