Update problem - Unable to create sc_backup

[Friendly]

Hello,
I get this error:
Error: Unable to locate backup folder. Please create a folder called "sc_backup" ABOVE your web root folder, and set it's permissions to 777.

My problem is that I am unable to create this backup folder ABOVE my web root folder. I have tried this several ways, but I think my host doesn't allow this.

I have other ways of backing up my database.

The problem I have that I am unable to upload the new file.

Can I do this perhaps with my host's database admin tool?

Thanks for your help.

[Rich]

Can I do this perhaps with my host's database admin tool?Absolutely! The built-in database utility is there just for convenience. Any database utility can be used during the upgrade process.

[Friendly]

I use phpMyAdmin 2.6.1-pl3.

Is it simply a matter of importing the new .sql file?
I guess what I'd like to know is how does it know to only make changes, and not override the tables that are there already? :o

[Rich]

I use phpMyAdmin 2.6.1-pl3.That should work just fine for this.

Is it simply a matter of importing the new .sql file?Yes, that is correct.

I guess what I'd like to know is how does it know to only make changes, and not override the tables that are there already? :oThis is a tricky one to answer. Basically, it knows to only make changes because that's how the database update files that we provide were written.

Some tables will be overridden, depending on the version you're upgrading from, but this is by design. For instance, the Field_Definition table is dropped and recreated during most of the upgrades. Rest assured, however, that any data that should not be deleted (i,e, Products, Categories, etc.) will be untouched by the upgrade process. (This doesn't mean that you shouldn't make a backup first! :))

[Friendly]

Thanks.
I backed up my old db with phpMyAdmin.
Ran the upgrade sql file.
That was successful.

The problem I had after that was the old version in my Admin section.

So then I followed the file upgrades as per here (http://www.squirrelcart.com/help/1.5.0/?) and it's now showing the correct version, too.
:D