Please... CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS on how to upgrade.

Yes, this is critical. All other carts I've dealt with include with the new release a readme that outlines
- new features
- changes/bug fixes
- upgrade process
 
The best ones only send you the files that you need to upgrade from the release you're on to the new release, and if there is a database change needed, an upgrade script to perform the needed structure changes for you.
 
Attention Viart team, this is very important!

Hello to everybody,
 
To update your shop to the latest version please do the below steps:
- make a backup of all files in your current version
- make a dump of your current database
- download a new version either from http://www.viart.com/php_shopping_cart_free_evaluation_download.html or from your user's area
- unzip the archive with the new version and replace your old files with the new ones (except the ones you've modified, e.g. templates, styles, images).
- Copy the var_definition file from your backup 'includes' folder and paste it in the 'includes' folder of your new version
- Go to your Administration panel ('Administration > System > System Upgrade') and click the Upgrade Database button
- Your shop is now updated to the latest verison.
 
You can find more information in our online manual:
http://www.viart.com/php_shopping_cart_backing_up.html
http://www.viart.com/ecommerce_system_upgrading.html
 
Should you encounter any problems, please contact our support team via https://www.viart.com/support.php
 
With kind regards,
ViArt Team

With regard to the includes folder do the new files need to be ftp'd in binary mode again or is that only applicable when installing for the first time and not for any upgrades
 
Please advise,
 
Cheers,
 
Dave

I've always FTP'd ALL of my files and everything worked fine without an issue.
 
What I have done in the past however, is re-name my root folder (usually public_html) and create a new root and then use the auto-upload script on the download page to reinstall. Any customizations I then re-store and then do the upgrade procedure.
 
That's just me personally. usually the upgrade then takes a max of like 5-10 minutes.
 
Hope it helps

Hi Dan,
 
So you download the latest upgrade. Unzip it then paste all the new db's over all the ones in your old version.
 
So if you rename your public_html file to say "backup" then create a new empty public_html the auto upload finds it and fills it with new version?
 
Also can we use the mysql dump to restore from the admin/system/dbmanagement -apply dump. Does this restore our working stuff/databases?
 
Got a real fear of crashing my shop. Is there any way testing before doing it on "live" one. Ie on our hard drive? cheers Colin

Testing I'm not sure of where, but that's how I do it. You will need to re-copy your vars-def.php file and any other modified files in your inlcludes folder back over, but other than that... it works for me.
 
All I do is ftp into my server. I rename the 'public_html' file to say 'backup##-##-##' and then create a new folder named 'public_html' and then run the auto upload script on the viart site. I don't download the zip file, but if you want to you certainly can.
 
This has worked for me fine. I'm not sure how many customizations you have, but not really that many for me, just my css templates and images that go to it and a few files that I've changed like the messages file.
 
It's really simple and only takes me about 10-15 minutes total.

I have never had problems with upgrading before -- this time it's really not working.
 
I tried the auto-upgrader first, then a manual. Both resulted in the following message:
 
Notice: Use of undefined constant BLOCK_DOENT_EXIST_MSG - assumed 'BLOCK_DOENT_EXIST_MSG' in ../public_html/includes/template.php on line 226
BLOCK_DOENT_EXIST_MSGmenu_shop

It looks like some FTP permissions got in the way. Cleared out admin , includes directories did upgrade and now it's fine.

I am still debating upgrading from 3.1.1 and when I read this it makes me more nervous
 
http://www.viart.com/problem_with_worldpay.html
 
then I see this - http://www.viart.com/problem_upgrading_3_2_to_3_5.html.
 
Ok how many out there have had any problems with Worldpay etc after upgrading?

because it wasn't completed yet, that's why. I did get those but that's because it hadn't completed. Don't stop and restart unless you received email notification that the upgrade process has completed