J2.5:Updating from an existing version

The "J2.5" namespace is a namespace scheduled to be archived. This page contains information for a Joomla! version which is no longer supported. It exists only as a historical reference, it will not be improved and its content may be incomplete and/or contain broken links.

Overview

Starting with version 1.6, there are two recommended ways to update your Joomla website.

• Extension Manager: Update
• Extension Manager: Install

Each of these is discussed below. Note: To upgrade from version 1.6.x to Joomla 1.7 please follow this guide.

It is recommended that you back up your site before upgrading to a new version. That way, if something goes wrong during the upgrade process, you can easily restore your site to the earlier version. Also, it is a good idea to review the release notes for the new version to be familiar with what was changed.

Extension Manager: Update Method

Step 1: Make sure you have a current backup of your site

In many cases, your host will make periodic site backups.

Step 2: Find and install updates

1. In the back end of your Joomla site, navigate to Extensions → Extension Manager and open the Update tab.
2. Click on the Purge Cache icon to clear out the cache.
3. Click on the Find Updates icon in the toolbar. If there is an available update, the screen will list it, similar to the screen shown below.
   
   Note that available upgrades for extensions used in the site will also show in the list.
4. Select the update (using the checkbox) and click on the Update icon in the toolbar.
5. IMPORTANT: This process will take a few minutes. Wait until the process completes and the success message shows, similar to the screen shown below.
   
6. Congratulations! At this point, your site is updated. Check that your site is working correctly. If you have any questions before, during, or after the upgrade then please ask them on the Joomla! 1.6 Migrating and Upgrading Forum.

Extension Manager: Install Method

Step 1: Make sure you have a current backup of your site

In many cases, your host will make periodic site backups.

Step 2: Locate the update file

You need to locate the required archive file (for example, .zip, .tag.gz, or tar.bz2 archive) for your version. If you are updating to an x.0 release (for example, from 1.7.3 to 2.5.0), this will normally be a file like Joomla_2.5.0-Stable-Update_Package.zip. If you are updating within the same release series (for example, 2.5.0 to 2.5.1), then the file will be named something like Joomla_2.5.0_to_2.5.1-Stable-Patch_Package.zip.

At this point, you have three options:

1. Install from URL
2. Upload Package File
3. Install from Directory

Manual Unpack Archive Method

Step 1: Download the upgrade file

To download the most recent patch package and to obtain the MD5 hash:

• Proceed to the Joomla Download page.
• Click the "Download other Joomla 1.6.x packages" link
• Click the "Joomla1.6.XUpdates" link under the "Packages" heading to go to the detail page about the current package
• Click the "Files" tab to view the various patch files.
• Locate the row that matches your current installation version and patch package (zip, tar.gz and tar.bz2) that is most convenient for you.

If you have questions about these instructions, read the Additional Information below this table.

Additional information:

Step 2: Backup your site

Before you actually upgrade, you really should make a backup of your site. Backup your existing Joomla site files and store all the files and database in case something gets messed up, you wont have any problem reverting back.

All upgrades should be first tested on a copy of your site before being applied to a live site.

Step 3: Install the upgrade file

With the 1.7.0 to 1.7.1 upgrade, there are some database changes that need to be made.

If you use one of these manual methods to copy the files, you also need to manually update your site's database. To do so locate the six files beginning with 1.7.1 in the folder /administrator/components/com_admin/sql/updates/mysql.

Inside these files you will find parts like #__modules and #__categories. Replace the pound sign and the first underscore (#_) with your database tables prefix. By default this is jos. If you didn't get the prefix before starting, open your site's configuration.php and search for $dbprefix. The string inside the single quotes behind it is what you're looking for. So you need to change #__languages to jos_languages and so on.

Once you've done this go to your site's phpmyadmin (or any way you usually manage your database) and open the database your site uses. There will be a tab called SQL, open this. Paste the content of your modified sql files inside the text area and press go.

There are different ways of installing a package file depending on your particular circumstances. If you have difficulty with one of these methods, then simply try another.

• Alternative 1: Unpack the package file on your local computer then use an FTP client to upload them to your site.

• Alternative 2: Use an FTP client to upload the package to your site, then use a terminal session (eg. SSH) to connect to your site and unpack the files there.

• Alternative 3: If your hosting provider gives you access to your site via some sort of web control panel like CPanel or Plesk, you can use the control panel file manager to upload the package, then use a terminal session (which might also be available via the control panel) to unpack the package file and overwrite all changed files on the server.
  • If you are using CPanel, there is specific information on Uploading and extracting an archive file with CPanel.

Step 4: Check your live site to make sure it is working correctly

Don't assume that the upgrade will work flawlessly just because the test upgrade worked. Check to make sure that nothing untoward has happened. It could be that differences between the live site and test site platforms will bring out a problem that you did not notice during testing. If you find a problem and it cannot be resolved quickly you might have to rollback the upgrade using the backup copy you created in step 2.

Hopefully all will be well and you can relax. If you have any questions before, during, or after the upgrade then please ask them on the Joomla! 1.6 Migrating and Upgrading Forum.

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