[wp-docs] Upgrade instructions too hard?

[Vogel, Andrew (vogelap)]

The upgrade documentation is fine, though it would be easier to have a
list of files that SHOULD be deleted (not just a list of those to KEEP).

It's kinda the upgrade PROCESS that's a pain. Deleting files is scary
for Joe User. It would be ideal if the files could just be overwritten.

Here's a plugin idea... a plugin that would take a snapshot of the
activation status of the plugins on the site, and then batch
activate/deactivate them. Read on...

I see it like this:
* User activates the "PLUGIN MANAGER" plugin.
* Within "PLUGIN MANAGER", user creates a 'snapshot' of currently-active
plugins.
* Within "PLUGIN MANAGER", user clicks a 'batch deactivate' button to
deactivate all plugins at once.
* User deactivates "PLUGIN MANAGER".
* User upgrades WordPress.
* User activates "PLUGIN MANAGER", clicks the 'batch activate' button
and viola! -- all previously-activated plugins are automagically
reactivated.
Easy, fast, and user-friendly.

-andrew vogel
Manager of Professional Programs
University of Cincinnati
College of Pharmacy 
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: wp-docs-bounces at lists.automattic.com 
> [mailto:wp-docs-bounces at lists.automattic.com] On Behalf Of Podz
> Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2006 9:24 AM
> To: WordPress Documentation
> Subject: Re: [wp-docs] Upgrade instructions too hard?
> 
> Michael E. Hancock wrote:
> > Interestingly, just after the 2.0 release, Mr. Sharma wrote 
> > http://codex.wordpress.org/User:Carthik/Five_Step_Upgrade that 
> > recommends deactivating plugins but overwriting files.
> > 
> > Can we come to a consensus about this (i.e. deactivating 
> plugins and 
> > deleting files)?
> > 
> 
> I don't see how it can happen.
> Deactivating and deleting takes longer but is reliable.
> Deactivating and overwriting does cause problems.
> 
> And deactivating plugins makes not a jot of difference unless 
> the actual function call is wrapped.
> 
> It's too big an issue now - so all instructions must take 
> into account the needs of the person. And bear in mind that 
> the people are more likely to be reading these things are the 
> ones that need to know the most and the most reliable. Step 
> 1-2-3 may not fit with the '5 minute install' but then people 
> have got nothing to lose there have they ?
> 
> In the end though, if WP could, after being uploaded, 
> deactivate everything, delete or at least checksum each new 
> file and rectify then, and then do something about plugin 
> code it would be approaching something close to the upgrade nirvana.
> 
> As it stands:
> Write one decent document and that helps far more people than 
> brief instructions and it also saves forum traffic. And it's 
> not exactly tricky to write.
> 
> P.
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