Upgrading AWBS

AWBS Upgrades must be performed with each version in order of version release. View the Change Log for version release order.

Always download the upgrade zip and read the docs/readmexx file prior to doing anything. Each version has it's own instructions and any details on new setting changes, etc.

As a general rule, upgrades go like this:

• Make a full file backup of your site (All AWBS files)
• Get the correct download zip where you purchased AWBS. (Requires active support contract)
• Read the docs/readmexx (xx = your AWBS version upgrade)
• Prepare custom files if necessary
• Put your AWBS site into maintenance mode
• Make a db backup
• Upload all new files with paths in binary mode, overwriting existing files
• Make configuration changes if applicable as per the readme for that version
• Turn off maintenance mode

Preparing custom files

If you have any custom files, new changes will have to be merged to your custom work. We recommend Beyond Compare, however there are several other softwares that will perform a file comparison function as well. Customized templates and langauge files are most common, but be sure you are aware of all custom files you have before you start your upgrade. Compare your current files to new files in the upgrade zip for changes. Add your custom code to the new files prior to uploading, making sure not to miss any new code we have added/changed. New langauge is almost always added at the bottom of the language files to make for each file comparing while upgrading.

Upgrade zips come with the business theme new templates. If you use coolblue, bare, or techy themes, get your new template files from the theme upgrade zips. If you have made a custom theme, use the business templates to upgrade your theme. It is important to upgrade your templates, we only make template changes when required to accomplish functionality of a new feature or fix. When preparing your upload, rename the business directory to your theme name or remove it if you use one of our other themes. Do this so your new templates will be uploaded to the correct theme directory and you won't have any other partial themes on your server.

Put your site into maintenance mode

Login to your AWBS site as super admin. Click on the Configuration button at the top, then click on System Options link. There you'll find 'Close system and activate maintenance mode:', set that to True, Edit the text for maintenance mode as desired and click the Save Changes button at the bottom of that page.

Make a db backup

In AWBS

Always make an AWBS database backup prior to uploading any files and/or running the AWBS updater script. Always do this after placing your site into maintenance mode to ensure no new data is entered after your backup is taken. From the AWBS admin home page, click the link in the Quick Alerts box that says 'Backup DB'. You will be taken to the Database Backup page. Click the 'Backup Now' button. Depending upon your database size, there may be a short wait, then your browser will pop up a form giving you the choice to open the file or save to disk. Select save to disk and click OK. Choose a secure location on your pc and click the save button. Wait until the backup has completed before continuing with the upgrade.

Note: This link only works in non secure connections, so if your AWBS is installed using only https, you'll need to use phpmyadmin to backup your database.

In phpmyadmin

In phpmyadmin, enter your database as per your control panel link or via the url your server admin has given you for phpmyadmin access to your database. While in view of your AWBS database table list in the right pane, click the 'Export' button at the top. Click the Select All link in the Export box, check the Save as file checkbox and click the Go button. Depending upon your database size, there may be a short wait, then your browser will pop up a form giving you the choice to open the file or save to disk. Select save to disk and click OK. Choose a secure location on your pc and click the save button. Wait until the backup has completed before continuing with the upgrade.

Uploading files

Use an FTP client that works with binary mode. AWBS files cannot be published with FrontPage or Dreamweaver programs. We recommend Total Commander, set php file types to forced binary mode and upload the prepared files overwriting all existing files. It is important your file structure is the same as the download zip had them and that you upload with paths so that you get all files into their correct location on your AWBS web space. Make sure your target directory for the upload is correct so your files do not get uploaded to the wrong location. Use ftp access that is for the same server user that owns your AWBS site account. For example; files owned by root on a cpanel server usually will cause 500 errors. All files should be 644 and directories should be 755 on most linux servers.

After the upgrade

After an upgrade, be sure you verify there are no errors in your php error_log in the next few days. Watch your emails to the admin copy-to received from the updateexp.php and invoice_cron.php runs to make sure all is running well. (You should be checking these daily anyway :-)