Migrating Joomla 2.5 site to Joomla 3dart-creations.com /joomla/joomla-tutorials/migrating- joomla-25-site- to- joomla-3.html

This is a Practical Guide f or upgrading or rather migrating an existing Joomla 2.5 site to Joomla 3.x f orthose who want to upgrade to Joomla 3.x with it 's excit ing new f eatures! Going f rom Joomla 2.5 toJoomla 3.x is a small migration. It is not a simple upgrade! Visit www.dart-creations.com f or more JoomlaTutorials and Free Joomla Modules

Bef ore you do anything: BACKUP YOUR SITE!

Step 1: Check that your server supports the requirementsBef ore doing anything you have to clarif y that your hosting environment is suitable to host Joomla 3.x.The technical requirements are outlined clearly in this article on Joomla.org. Any good host is able to runJoomla 3.x. Nothing is special in the requirements, if your host cannot provide the correct environment tosupport Joomla 3.x, it would be a good idea to switch host :)

Step 2: Check all extensions compatibility with Joomla 3.x!Once again bef ore doing anything go and check all extensions (templates/components/plugin/modules)and make sure that any of these extensions are Joomla 3.x compatible (take notes the old-f ashionedway - on a piece of paper). You will need to change your Joomla 2.5 template with a Joomla 3.xcompatible template. In general you can check the Joomla Extensions Directory wheher an extension iscompatible with Joomla 3. You can also conf irm with the developer's website directly in case the JEDhasn't been updated yet.

Just look at this image to understand what it means: If it shows, as per this example of Mijoshop, youcan be assured that the extension is Joomla 3.x compatible an is available!

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If it only shows the 2.5 icon, the extension is not (yet) available f or Joomla 3.x! This means that you haveto wait or have to f ind an extension that IS available f or Joomla 3.x. This very much depends on howurgent your upgrade is and whether you are willing to change an extension which you know works well f oryou. You might have to do a bit of a compromise.

You'll have to do this exercise with ALL your extensions. Make a f ull inventory what is and what is NOTcompatible with Joomla 3.x. When you have completed this, you can proceed to the next step!

Step 3: Update all extensions compatibility with Joomla 3.x!This is a simple step! You just download and update all your extensions (not Joomla yet!) you have f oundto be compatible with Joomla 3.0 except your template (!) Only upgrade extensions that showcompatibility with Joomla 1.5/2.5/3/x or 2.5/3.x! Do NOT upgrade your Template at this stage! You do notneed to worry if you have no more Joomla- 'def ault templates' (Beez i.e) installed. Not relevant in upgradeprocess!

BACKUP YOUR SITE! and then go to the next step!

Step 4: Delete all extensions that are NOT compatible with Joomla 3.x!Go to your admin panel and very caref ully remove all extensions which are not compatible with Joomla3....Do do when you are f resh with a clear mind. Don't do this if you are tired! Go to Manage Extensions >and choose "components" : delete those components that are not compatible with Joomla 3. Do thesame f or modules and"plugins. Be caref ul and do not delete things you have not changed. Do not deleteany Joomla stuf f f or sure! Do NOT delete what you have already upgraded in step 3.

Step 5: Update Joomla 2.5 to Joomla 3Go to the component "Joomla Update" and select the global "options" icon (top right in your screen).Change the settings f rom Long Term Release (LTS) to STS and save. Now go back to Joomla update andyou will see that the 3.x version is available!! Click UPDATE and within seconds your site will be on Joomla3 :)

Step 6: Update your template and new extensionsNow is the time to upload your Joomla 3.x template, and conf igure it. Also do that f or extensions youhave replaced since they had no Joomla 3.x version (ref er to Step 2). BACKUP YOUR NEW JOOMLA 3.x SITE and revisit your content to make sure nothing crucial has brokenduring the migration process!

First published by Leo Lammerink at GWS-Desk.com Joomla Prof essional Support

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