Theme Upgrade On Live Installation

[Statuesque]

Firstly, sorry for any daft questions.

 

8 months ago I installed Presta shop and the default theme. I liked the clean look but can now see it's limits and do want to update the theme. 

 

As it's a live store I created a subdomain and installed a new prestashop for testing purposes. 

I was following an old guide that says I would make a copy of my live database etc and use that copy on the test store. It all makes sense logically so no issues with that, i'll work it out.

 

My question then is. Once I have everything running and set up correctly on the test version which is in a subdomain of the live store, how do I then make the test version the live version or rather I understand I need to copy things over to the live version but what exactly am I copying over please?

 

My concern is that orders will come in and so the live DB will be ever changing and the test version will have had changes made to it's DB due to new theme and changes to layout etc, how do I ultimately move the test DB over so the live store uses the copied test DB or the answer as obvious as simply keeping the live version in Maintenance mode while I do all of this. I would prefer to keep it live until the last moment so I can take my time on the Test version to set it all up and get it all working correctly.?

 

Can anyone advise on what I am copying from the test version to the live version and the same with the DB and tips in the best timings and processes on doing this.

 

The guide I followed so far stops really at copying the live db to test version.

 

https://www.prestashop.com/forums/topic/271082-upgrade-tips/

 

If anyone has any tips on themes and things to avoid that would also be useful. 

I quite like the look of this theme : http://themeforest.net/item/lilama-mega-shop-responsive-prestashop-theme/11662626?s_phrase=prestashop%20modules&s_rank=7

 

 

Cheers guys.

 

Again, sorry if the questions seem a bit dumb but don;t want to mess things up to be honest

 

 

[Statuesque]

I should maybe clarify as it might help to explain my troubles in working this out logically that rightly/wrongly I think the modules will also change the database itself ? if that is not the case and the database remains untouched by modules then that helps simplify the answer on when I /how I make the final DB move from test version to live version

[El Patron]

You are doing it the right way.

 

My idea for you is when new shop ready, copy the production shop (say to subdomain) and get it running there.  Then cut over your new shop (replace your prod).  Then add the orders since sync.  

 

You can also try exporting and then importing themes  from new to old...but I'd do that on a test copy first and I don't know how happy you will be with the results.

[Statuesque]

aah ok, thanks, yes that makes sense to only worry about orders since synch and add them manually. I was trying to work on how the heck I time it to copy over the database with all data etc.

 

I've installed PS on a sub domain so i'll get the live site folders copied over and the DB too and play around, I have a partial payment module that took about 2 months for the developer to get working correctly, hooked in to everything by the looks of things. It will of course break for sure doing this change so really not looking forward to this at all.

 

Seems strange this is not a common question really. Is it not normal to want to update the theme ever ?

Edited November 29, 2015 by Statuesque (see edit history)