Difference between revisions of "Manifest files"

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m (→‎Update of the SQL schema: still trying to find the issue)
(→‎Language files: Attempted to make clearer how to include language files without using the deprecated <language> tag.)
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{{incomplete}}
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{{RightTOC}}{{version|2.5,3.x}}
{{RightTOC}}
 
 
==Introduction==
 
==Introduction==
Within Joomla there are manifest files for all of the extensions. These files include the general installation information as well as parameters for the configuration of the [[extension]] itself. Since Joomla! 1.6 {{JVer|1.6}}, there are very few differences between the manifest file formats for the different [[Extension types (technical definitions)|types of extensions]], allowing each type to access the full power of the Joomla! installer.
+
Within Joomla there are manifest files for all of the extensions. These files include the general installation information as well as parameters for the configuration of the [[extension]] itself. Since Joomla! 2.5 {{JVer|2.5}}, there are very few differences between the manifest file formats for the different [[Extension types (technical definitions)|types of extensions]], allowing each type to access the full power of the Joomla! installer.
  
 
==Naming conventions==
 
==Naming conventions==
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| The group name specifies for which group of plugins the new plugin is available. The existing groups are the folder names within the directory <tt>/plugins</tt>. The installer will create new folder names for group names that do not exist yet.
 
| The group name specifies for which group of plugins the new plugin is available. The existing groups are the folder names within the directory <tt>/plugins</tt>. The installer will create new folder names for group names that do not exist yet.
 
|}
 
|}
 +
  
 
=== Metadata ===
 
=== Metadata ===
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The following elements can be used to insert metadata. None of these elements are required; if they are present, they must be a child of the root element.
 
The following elements can be used to insert metadata. None of these elements are required; if they are present, they must be a child of the root element.
  
* <code><name></code> &ndash; raw component name (e.g. <code>com_banners</code>)
+
<pre>
* <code><author></code> &ndash; author's name (e.g. <code>Joomla! Project</code>)
+
<name> &ndash; raw component name (e.g. com_banners).
* <code><creationDate></code> &ndash; date of creation or release (e.g. <code>April 2006</code>)
+
<author> &ndash; author's name (e.g. Joomla! Project)
* <code><copyright></code> &ndash; a copyright statement (e.g. <code>(C) 2005 - 2011 Open Source Matters. All rights reserved.</code>)
+
<creationDate> &ndash; date of creation or release (e.g. April 2006)
* <code><license></code> &ndash; a license statement (e.g. <code>NU General Public License version 2 or later; see LICENSE.txt</code>)
+
<copyright> &ndash; a copyright statement (e.g. (C) 2005 - 2011 Open Source Matters. All rights reserved.)
* <code><authorEmail></code> &ndash; author's email address (e.g. <code><nowiki>admin@joomla.org</nowiki></code>)
+
<license> &ndash; a license statement (e.g. NU General Public License version 2 or later; see LICENSE.txt)
* <code><authorUrl></code> &ndash; URL to the author's website (e.g. <code><nowiki>www.joomla.org</nowiki></code>)
+
<authorEmail> &ndash; author's email address (e.g. admin@joomla.org)
* <code><version></code> &ndash; the version number of the extension (e.g. <code>1.6.0</code>)
+
<authorUrl> &ndash; URL to the author's website (e.g. www.joomla.org)
* <code><description></code> &ndash; the description of the component. This is a translatable field. (e.g. <code>COM_BANNERS_XML_DESCRIPTION</code>)
+
<version> &ndash; the version number of the extension (e.g. 1.6.0)
 +
<description> &ndash; the description of the component. This is a translatable field. (e.g. COM_BANNERS_XML_DESCRIPTION)
 +
</pre>
 +
 
 +
Note: The <name> and <description> tags are also translatable fields so that the name and description of the extension can be shown to the user in their native language.
  
 
=== Front-end files ===
 
=== Front-end files ===
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</source>
 
</source>
  
Please note that the language string must be enclosed in double quotes, as per Joomla!'s translation standards. Important note: Joomla! 1.6 and later sorts the Component menu items based on the actual translation of the key you supply in your XML manifest. This means that the sorting order is correct no matter what you call your translation key and no matter which language the site is being displayed in. Essentially, Joomla! 1.6 fixed the wrong sorting of the Components menu for the majority (non-English speaking!) of Joomla! users experienced under Joomla! 1.5.
+
Please note that the language string must be enclosed in double quotes, as per Joomla!'s translation standards. Important note: Joomla! 1.6 and later sorts the Component menu items based on the actual translation of the key you supply in your XML manifest. This means that the sorting order is correct no matter what you call your translation key and no matter which language the site is being displayed in. Essentially, Joomla! 1.6 fixed the wrong sorting of the Components menu experienced under Joomla! 1.5 for the majority (non-English speaking!) of Joomla! users.
  
 
{{Needsinfo|In Platform 11.1 no alt attribute processed and if link provide in menu tag other provided attributes were ignore. The other tags are task, view, controller, act, layout, sub. Please confirm this, please.}}
 
{{Needsinfo|In Platform 11.1 no alt attribute processed and if link provide in menu tag other provided attributes were ignore. The other tags are task, view, controller, act, layout, sub. Please confirm this, please.}}
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</source>
 
</source>
  
In above example, we put sql files in "admin/sql" folder of installation package. You have to include "sql" folder in administration files.
+
In the above example, we put the SQL files in the "admin/sql" folder of the installation package. You have to include the "sql" folder in the administration files.
  
You can execute SQL during installation and/or uninstallation using the <code><install></code> and <code><uninstall></code> elements, respectively. An <code><sql></code> element should appear as a child of these elements. <code><sql></code> can contain any number of <code><file></code> elements, each defining a single SQL file to execute. Their database driver types are described by the <code>driver</code> attribute, their character sets by the <code>charset</code> attribute.
+
You can execute SQL during the installation and/or uninstallation using the <code><install></code> and <code><uninstall></code> elements, respectively. A <code><sql></code> element should appear as a child of these elements. <code><sql></code> can contain any number of <code><file></code> elements, each defining a single SQL file to execute. Their database driver types are described by the <code>driver</code> attribute, their character sets by the <code>charset</code> attribute.
  
 
==== Update of the SQL schema ====
 
==== Update of the SQL schema ====
  
<syntaxhighlight lang="xml">
+
<source lang="xml">
 
<update>
 
<update>
 
<schemas>
 
<schemas>
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</schemas>
 
</schemas>
 
</update>
 
</update>
</syntaxhighlight>
+
</source>
  
Since 1.6, there is also an <code><update></code> tag, which allows to provide a series of SQL files to update the current schema.
+
Since 1.6, there is also an <code><update></code> tag, which allows you to provide a series of SQL files to update the current schema.
  
 
=== Language files ===
 
=== Language files ===
In Joomla! 1.5, we put extension language files in Joomla! main language file, using <languages>..</languages> tag as shown below. '''This tag considered to be deprecated since Joomla! 1.6.''' We encourage you to put extension 's language files in extension folder and Joomla! is responsible for loading of required language files.
+
In Joomla! 1.5, we put extension language files in the Joomla! main language file, using the <languages>..</languages> tag as shown below. '''This tag is considered to be deprecated since Joomla! 1.6.''' We encourage you to put extension 's language files in the extension folder and Joomla! is responsible for the loading of required language files.
  
<syntaxhighlight lang="xml">
+
<source lang="xml">
 
<!-- Joomla! 1.5 language tag, deprecated since Joomla! 1.6 -->
 
<!-- Joomla! 1.5 language tag, deprecated since Joomla! 1.6 -->
 
<languages folder="langfiles">
 
<languages folder="langfiles">
 
<language tag="en-GB">en-GB.com_example.ini</language>
 
<language tag="en-GB">en-GB.com_example.ini</language>
 
</languages>
 
</languages>
</syntaxhighlight>
+
</source>
 +
 
 +
By storing extension language files in the extension folder, you gain benefits when removing a language from the Joomla! installation: As your language files will not be removed, when reinstall the language again you can use those files without installing them again.
  
Storing extension language files in extension folder, you gain benefit when removing some language from Joomla! installation. As your language files were not removed, when reinstall the language again you can use that files without install them again.
+
The structure of the language folder for frontend and backend is the same. You put them in the language tag (e.g. '''en-GB''' ) of each language in your language folder i.e. '''language/en-GB/'''. You have to specify those folders in the front-end and back-end files too.
  
The structure of language folder for frontend and backend is the same. You put them in <language> tag of your folder e.g. language/en-GB/. You have to specify these folders in front-end and back-end files too.
+
In your manifest you simply include the ''''language'''' folder in your files section, the sub-directories for each language automatically be copied. Inside the <files> group you simply add a <folder> element alongside the items in the '''<files>''' group as shown in this example:
  
During development you can turn on language debuggin in Joomla! global configuration. So you can investigate if the problems exists.
+
<source lang="xml">
 +
<files>
 +
<filename plugin="alpha">alpha.php</filename>
 +
<folder>sql</folder>
 +
<folder>language</folder>
 +
</files>
 +
</source>
 +
 
 +
 
 +
During development you can turn on language debugging in the Joomla! global configuration. So you can investigate if the problems arise.
  
 
=== Script file ===
 
=== Script file ===
  
<syntaxhighlight lang="xml">
+
<source lang="xml">
 
     <scriptfile>example.script.php</scriptfile>
 
     <scriptfile>example.script.php</scriptfile>
</syntaxhighlight>
+
</source>
  
 
An optional '''script file''' (PHP code that is run before, during and/or after installation, uninstallation and upgrading) can be defined using a <code><scriptfile></code> element. This file should contain a class named "<element_name>IntallerScript" where <element_name> is the name of your extension (e.g. com_componentname, mod_modulename, etc.). Plugins requires to state the group (e.g. plgsystempluginname). The structure of the class is as follows:
 
An optional '''script file''' (PHP code that is run before, during and/or after installation, uninstallation and upgrading) can be defined using a <code><scriptfile></code> element. This file should contain a class named "<element_name>IntallerScript" where <element_name> is the name of your extension (e.g. com_componentname, mod_modulename, etc.). Plugins requires to state the group (e.g. plgsystempluginname). The structure of the class is as follows:
  
<syntaxhighlight lang="php">
+
<source lang="php">
  
 
class com_componentnameInstallerScript
 
class com_componentnameInstallerScript
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* @param  JAdapterInstance  $adapter  The object responsible for running this script
 
* @param  JAdapterInstance  $adapter  The object responsible for running this script
 
*/
 
*/
public function __constructor(JAdapterInstance $adapter);
+
public function __construct(JAdapterInstance $adapter);
 
 
 
/**
 
/**
 
* Called before any type of action
 
* Called before any type of action
 
*
 
*
* @param  string  $route  Which action is happening (install|uninstall|discover_install)
+
* @param  string  $route  Which action is happening (install|uninstall|discover_install|update)
 
* @param  JAdapterInstance  $adapter  The object responsible for running this script
 
* @param  JAdapterInstance  $adapter  The object responsible for running this script
 
*
 
*
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* Called after any type of action
 
* Called after any type of action
 
*
 
*
* @param  string  $route  Which action is happening (install|uninstall|discover_install)
+
* @param  string  $route  Which action is happening (install|uninstall|discover_install|update)
 
* @param  JAdapterInstance  $adapter  The object responsible for running this script
 
* @param  JAdapterInstance  $adapter  The object responsible for running this script
 
*
 
*
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}
 
}
  
</syntaxhighlight>
+
</source>
  
 
=== Update servers ===
 
=== Update servers ===
  
<syntaxhighlight lang="xml">
+
<source lang="xml">
 
     <updateservers>
 
     <updateservers>
 
         <server type="extension" priority="1" name="Extension Update Site">http://example.com/extension.xml</server>
 
         <server type="extension" priority="1" name="Extension Update Site">http://example.com/extension.xml</server>
 
         <server type="collection" priority="2" name="Collection Update Site">http://example.com/collection.xml</server>
 
         <server type="collection" priority="2" name="Collection Update Site">http://example.com/collection.xml</server>
 
     </updateservers>
 
     </updateservers>
</syntaxhighlight>
+
</source>
  
 
Update servers can be defined in the <code><updateservers></code> element, a child of the root. This element may contain one or more <code><server></code> element, each describing a location to fetch updates from. Each <code><server></code> item can define the following attributes:
 
Update servers can be defined in the <code><updateservers></code> element, a child of the root. This element may contain one or more <code><server></code> element, each describing a location to fetch updates from. Each <code><server></code> item can define the following attributes:
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| name || ''string'' || The name of the update server
 
| name || ''string'' || The name of the update server
 
|}
 
|}
 +
 +
More info:
 +
* [[J2.5:Developing a MVC Component/Adding an update server|Building a Joomla! Extension - Adding an update server]]
 +
* [[J2.5:Managing Component Updates|Managing Component Updates in Joomla 2.5]]
  
 
== Examples ==
 
== Examples ==

Revision as of 18:55, 10 November 2013

Introduction[edit]

Within Joomla there are manifest files for all of the extensions. These files include the general installation information as well as parameters for the configuration of the extension itself. Since Joomla! 2.5 Joomla 2.5, there are very few differences between the manifest file formats for the different types of extensions, allowing each type to access the full power of the Joomla! installer.

Naming conventions[edit]

The file must be named manifest.xml or <extension_name>.xml and located in the root directory of the installation package.

Syntax[edit]

Root element[edit]

The primary tag of the installation file is:

<extension></extension>

This starting and closing tags are now valid for all extensions. The new tag <extension> replaces the old <install></install> from Joomla Joomla 1.5. The following attributes are allowed within the tag:

Attribute Values Applicable to Description
type component
file
language
library
module
package
plugin
template
All extensions This attribute describes the type of the extension for the installer. Based on this type further requirements to sub-tags apply.
version 2.5
3.0
All extensions String that identifies the version of Joomla for which this extension is developed.
method install
upgrade
All extensions The default value install will be also used if the method attribute is not used. The install value means the installer will gracefully stop if it finds any existing file/folder of the new extension.
client site
administrator
Modules The client attribute allows you to specify for which application client the new module is available.
group string Plugins The group name specifies for which group of plugins the new plugin is available. The existing groups are the folder names within the directory /plugins. The installer will create new folder names for group names that do not exist yet.


Metadata[edit]

The following elements can be used to insert metadata. None of these elements are required; if they are present, they must be a child of the root element.

<name> – raw component name (e.g. com_banners). 
<author> – author's name (e.g. Joomla! Project)
<creationDate> – date of creation or release (e.g. April 2006)
<copyright> – a copyright statement (e.g. (C) 2005 - 2011 Open Source Matters. All rights reserved.)
<license> – a license statement (e.g. NU General Public License version 2 or later; see LICENSE.txt)
<authorEmail> – author's email address (e.g. admin@joomla.org)
<authorUrl> – URL to the author's website (e.g. www.joomla.org)
<version> – the version number of the extension (e.g. 1.6.0)
<description> – the description of the component. This is a translatable field. (e.g. COM_BANNERS_XML_DESCRIPTION)

Note: The <name> and <description> tags are also translatable fields so that the name and description of the extension can be shown to the user in their native language.

Front-end files[edit]

	<files folder="from-folder">
		<filename>example.php</filename>
		<folder>examples</folder>
	</files>

Files to copy to the front-end directory should be placed in the <files> element. You can use the optional folder attribute to specify a directory in the ZIP package to copy from. Each file to copy must be represented by a <filename> element. If you want to copy an entire folder at once, you can define it as a <folder>.

Media files[edit]

	<media folder="media" destination="com_example">
		<filename>com_example_logo.png</filename>
		<folder>css</folder>
		<folder>js</folder>
	</media>

This example will copy the file(s) (/media/com_example_logo.png) and folders ( /media/css/ and /media/js/ ) listed to /media/com_example/, creating the com_example folder if required. You can use the optional folder attribute to specify a directory in the ZIP package to copy from (in this case, media).

Extensions should be storing assets they need to be web accessible (JS, CSS, images etc) in media. Amongst other things this feature was added as step in the progression to multi-site support and the eventual move of code files (PHP) out of the web accessible areas of the server.

Ref:

Administration section[edit]

	<administration>
		<!-- various elements -->
	</administration>

The administration section is defined in the <administration> element. Since only components apply to both the site and the administrator, only component manifests can include this element.

Back-end files[edit]

Files to copy to the back-end directory should be placed in the <files> element under the <administration>. You can use the optional folder attribute to specify a directory in the ZIP package to copy from. See Front-end files for further rules.

Menu links and submenus[edit]

	<menu>COM_EXAMPLE</menu>
	<submenu>
		<menu link="anoption=avalue">COM_EXAMPLE_SUBMENU_ANOPTION</menu>
		<menu view="viewname">COM_EXAMPLE_SUBMENU_VIEWNAME</menu>
	</submenu>

The text for the main menu item for the component is defined in the <menu> item, a child of <administration>. A <submenu> element may also be present (also a child of <administration>), which may contain more menu items defined by <menu>.

Additionally, each <menu> item can define the following attributes:

Attribute Description
link A link to send the user to when the menu item is clicked
img The (relative) path to an image (16x16 pixels) to appear beside the menu item.

Must be an url compatible as a file too (e.g. no spaces) !

alt
string An URL parameter to add to the link. For example, <menu view="cpanel">COM_EXAMPLE</menu> in com_example's XML manifest would cause the URL of the menu item to be index.php?option=com_example&view=cpanel.

The value inside the tag is the menu's label. Unlike Joomla! 1.5, you can not use a natural language string. For example, if you would enter "Example Component" instead of COM_EXAMPLE, it would result in your component name appearing as example-component in the menu and you would be unable to provide a translation. In order to provide a translation you need to create a file named en-GB.com_example.sys.ini in administrator/languages/en-GB (you can use the manifest's

Other languages:
Bahasa Indonesia • ‎Deutsch • ‎English • ‎Nederlands • ‎español • ‎français • ‎italiano • ‎中文(台灣)‎

tag as shown below. This tag is considered to be deprecated since Joomla! 1.6. We encourage you to put extension 's language files in the extension folder and Joomla! is responsible for the loading of required language files.

<!-- Joomla! 1.5 language tag, deprecated since Joomla! 1.6 -->
<languages folder="langfiles">
	<language tag="en-GB">en-GB.com_example.ini</language>
</languages>

By storing extension language files in the extension folder, you gain benefits when removing a language from the Joomla! installation: As your language files will not be removed, when reinstall the language again you can use those files without installing them again.

The structure of the language folder for frontend and backend is the same. You put them in the language tag (e.g. en-GB ) of each language in your language folder i.e. language/en-GB/. You have to specify those folders in the front-end and back-end files too.

In your manifest you simply include the 'language' folder in your files section, the sub-directories for each language automatically be copied. Inside the <files> group you simply add a <folder> element alongside the items in the <files> group as shown in this example:

<files>
	<filename plugin="alpha">alpha.php</filename>
	<folder>sql</folder>
	<folder>language</folder>
</files>


During development you can turn on language debugging in the Joomla! global configuration. So you can investigate if the problems arise.

Script file[edit]

    <scriptfile>example.script.php</scriptfile>

An optional script file (PHP code that is run before, during and/or after installation, uninstallation and upgrading) can be defined using a <scriptfile> element. This file should contain a class named "<element_name>IntallerScript" where <element_name> is the name of your extension (e.g. com_componentname, mod_modulename, etc.). Plugins requires to state the group (e.g. plgsystempluginname). The structure of the class is as follows:

class com_componentnameInstallerScript
{
	/**
	 * Constructor
	 *
	 * @param   JAdapterInstance  $adapter  The object responsible for running this script
	 */
	public function __construct(JAdapterInstance $adapter);
	
	/**
	 * Called before any type of action
	 *
	 * @param   string  $route  Which action is happening (install|uninstall|discover_install|update)
	 * @param   JAdapterInstance  $adapter  The object responsible for running this script
	 *
	 * @return  boolean  True on success
	 */
	public function preflight($route, JAdapterInstance $adapter);
	
	/**
	 * Called after any type of action
	 *
	 * @param   string  $route  Which action is happening (install|uninstall|discover_install|update)
	 * @param   JAdapterInstance  $adapter  The object responsible for running this script
	 *
	 * @return  boolean  True on success
	 */
	public function postflight($route, JAdapterInstance $adapter);
	
	/**
	 * Called on installation
	 *
	 * @param   JAdapterInstance  $adapter  The object responsible for running this script
	 *
	 * @return  boolean  True on success
	 */
	public function install(JAdapterInstance $adapter);
	
	/**
	 * Called on update
	 *
	 * @param   JAdapterInstance  $adapter  The object responsible for running this script
	 *
	 * @return  boolean  True on success
	 */
	public function update(JAdapterInstance $adapter);
	
	/**
	 * Called on uninstallation
	 *
	 * @param   JAdapterInstance  $adapter  The object responsible for running this script
	 */
	public function uninstall(JAdapterInstance $adapter);
}

Update servers[edit]

    <updateservers>
        <server type="extension" priority="1" name="Extension Update Site">http://example.com/extension.xml</server>
        <server type="collection" priority="2" name="Collection Update Site">http://example.com/collection.xml</server>
    </updateservers>

Update servers can be defined in the <updateservers> element, a child of the root. This element may contain one or more <server> element, each describing a location to fetch updates from. Each <server> item can define the following attributes:

Attribute Values Description
type extension
collection
The update server type
priority integer The priority of the update server
name string The name of the update server

More info:

Examples[edit]

For a real-life example, see the manifest of the Banner component in the latest version of Joomla! 2.5.

The Joomla testing process uses several extensions to test whether the installer works correctly. The latest versions of the manifests of these extensions are:

Contributors[edit]