Here's the skinny on upgrading Dada Mail -
There's:
This is the group of files that's most likely located in your cgi-bin, it has a directory structure like this:
cgi-bin (directory)
- dada (directory, _lower_ case)
- mail.cgi
- DADA (directory, UPPER case)
- App (directory)
- Config.pm
- etc, etc, etc
This is the actual program of Dada Mail. When upgrading, you basically replace these files, with the new version of Dada Mail, and configure it the same - if you understand that, that's all there is to upgrading. If you're a little shaky, read on for more information.
This is the group of files that represent your various lists. Hopefully, they are not located in the cgi-bin, nor are they anywhere in (somewhere) the actual program files of Dada Mail.
Usually, they are in the directory you specified in the Config.pm's variable, $FILES.
In an upgrade, these files do not go anywhere - they stay put. Since everything that makes a list a list is included in these files (the list settings, the list archives, the list subscribers, etc), upgrading Dada Mail won't erase your lists settings, archives, subscriptions, etc.
Things change between versions. Before even beginning to upgrade, make sure that you understand the changes in the program and how they may affect your current installation.
The changelog is located here:
If you are upgrading from Dada Mail 3.x to Dada Mail 4.x also see:
Before you begin anything, back up both The Program Itself and The List Files) locations. You never know. You can backup the files by making a copy of them on your server, downloading the files onto your desktop computer, etc. Doesn't matter, but always have a reliable backup.
Remember, Dada Mail, "The Program" - this is the, "dada" directory (and it's contents) that's usually located in your cgi-bin. To do an upgrade, we need this out of the way.
This is what I do:
After I make a backup (see Step 1), I simply rename this directory on the server from:
dada
to something like:
dada-backup
Pretty simple and straightforward, no? If I want to get really fancy, I rename it the version of Dada Mail it was, ala:
dada-3_0_5
This move is more important than you might think - it keeps a backup that is known to work handy, it also makes sure that we're not overwriting the old files, with new files. It works like insurance: the new version doesn't work for some reason? Rename the new copy something like, "dada-new_but_busted" and move the old version back to just, "dada".
From then on, you can just follow the instructions for an installation of Dada Mail:
http://dadamailproject.com/installation/
Download Dada Mail, upload the new, "dada" directory, tweak the Config.pm file, chmod 755 the mail.cgi script, etc. Takes but a few minutes (mostly waiting for the file upload to complete) and you are done, you have an upgraded version of Dada Mail and you are pretty happy.
One thing that you want to make sure of, is when you are configuring the new copy of Dada Mail, that you set the Config.pm variables similar to what the old copy of Dada Mail had. I say, "similar", since some of these variables do change between versions - but this is what the, "NOTES" and changelog are for.
One thing that will most likely be the same, is what the, $FILES variable is set to. If this is set to the same thing between your old copy of Dada Mail and your new copy of Dada Mail, your already created lists will show up. If not, you'll get the, "Congratulations" screen and NO lists and you'll know you haven't done this step correctly.
If you are using any of the SQL backends, make sure the appropriate SQL variables in the Config.pm are configured the same as before.
If you previously did an, "Advanced" installation, ala:
http://dadamailproject.com/purchase/sample_chapter-dada_mail_setup.html
You'll most likely only want to change the, $PROGRAM_CONFIG_FILE_DIR variable, and perhaps the, $PROGRAM_ERROR_LOG variable in the Config.pm file.
If you did this type of install before, this should all make sense.
And, that's it.