Why is this important? If server updates go wonky or crash you still retain your information. You will have to do some copy and pasting to get it back, and some maneuvering to get your inventory back in place, but you won't be crying or giving up. You might well be cussing... but that is another story.
Back up your inventory:
This process will save your inventory.
Step # 1
From the dashboard, go to Catalog and select Import/Export
Step # 2
Click on the third tab called Bulk Export. Keep it set on the default of All Categories and click on Export.
Step # 3
The following box will pop up. You will want to save the file. Make sure the Save File button is selected and click ok. Make sure you know where your computer is going to save this file. You can also make a note of what the system is going to call your file. In my case, this file will be called bulkexport0.xml. Once you complete this saving process your inventory will be backed up.
Back up your order history:
This process will save your order history information to a text file.
Step # 1
From the dashboard select orders>export orders.
Step # 2
Click on the third tab called Export Orders. Enter in the range of data that you wish to back-up and click on the Export Orders button.
Step # 3
The following box will pop up. You will want to save the file. Make sure the Save File button is selected and click ok. Make sure you know where your computer is going to save this file. You can also make a note of what the system is going to call your file. In my case, this file will be called salesexport.txt. Once you complete this saving process your order history will be backed up for the period of time you selected.
Back up your Customized Theme:
This process will save your customized theme files to your computer in a zip file. This does all the files except for custom checkout. Instructions for saving custom checkout files will follow these instructions.
(Please note, if BTG Designs has installed your theme, you were emailed back-up files for your theme, your customized checkout, and your custom pages and images. If you should need these files again I can always email them to you. However, it is a good thing to know how to do a back-up in case you ever get excited enough to make changes, or I hit my head one too many times etc.)
Step # 1
From the dashboard select Appearance>Custom Templates.
Step # 2
Once you get to the Custom Templates page, click on the "Export your custom template" link.
Step # 3
The following box will pop up. You will want to save the file. Make sure the Save File button is selected and click ok. Make sure you know where your computer is going to save this file. You can also make a note of what the system is going to call your file. In my case, this file will be called template-btgdesigns-7-18-2009.zip. Once you complete this saving process your customized theme - outside of your customized checkout will be backed up.
Back up your customized checkout:
This process will save your customized checkout to your computer.
(Please note, if BTG Designs has installed your theme, you were emailed back-up files for your theme, your customized checkout, and your custom pages and images. If you should need these files again I can always email them to you. However, it is a good thing to know how to do a back-up in case you ever get excited enough to make changes, or I hit my head one too many times etc.)
Step # 1
While you are still in the Customized Themes area from the last section of this tutorial, click on the Checkout CSS tab.
Step # 2
Click inside the box with all the code. Hit control A on your keyboard. This will highlight all the code. Click on Control C - this will copy all your code.
Step # 3
Open up Notepad on your computer. You can find this application on any Windows machine by going to Start>All Programs>Accessories. Once you have a blank notepad open, click inside the box and click Control V to paste the code.
Step # 4
Save this file with your other backup documents. (If BTG Designs created your store for you, you will have a file called Checkout. It is a cascading style sheet type of document.) Click on File> Save As
Step # 5
The following box will pop up, maneuver to the spot on your computer where you save your files. Select checkout. (if someone else designed your theme, your file may be called something else. If you are not sure what it was called then name it checkout with the date and continue with this step.) Then at the bottom of the page, click on the line where it says "Save as type: .txt" and select "all files". Then hit the save button. Now your customized checkout has been saved.
Back up your customized pages:
This process will save your customized pages to your computer.
(Please note, if BTG Designs has installed your theme, you were emailed back-up files for your theme, your customized checkout, and your custom pages and images. If you should need these files again I can always email them to you. However, it is a good thing to know how to do a back-up in case you ever get excited enough to make changes, or I hit my head one too many times etc.)
Step # 1
From the dashboard select Appearance>Custom Pages.
Step # 2
You will notice the names of all your custom pages on the left hand side of the page.
Step # 3
Click on the name of the page that you wish to back-up. An Edit Custom Page box will pop-up.
Step # 4
Scroll down to the bottom of the page where the tabs are. Click on the <> button to get to the HTML code for your page.
Step # 5
You will use the same method to back up this file as you did with the customized checkout instructions above - except in this case, you will save it as a .txt file rather than all file types. Hit Control A to select all the HTML, hit control C to copy your HTML, open your Notepad document, click inside the box and hit control V to post to your code. Then save your notepad file as a .txt file and call it the name of your customized page. If you need to see more pictures to assist you with this process, see the section of this tutorial on saving your customized checkout.
Repeat this step for all your customized pages.
This concludes this tutorial
Disclaimer: BTG Designs is not affiliated with Buy It Sell It. The information you are being provided is based on the current abilities of the system and BTG Designs is not given privileged information concerning upcoming activities, releases, or events.
Copyright 2009 BTG Designs, All rights reserved.