best practice on transfering shop

[maio]

since I started out my first presta-shop many versions have been released,

 

usually the best solution, for avoiding to get stuck while upgrading, is creating a test site where to try out the new version,

once you're ready then you'll transfer your new shop on live environment_

 

and so what's the best practice for transferring a shop ??

 

step 1. (getting ready - backing up everything...)

 

backup your database,

the database is where most of your site's information is stored (it's one of the most precious elements // you absolutely don't want to mess it up)

 

you can complete this step either using ssh-connection (with a tool such as putty or SSH-client) or using PHPmyadmin

 

with ssh connection

type in the following command

 mysqldump -p -u user-name database-name > db-backup-name.sql

this will prompt your database's user password and then you'll find your db-backup-name.sql in your server's root,

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with phpmadmin

 

1. got to the database you want to export,
2. use export in the menu
3. choose custom
4. select all tables
5. select structure+data
6. select "insert" function for dumping data

 

in either ways you should have copied the database

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after the database you should also backup your old  directory , just in case your transfer doesn't work,

 

 

step2. (importing database in  my sql)

 

now you have to import your new shop's database (that you have previously backed up) in mysql .

 

since I've had problems with phpimport-function i'll just describe the procedure with a SSH connection

(which is much more reliable..)

 

 

--with my-sql cpanel create a database (new_database_name)

 

then type in this command to import new database

mysql -p -u username new_database_name < backed-up-file.sql

I suggest you use your root user,

after this you'll assign this database to a specific user through mysql/cpanel

(it's better for security reasons)

 

 

step 3 (directory files)

 

copy your test-directory in order for it to become your live site,

(you've previously backed up the old site so it should be safe)

 

type this in shell

cp -a test/. live-site-dir/

you should have copied your test shop in live-shop position

 

step 4 (important)

 

before doing anything else

modify your setting.inc.php file (config folder) in order for it to point to new database

 

change:

define('_DB_NAME_', '.......');
define('_DB_USER_', '................');
define('_DB_PASSWD_', '.....................................');

at last ,with phpmyadmin, go to shop_url table and modify it to point to proper dir...

 

 

clearly after all these url-changes you need to regenerate htaccess,

(turn on/off freindly urls)

 

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that should be it,

let me know, best regards

Edited December 30, 2013 by maio (see edit history)