Updates are released for many reasons.
The update could be to add new features and functions and/ or to fix any issues that cropped up from the last update and/ or to make various performance and visual improvements.

There are two methods to update your site.
Which method you use will depend on how customized your site is.

In other words...
If you have NOT made major changes to your site.................. use Method I
If you HAVE made major changes to many of the .tpl files...... use Method II

Question 1:
Does the UPDATE overwrite my custom code in templates, php and sql files?

Answer 1:
No,  the UPGRADE wizard does not (when upgrading from personal to commercial license)
Yes, the UPDATE wizard does (when updating from an earlier program version)

Question 2:
OK so the update wizard will overwrite my custom code in the templates, php and sql files but I want to keep all my custom code. How do I do that?

Answer 2:
Use a file compare program such as Beyond Comapre or other compare program to compare and transfer your custom code from your old program version to the new program version.
(Note: how many files you compare will depend on how many files you modified)

Method I
1-Download the new version program files, templates, and language packs (if you have them installed ) from the download area.
2-Download the update file from the download area.
2a-Unzip all downloaded files to your local drive
3-Back-up your database and program files.
3a- Download / backup the contents of your 'media/uploads' folder
4-Take your site off line.

**Special Note***
Prior to uploading ALL the new program files, locate and delete the new config.php file located in your /includes/ folder of your newly downloaded and unzipped program files located on your local drive
     
This way you DO NOT replace or overwrite your current config.php file and you do not lose your original configuration data

5-Upload all your new program files, and the update.php files to your server.
6-Verify your file permissions.***
7-Delete the contents of your 'includes/cache' folder
8-Run the update wizard.
9-After your update is Done, delete the install.php and update.php files from your server. 
To leave them on the server presents a security risk

After you upload the update.php file which contains 2 update files to your site folder--->
type www.your_website.com/update.php in your browser address Bar.

This will automatically start the update wizard and the wizard will attempt to update your system.

PLEASE NOTE: Method I and Method II are identical except with Method II there is an added step of comparing and transferring your custom code changes.
 
Method II
1- Download the (new version) program files from the download area.
1a- Download the (new version) template files from the download area.
1b- Download the (new version) language packs from the download area.
1c- Download the (new version) extensions from the download area
2- Download the update file from the download area.
2a- Unzip all program files to your local Drive.
3- Download your live site program files and folders (old version) to you local drive.
3a- Back-up your database.
3b- Dowlnload/ backup the contents of your media/uploads' folder
4-Use a file compare program such as Beyond Comapre or other compare program to compare and transfer your custom code from your old program version to the new program version.
(Note: how many files you compare will depend on how many files you modified)
5-Take your site off line.

**Special Note***
Prior to uploading ALL the new program files, locate and delete the new config.php file located in your /includes/ folder of your newly downloaded and unzipped program files located on your local drive
     
This way you DO NOT replace or overwrite your current config.php file and you do not lose your original configuration data

6-Upload ALL the new program files (new version), to include  your compared custom coded files, template files, language packs, extensions (if you have them installed) and update.php files to your server.
7-Verify your file permissions.***
8-Delete the contents of your 'includes/cache' folder
9-Run the update wizard.
10-After your update is Done, delete the install.php and update.php files from your server. 
To leave them on the server presents a security risk

****Special Notes****
a- Backup your database before the update.
b- Download your live site program files before the update.
(If your site has hundreds or thousands of members you may not want to download the member content in the media/uploads folder). 
c- Download the new program version from the downloads area.
d- Download the new version templates from the downloads area.
If your site uses multiple templates, download  all templates (new version) you currently have on your site.  (new program version must use new template version)
e- Download the new version language pack(s) from the downloads area.
f- If your site uses multiple languages, download all language packs (new version) you currently have on your site. (new program version must use new language packs) 
g-Download the new version extension(s) from the downloads area. (new program version must use new extensions)
h- You may want to keep your own personal change-log so you know exactly which files you modified.
This way, when the next update is released, you know exactly where your customized files are and how many files you need to compare and transfer your custom code.   
i-When uploading program files, ensure to upload ALL the new program files and folders including the files you compared and transferred your custom code to. 
j- Do NOT replace config.php file in the /includes/ folder or you will lose your original configuration data. 
k- After the update is complete, delete the  update.php file from your server.  To leave them on the server presents a security risk.

***Verify your file permissions.***
Note: If you are hosted on a Windows server you will skip this step, but you should ensure that the files and directories are writable by vldPersonals. You may need to contact your Host or server admin for this.

If you are using a Unix server (or Unix variant, like Linux, OS X, FreeBSD, etc.) you must set the following files to 666:

     includes/config.php
     sitemap.xml

You must set the following directories to 777:

      includes/cache/
      includes/templates/tmp/
      templates/webby2/tmp
      templates/your_template/tmp/
      media/uploads/

One last thing...As a rule

Always, always, always, download and save a good (current up-to-date) working copy of your live site on your local drive. 
This way you always have a good working copy to revert to if something goes wrong with any mods and/ or changes you make.

Last edited by seeme101 (2010-08-07 16:53:35)