Joomla upgrade?

[Q]

Hey all,

The site of our group has been using Joomla! since 2007. We've installed 1.0.x at the time and given difficulties regarding the rather extensive process to migrate to 1.5, I've always put it on hold. Now, since July 2009 the 1.0 branch has reached End of Life (so no security updates have been released anymore since 1.0.15) and since Joomla! 1.6 is about to be released, I guess it's high time I should make the step.

Now, I've read many tutorials about this issue and all seem to be lacking at some point or another. So let me start with what I want to achieve:

- I use the Fantastico De Luxe script on the cpanel of my provider to manage my install and upgrade needs. It's an easy one-click solution that takes away a lot of work. All tutorials I've read so far though don't include the possibility that one might use this rather common script, so you end up doing everything manually and from that point on you can't get it signed up in the Fantastico scripts anymore (as far as I know). How to deal with this?
- I basically want to skip 1.5 altogether and jump directly to 1.6. I assume this will need a 1.0 -> 1.5 -> 1.6 double-migration, is that correct?
- I don't mind finding a new template as the current one we have looks a bit dated. Does anyone know great looking 1.6 templates?
- I also don't mind losing support for the addons I use, they are all fairly simple and one could find 1.5/1.6 equavalents for them easily. So, this leaves me with just migrating the content database, right?

Thanks :)

[Q]

No one? :(

[ellipsis]

I have no idea what you just said, the only revleftarian that i can think of would be melbecmi or whatever. He is a huge computer dude and knows about forum software.

[Martin Blank]

- I use the Fantastico De Luxe script on the cpanel of my provider to manage my install and upgrade needs. It's an easy one-click solution that takes away a lot of work. All tutorials I've read so far though don't include the possibility that one might use this rather common script, so you end up doing everything manually and from that point on you can't get it signed up in the Fantastico scripts anymore (as far as I know). How to deal with this?

AFAIK, Fantastico has a script for 1.5, but you would have to install the full CMS core package first, then upgrade to the latest version of the script. I am figuring that you have to do all the CMS software installation yourself (i.e., the host does not install for you). If so, then...


- I basically want to skip 1.5 altogether and jump directly to 1.6. I assume this will need a 1.0 -> 1.5 -> 1.6 double-migration, is that correct?

You will need to do a full install of the LSV (Last Stable Version) of Joomla (currently 1.5.18), unless you want to tiptoe through every upgrade that's been done since 1.0.x. That will be a pain in the ass and thoroughly time consuming, and will likely lose the functionality of all your templates, added modules and components, but that's what you get for procrastinating. ;) Seriously, though, once you've done a core update to 1.5.18, which you should do today, make sure the legacy mod is activated. That will let you know which of your 1.0.x extensions will continue to work and which won't.


- I don't mind finding a new template as the current one we have looks a bit dated. Does anyone know great looking 1.6 templates?

There are tons of websites offering free templates. If you remember where you got your current one, check there for an upgrade. There are also plenty of professional templates, mods and coms available through BitTorrent that are really nice.


- I also don't mind losing support for the addons I use, they are all fairly simple and one could find 1.5/1.6 equavalents for them easily. So, this leaves me with just migrating the content database, right?

For the most part, this should not be a big deal, as long as you have all the information you need to link the database to the upgraded CMS core: database name, database password, absolute path to the database, administrator name and administrator password. When you go into the upgraded core after installation, you'll have to enter all this information in order for the CMS to let you into the administration side of the site for the first time.

Good luck with it all! It's going to be a long day, but once it's done you'll be set for upgrading to 1.6 relatively painlessly.

[Q]

AFAIK, Fantastico has a script for 1.5, but you would have to install the full CMS core package first, then upgrade to the latest version of the script.
Yes, but how would you do that? I never saw that option before really.

[Martin Blank]

Yes, but how would you do that? I never saw that option before really.

You'll have to hard install (through FTP) the new CMS core first, get it linked to the database and then, once you're in the admin section, turn the Legacy on. Then go to Fantastico's website, download the latest script package and install it through Joomla's upload section. You should just be able to upload the ZIP file and Joomla will unpack and install it for you.

[Q]

Right, I made some headway so far :)


... Then go to Fantastico's website, download the latest script package and install it through Joomla's upload section. You should just be able to upload the ZIP file and Joomla will unpack and install it for you.

I can't seem to find the proper script and one must apparently pay for access to the scripts (I'm sure they're also available on bittorrent, but I need to know what it's called :p ).

[Martin Blank]

I can't seem to find the proper script and one must apparently pay for access to the scripts (I'm sure they're also available on bittorrent, but I need to know what it's called :p ).

As much as you might want to stick with FDL, you might have to settle for one of the open-source equivalents you can download directly from the Joomla Extensions site.