Adding new store to exisiting website

[twirlerzmom]

I have recreated a new store to reflect a new, fresh look to an existing store. Because my existing store is live I thought it would be best to start from scratch and create a "test" store that reflects my changes. My problem is now how to convert the "test" store to be a "live" store and not lose existing customer information. I understand how to link the website to the new store but how do I keep the same customer base? I am using Netfirms and I noticed when they upgraded my c-panel now shows I have no databases in use. It says 0 out of 30 MySQL databases. It used to say 1 of 30. However I haven't lost any customer information and I can still retrieve order information just fine. So I have a few questions:

1. How do I find out what database is holding my customer information?

2. Why doesn't it show that I am using 1 database and shows 0 databases in use?

3. How do I make the switch from the "test" store and incorporate the "live" store customer information?

 

I appreciate any and all help you can give me as I must have the new store up and running by January 1.

 

Thank you!

[MaBiSmAd]

I have recreated a new store to reflect a new, fresh look to an existing store. Because my existing store is live I thought it would be best to start from scratch and create a "test" store that reflects my changes. My problem is now how to convert the "test" store to be a "live" store and not lose existing customer information. I understand how to link the website to the new store but how do I keep the same customer base? I am using Netfirms and I noticed when they upgraded my c-panel now shows I have no databases in use. It says 0 out of 30 MySQL databases. It used to say 1 of 30. However I haven't lost any customer information and I can still retrieve order information just fine. So I have a few questions:

1. How do I find out what database is holding my customer information?

2. Why doesn't it show that I am using 1 database and shows 0 databases in use?

3. How do I make the switch from the "test" store and incorporate the "live" store customer information?

 

I appreciate any and all help you can give me as I must have the new store up and running by January 1.

 

Thank you!

 

These should be fairly easy to answer -

 

1) Examine the ..\catalog\includes\configure.php file. There will be 4 lines near the bottom that have the mysql server host name or IP address, your database user name, database user password, and database name. Specifically these look like these -

 

  define('DB_SERVER', ''); // eg, localhost - should not be empty for productive servers
 define('DB_SERVER_USERNAME', '');
 define('DB_SERVER_PASSWORD', '');
 define('DB_DATABASE', 'osCommerce');

 

2) This is an issue you need to resolve with your hosting company.

 

3) You should be able to do this by putting the database information for your existing store (from the configure.php file) into your new store's configure.php files. Note: There are two configure.php files, the one in the catalog\includes\ and one in admin\includes\. Both of these configure.php files must be updated.

 

Before proceeding with any of these changes, I recommend making a backup of your existing database.

[twirlerzmom]

These should be fairly easy to answer -

 

1) Examine the ..\catalog\includes\configure.php file. There will be 4 lines near the bottom that have the mysql server host name or IP address, your database user name, database user password, and database name. Specifically these look like these -

 

  define('DB_SERVER', ''); // eg, localhost - should not be empty for productive servers
 define('DB_SERVER_USERNAME', '');
 define('DB_SERVER_PASSWORD', '');
 define('DB_DATABASE', 'osCommerce');

 

2) This is an issue you need to resolve with your hosting company.

 

3) You should be able to do this by putting the database information for your existing store (from the configure.php file) into your new store's configure.php files. Note: There are two configure.php files, the one in the catalog\includes\ and one in admin\includes\. Both of these configure.php files must be updated.

 

Before proceeding with any of these changes, I recommend making a backup of your existing database.

Thank you I will go look for these right now.

[twirlerzmom]

Thank you I will go look for these right now.

Ok, I did as you suggested. I found the necessary information but when I try to plug it into the catalog/includes/configure.php file I get this error:

ERROR(S):

 

configure.php: File saving failed.

 

Go Back

Any ideas?

[MaBiSmAd]

Ok, I did as you suggested. I found the necessary information but when I try to plug it into the catalog/includes/configure.php file I get this error:

ERROR(S):

 

configure.php: File saving failed.

 

Go Back

Any ideas?

 

How are you attempting to change and save this?

 

It appears that the file is read-only (as it normally should be) but depending on how you are making changes to it, you must temporarily make it writable.

[twirlerzmom]

How are you attempting to change and save this?

 

It appears that the file is read-only (as it normally should be) but depending on how you are making changes to it, you must temporarily make it writable.

Yes, you were right. The permissions were set to read only on both. I changed them to write and was able to change it. But now how do I know for absolute sure I have everything connected correctly without actually going live? Is there any way to test this to see if I have all my customers?

[MaBiSmAd]

Yes, you were right. The permissions were set to read only on both. I changed them to write and was able to change it. But now how do I know for absolute sure I have everything connected correctly without actually going live? Is there any way to test this to see if I have all my customers?

 

All of the catagory and product information as well as customers and past orders is stored in the database. You should be able to browse to your "test" store on the catalog and admin side and view this information.