We have compiled a list of the bug & security fixes you should be concerned with fixing on your 1.3.8 Zen Cart and those that are conditional, either by reported error or need. Please note that you should be subscribed to the Zen Cart 1.3.8 Bug Fixes thread & the Zen Cart Releases & Announcements thread for security and release patches & updates.
Many shop owners who ship to the US have additional expenses to ship to non-continental US areas… Like Hawaii & Alaska for example. Your Zen Cart has extremely robust shipping ability and can handle this no problem. The tutorial below will show you how to setup zone for Continental US and NON-Continental US shipping… Plus a quick added trick to speed the process for you as well.
On 6/21/2009 the Zen Cart development team posted the following security vulnerability patch. (Security Patch)
There is a very well hidden opportunity for reducing your Paypal processing rate that can save you a lot of money in Paypal fees if you are processing more that $3,000 a month. For those of you using Zen Cart and PayPal exclusively, this can really be a money saver. PayPal calls this Merchant Rate pricing and they are not trying to tell you about it. This rate reduction is pretty well hidden and you must initiate it on this page at Paypal (must be logged into Paypal). The process is pretty self explanatory, but again PayPal is NOT going to offer this to you…. YOU must initiate it to save the money.
If you are using your EZ pages built in to Zen Cart, then you already know these are nice easy tools for creating static pages, except that they lack the cool Meta tools you have on your products and categories. Well, this function is not missing… It just hard coded.
Find includes/languages/english/YOUR-TEMPLATE/meta_tags.php
Video Tutorial – Zen Cart Installation
Previous to the current 1.3.8a users were advised against using Fantastico to install your Zen Cart, however, Fantastico has made great effort to update this and currently it is safe to use Fantastico to install 1.3.8a. The video below will walk you through a standard (non-Fantastico) installation of Zen Cart.
Video Tutorial to Install your Zen Cart Template
The following video is a video representation of the normal steps for installing a Zen Cart standard template in to your Zen Cart installation. Note that for operational stores you are advised to use a development installation for new templating. Always backup before beginning any Zen Cart installation and remember that some modules and other customizations existing in your old template will need to be ported in to the new template files before they will work.
How to move your Zen Cart installation
1. Your Zen Cart files must physically be moved to the new folder or hosting account location.
HTML clipboard Google’s new friend connect gives you access to very beginner level installation of some very handy gadgets. Most handy for many Zen Cart users is the gadget to all reviews. Zen Cart reviews has always been for products only, there are some issues with the flexibility and presentation for some… But this new gadget will give you a fast and easy review gadget for Zen Cart. Installation instructions are found here and the whole thing should take a beginner 25 minutes or so to complete!
