Best method of updating Prestashop without losing customizations?

[NewAtThis]

Hi, all.  I'm sure this has been asked before, but I couldn't quite find the answer I'm looking for.

 

I'm using Prestashop 1.6xxx (don't remember specific number).  My site is at imh.mythatsgood.com in case it matters.

 

I learned the hard way that updating Prestashop removes all my customizations to css and html.  I was able to revert back the previous version and get things fixed.  I was told at the time that the answer is just simply not to upgrade.  That's fine if you talking about 1.600 to 1.601, but my concern is what happens a year or two from now when my site is way out of date.  At some point, I might need to upgrade, so I want to be thinking about this now.

 

Is there a best way to upgrade and minimize damage to the site?  What method do the pros use?

 

Thank you!

[El Patron]

The best way is to 1) recreate your ps on localhost host/subdomain(is prod in root)/or another foldeer (if prod in folder)

 

here you can test different upgrade methods.

 

the key is 1) DO NOT UPDATE THE DEFAULT THEME, so then PS will not touch theme....

 

but doing this on copy to see results is best method.

[NemoPS]

Try cloning the default theme you modified, name it differently and add it to prestashop, it should work

[bellini13]

That's fine if you talking about 1.600 to 1.601, but my concern is what happens a year or two from now when my site is way out of date.  At some point, I might need to upgrade, so I want to be thinking about this now.

 

But that's the problem.  A year from now, or several versions of Prestashop from now, your theme will likely not work properly.  So doing a minor version upgrade would be fine to save off your default theme and then re-install it, as the theme likely has not changed.

 

However going from 1.6.0.1 to 1.6.0.14, and certainly going from 1.6.0.1 to a future 1.7.0 will likely have fixed and changed how themes function, so using your existing theme in the future would not be wise.

 

Your best course of action is to ALWAYS document changes that you have made.  Include the reason for the change so a year from now you remember WHY you did it.