====== Updating Your ProductCart Store ======

===== About updating your store =====

Updating your ProductCart-powered e-commerce store is different from updating a software application that runs on your desktop. For a variety of technical reasons, we cannot provide you an executable file that takes care of everything for you. Instead, we provide you with:

  * A set of updated files
  * A database update script (when the database needs to be updated)
  * Detailed instructions on which steps you need to take

It's crucial that you take time to **carefully read the update/upgrade instructions**, and that you first of all protect yourself against the possibility of something going wrong by backing-up your store before starting the update process.

  * [[how_to_backup|How to back-up your store]]
  * [[how_to_update|How we do it at Early Impact]]

===== Update & Upgrade instructions =====

==== ProductCart v4 ====

  * [[updates:v4.1|ProductCart v4.1 Update]] \\ New, official release, made available on 07.20.2010.
  * [[http://www.earlyimpact.com/productcart/support/|Latest fixes]] \\ We posted a few, individual fixes to the "Just In" section of the Support area. All of them will be consolidated into a ProductCart v4.1 update to be released in the summer of 2010.
  * [[updates:v4_patchopc|v4 Patch #4 (One Page Checkout Patch)]] \\ A maintenance update made available on 04.21.10. It addresses a few issues and introduces some new features.
  * [[:updates:v4_patch3|v4 Patch #3]] \\ A cumulative maintenance update made available on 12.05.09. Includes the previous 2 patches. Since this update patches some security issues, it should be applied as soon as possible.
  * [[:updates:v4_patch2|v4 Patch #2]] \\ A maintenance release made available on 11.09.09.
  * [[:updates:v4_patch1|v4 Patch #1]] \\ A maintenance release made available on 11.03.09.
  * [[v4|v4 Upgrade]] \\ Your ProductCart license must be eligible for upgrades in order for your to download the v4 Upgrade. To make your license eligible, purchase the [[http://www.earlyimpact.com/eistore/productcart/pc/ProductCart-Technical-Support-Updates-Plan-124p463.htm|ProductCart Technical Support & Software Updates Plan]]. The v4 is free under the plan.

==== ProductCart v3 ====

  * [[v3.51_Patch|ProductCart v3.51 Patch]] \\ The **v3.51 Patch** is a small maintenance update. You don't need it if you installed ProductCart v3.51 or updated to ProductCart v3.51 after 02.27.09. Check the file that you downloaded and look at the date that is part of the *.zip file name: if the file name includes "022709", then that file already includes the 3.51 Patch.
  * [[v3.51|ProductCart v3.51 Update]]
  * [[v3.5|ProductCart v3.5 Update]]

===== How to find ProductCart software updates =====

Where and how do you find software updates for ProductCart?

  * **Official releases** (i.e. version changing releases) -> Click on "Help > Check for Updates" in your ProductCart Control Panel
  * **Patches** (i.e. smaller updates, in-between releases) -> They are listed here and in the [[http://www.earlyimpact.com/productcart/support/|ProductCart Support Center]]
  * **Individual bug fixes** (i.e. targeting a specific, recently discovered bug) -> They are listed in the "Just In" section of the [[http://www.earlyimpact.com/productcart/support/|ProductCart Support Center]]

Official releases include all patches and individual bug fixes that were released since the previous, official release. For example, version 4.1 - when available in 2010 - will include everything that was released since version 4.0 was initially made available.