Where Can We Go From Version 4.3.9?

It's been a very long time since I have been on here...

First started with CS-Cart back in 2013 upgraded to V4.3.9 in 2016 then persevered with that since, as have made many mods that simply couldn't face re-doing / no time to progress from there...

What options are there to progress from V4.3.9 in terms of sticking with CS-Cart? And at lowest cost?

Our old version is now simply not cutting it on many mobiles etc. etc.

I have compared lots of other offerings over the years (as ever) and tbqh, even though I've had many a battle with this e-commerce platform, there are many aspects that other platforms simply do not have, rely too heavily on paid extensions/modules, or deal with in an overly complex/convoluted way.

Thoughts would be gratefully received...

I'm in exactly the same boat. We are starting the upgrade now. cs-cart evolved quite a lot and added stuff we added as add-ons, so we are trying a "clean" cs-cart version first and will then add the add-ons we need.

Hi @flow

I remember you from way back, good to see a friendly face... and thanks for reply.

Once again I find myself trawling through the current versions of usual (and other suspects) Opencart, Prestashop, Thirty Bees, Abante, CubeCart...

Hmmm... their main limitations for me, all centre around product options. CS-Cart, even old V4.3.9 product options just work; global and product specific.

I use a lot of zero price products where the options are the key to the customer building the product price, so have done a lot of modding to achieve this i.e hiding add to cart button, zero price display, price update as options selected etc.

I am so out of touch with the CS-Cart landscape now though, I do not even know what upgrade path is available. I have just dug out the original invoice from 2013 and it was $345 for CS-Cart Professional Edition! I upgraded to V4.3.9 in 2016

It all seems hellishly expensive now. What have you gone for in terms of the "clean" cs-cart version?

be careful if you are relying on product options with base zero prices, as of 4.10 ( I think) these were removed and replaced with "variations" and the variations dont multiply each option to gain quantity discounts across sizes/colours just yet.

Wilko,

I don't have answers for you but here is a question:

Can you upgrade the CS Cart software or do you have to export the database and redo your website?

I started with version 1 and every now and then I upgrade and sometimes I can't really upgrade my website instead I need to export my database and then redo everything...

More work but after I am done a better website.

Good luck!

This part caught my attention:

be careful if you are relying on product options with base zero prices, as of 4.10 ( I think) these were removed and replaced with "variations" and the variations dont multiply each option to gain quantity discounts across sizes/colours just yet.

I'll clarify: product options were not removed from CS-Cart; option combinations were. So, you can still create products with zero price and increase/decrease their price and weight with option modifiers.

Option combinations only allowed you to track inventory (how many products with specific sets of options you had in stock). Previously, they served for things like colors and sizes of T-shirts. But that is handled by variations now. Check out our video about variations on YouTube for more details.

Nowadays, there's a clear difference between options and features:

- Features are inherent, unremovable properties of a product (like color, size, etc.).

- Options are something that isn't a product on its own, but can be added to a product (like extended warranty, gift wrap, etc.).

---

As for the upgrade, I see 2 possible paths. Ideally, both of them involve a separate dev copy of your store: that way your main store can still work while you prepare to move between versions.

Way 1: Go from version to version, one upgrade at a time. The drawback is that the process can get quite long. But the advantage is that you keep everything that was configured, and we account for various changes in CS-Cart. For example, when option combinations were removed, we reflected that in the upgrade process and turned them into variations. I think our Customer Care specialists use this approach (yes, they can do the upgrade for you, minus adapting the custom code to work with the new version).

Way 2: Make a new installation of the latest version and import the data from your old store. The drawback is that you can't just put the old database into the new store, so you'll have to recreate and reconfigure some things. But the advantage is that you'll get to know the new functionality in the process. It can also be easier if there are a lot of versions to go through.

Speaking of new functionality, you can already try the latest versions of CS-Cart and Multi-Vendor at our demos. That way, you'll know for sure what you'll be getting out of the upgrade.

P.S. Also, feel free to [url=https://www.cs-cart.com/send-message.html]contact us[/url] for info about pricing, or if you want to have the upgrade done by our team, etc. Make sure to leave the email that you bought CS-Cart with. That way we'll have more context to offer the best terms and approach.

Hey Wilko,

Yeah it's tricky... I also tried some other systems, but just can't put myself to really diving in. And i'm a bit emotionally attached to cs-cart.. I know all the ins & outs and using promo's and stuff it just can do so much. We also use it for wholesale very effectively for example.

Concerning costs, I can still update my licenses for 185 USD. Did you try logging in here? https://helpdesk.cs-cart.com/index.php?dispatch=licenses.manage

I am also used to CS cart and I like some very simple things such as the way orders are organized.

If they could simply improve their customer service and listen to their customers and improve their communication skills the software would be great.

Also updates are free for early adapters which is nice.

be careful if you are relying on product options with base zero prices, as of 4.10 ( I think) these were removed and replaced with "variations" and the variations dont multiply each option to gain quantity discounts across sizes/colours just yet.

Thank you for that piece of information @johnbol1 - that could be a very relevant point!

Wilko,

I don't have answers for you but here is a question:

Can you upgrade the CS Cart software or do you have to export the database and redo your website?

I started with version 1 and every now and then I upgrade and sometimes I can't really upgrade my website instead I need to export my database and then redo everything...

More work but after I am done a better website.

Good luck!

Thank you @Traveler too many versions have passed to make it simple upgrade I'm afraid!

Thank you @ikoshkin for all your points and especially:

Way 1: Go from version to version, one upgrade at a time. The drawback is that the process can get quite long. But the advantage is that you keep everything that was configured, and we account for various changes in CS-Cart. For example, when option combinations were removed, we reflected that in the upgrade process and turned them into variations. I think our Customer Care specialists use this approach (yes, they can do the upgrade for you, minus adapting the custom code to work with the new version).
Way 2: Make a new installation of the latest version and import the data from your old store. The drawback is that you can't just put the old database into the new store, so you'll have to recreate and reconfigure some things. But the advantage is that you'll get to know the new functionality in the process. It can also be easier if there are a lot of versions to go through.

Hey Wilko,

Yeah it's tricky... I also tried some other systems, but just can't put myself to really diving in. And i'm a bit emotionally attached to cs-cart.. I know all the ins & outs and using promo's and stuff it just can do so much. We also use it for wholesale very effectively for example.

Concerning costs, I can still update my licenses for 185 USD. Did you try logging in here? https://helpdesk.cs-cart.com/index.php?dispatch=licenses.manage

@Flow, thanks! And yes, we do get very attached to systems that we've used for ages; like a comfortable pair of shoes...

I did get onto the helpdesk yesterday and I can update for a lot less than a new purchase :grin: 8)

good news to hear from the help desk, good luck

@ikoshkin thanks for claryfying the products options point I made.

There is a new free version of CS-Cart which might fit your needs if you're conscious of having to pay for a new license

https://www.cs-cart.com/compare-cs-cart-versions.html