What?
This is an article to demo the crudest form which uses Joomla's version 2.5 core mootools (uncompressed?). This is intended for absolute novices (like me) who just want to see an example of an AJAX form within Joomla 1.6.x - 2.5.x in it's most basic state. At time of print, I am using this with Joomla 2.5.6.

Why?
The examples of the official site (mootools.net) did not work in my Joomla environment nor did most people's examples across the web. All I wanted was a basic example to show me how to send a form asynchronously (ie. running in the background without loading a new page).

APPLIES TO Joomla 2.5.x

Why?
I'm building a Joomla component which is to be compatible with Joomla versions 1.6.x to 2.5.x. Because I use dynamic scripts running in the background (mootools), some of these need to connect to the database but as they sit outside of the MVC structure, we need them to use the existing configuration file in order to retrieve the credentials (ie. username, password, database, etc.). For obvious reasons, these cannot be hardcoded.

What?
Trying to make a component and can't remember how to store HTML code when the save command is clicked (ie. submitted from a PHP form). This is for the Opensource Content Management System (CMS - phew what a mouthful) Joomla! version 1.6.x to 2.5.x; no wonder customers have difficulty following.

How?
So it's the field on the XML file /models/forms/whatever.xml which needs the filter=raw attribute, for example:

<field name="item_desc" type="editor" filter="raw" rows="15" cols="40" default="" />

Other searches:

• Stripping HTML from my joomla 2.5 component
• Leave my HTML alone for admins
• field types for Joomla 1.6

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Thought I'd add the migration script I've been using to test my JComments migration from my Joomla CMS site version 1.5.20 to Joomla CMS site version 2.5.6.

DISCLAIMER

1. I do not work for either Joomla or JoomlaTune (Jcomments)
2. This script is provided as is without warranty
3. If you do not understand what this script is doing, let someone who does run it instead

INSTALL INSTRUCTIONS

1. Install JComments on your upgraded website (at time of print: Jcomments v2.3.0 on Joomla v2.5.4)
2. Copy the below script to a text file
   1. Change the database names to match your setup
   2. Change the table name prefixes to match your setup
3. Run the modified SQL script against your database.

Note: It is not advisable to run this on a production website!

Quick Fix
Check that this error isn't resolved by just changing the Mailer (Joomla > Global Configuration > Mailer settings). Alternate between PHPmail and sendmail just to check this isn't the problem. If the problem is still there then check the below:

Tried both PHPmail and sendmail
So if this happens irrespective of whether I have PHP mail or sendmail set as the Mailer.

Notice
Could not execute: /usr/sbin/sendmail
Warning
Registration failed: An error was encountered while sending the registration email. A message has been sent to the administrator of this site.

Check you can send email from that server

ERROR:
Message not sent. Server replied:
Connection refused
111 Can't open SMTP stream.

One common problem people have is an incorrectly setup mail system. Here is a list of rules that must be followed:

So there is other documentation out there. I'm basing most of this article on the official Joomla 1.6 documentation: http://docs.joomla.org/Creating_a_profile_plugin and I want to use an example that worked for me. Important: This is for Joomla version 1.6.x+.

Aim / Objective

1. Add a field with a dropdown list.
2. Add a button to upload an avatar (and sync with 3rd party avatar).

Not riveting stuff but something that all my clients want. Fortunately for me, I just created one plugin which I can install on any number of Joomla 1.6 sites and it does all this for me... Neat huh?

Folder
I'm going to shove all these files into a folder which I will then compress and install using the Joomla! CMS Extension Manager.

I'm going to call the folder "profile5" (without the double-quotes) and create a subfolder called "profiles".

So I should end up with the following file/directory structure:

     ./profile5
     ./profile5/profiles

Also copy one of those handy blank "index.html" files into each of these folders in case "directory listing" gets enabled on your server.I'm going to refer to the files to create as being in this folder.

Update June 2013 - How to use this migration script:

1. Make a backup copy of your old Joomla website (1.5.x)
   
   
2. Download and install the latest Joomla CMS
   • Go through the Joomla Web-based Installation GUI until the process deletes the Installation folder.
   • Avoid installing Sample Data if possible (there will be some but this script has been reworked to potentially accommodate).
   
   
3. Download my migration script
   • Decide on which script to use:
     1. If you have a small site (less than 10'000 articles), then you will use the single script "migrate_j15_to_j25_new_v1_8.sql"
     2. For larger sites (~200'000 articles), then you will need to use the 3-part script "migrate_j15_to_j25_new_v1_6_pt1.sql", "migrate_j15_to_j25_new_v1_6_pt2.sql", "migrate_j15_to_j25_new_v1_6_pt3.sql". Part 2 is dedicated to content migration, the commands are split to do about 5000 articles on each iteration so as to avoid session timeouts and memory issues.
   • Edit the script, renaming the database and table names used (DO NOT CONFUSE THE FOLLOWING DATABASE NAMES OR YOU WILL END UP WITH NEITHER SITE WORKING!!!)
     1. Open the SQL file in your favorite text-editor
     2. Rename any instance of "my_old_database.jos_" to the name of your old Joomla 1.5 database or a copy of (note the "jos_" prefix to all J15 tables, if you have changed this then reflect this in the SQL file).
     3. Rename any instance of "my_new_database" to the name of your new Joomla 3.0 database (don't change the table prefix for the new Joomla and instead do this as the next step).
     4. Rename any instance of "my_new_database.my_prefix_" to the name of your new Joomla 3.0 database (note that we're reflecting the prefix to use but also the database name - by this step, "my_new_database" should have been renamed).
     5. Save the SQL file, this is now unique to your website and this process. It does not contain usernames or passwords but has the real database names and all website content, so do not redistribute without taking security measures.
   
   
4. Run the SQL against your new database
   • Open your favorite database management tool (phpMyAdmin, workBench, navicat, sqlyog?) and connect to the new database.
   • This script will use both databases, reading from the old Joomla database and writing to the new one.
   • To run this script, your user needs SELECT, INSERT and UPDATE privileges on the new database (only SELECT on the old database will do). Special care has been made to avoid the use of functions, stored procedures, temporary tables, etc. This allows broader compatibility and customers who do not have DBAs to run this themselves. Personally I grant the user who will be executing the script full privileges or at least the same as needed to install Joomla CMS.
   • Cross your fingers and use your DB management tool to run the SQL file (or copy the contents of the SQL file into the input field)
   
   
5. Re-build/Auto-correct some Joomla inconsistencies
   • Login to your Joomla Admin Panel using a System Administrator account ("Super User"?)
   • Go to Categories > click on the "REBUILD" icon (top right)
   • Go to Menus > click on the "REBUILD" icon (top right)
   
   
6. Check your Joomla Admin User
   • Each new Joomla version is trying a different method making this very diffcult to maintain. Check that the "super administrators" for Joomla 1.5 are in your new Joomla site (as "Super Users").
   • Check that the system administrator for the new Joomla site (created on installation) is still a "Super User" (e-mail address, receives sys emails) and note their ID (identifier number).
   • See if elements created on install show as created by the admin user and not by one of your users who coincidentally has the same identifier.
   • Check that your OddUser (will be last user listed in users table) can login and their respective articles are still attributed to them.
   
   
7. Prepare for Go Live
   • This migration script is not a silver bullet. It was created to take away the hours I know I would spend without it.
   • This is not an upgrade; it is likely that your client may reconsider the template they are using or may want to add new 3rd-party components.
   • If asked: "how long will it take", do not say 5 minutes. This script runs on average in 15 seconds. The remaining hours, days, weeks will be spent on bringing your website up to standard with all issues addressed and sporting the latest version of the Joomla CMS!

UPDATE 2012 - Valid for Joomla 2.5.x but only experimental for Joomla 3.0.x!
I still do not recommend using this for your site if you have no test environment, however... I have used this script continuously to migrate J1.5.x websites to J2.5.x without issue. I have managed to do whole migrations in under 2 hours (this script runs in about 20 seconds based on 1000 articles and 5000 users) and my clients are satisfied! I am so pleased I made this script; it has saved me so much time!

What does this do?
After many tweaks and corrections having upgraded multiple sites in the past few years with this script, the version below migrates the following:

• Articles
• Banners
• Categories & Sections
• Menus ^{* NEW}
• Messages
• Newsfeeds
• Users ^{* UPDATED}
• Weblinks

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So this is fun. We've waited and waited and Joomla 1.6 is now stable... Exciting because this is not a simple 1.5.21 to 1.5.22 upgrade. But don't believe the drama across the web, the system introduces only a few new fundamental improvements (particularly Access Control and Groups) which actually only means some minor database alterations.

I've googled, yahood and binged, but still can't find a good way to upgrade my site from Joomla version 1.5 to 1.6 so as usual I find myself writing the first migration script. Why use a script? Well apps like jUpgrade didn't work for me. This is how to manually migrate using a MySQL database management tool like PhpMyAdmin. I'm not too bothered about upgrading my own personal site (Joomla 1.5), it's just the silly number of client websites I have to upgrade.

This I find a lot simpler, my day job involves working with SQL so this script was rather basic and quick to write. You have two databases, one with your Joomla 1.5 old content, and one following a fresh install of the latest Joomla (at time of last print: 2.5.6 - preferably no sample data pre-installed). Change the database names in this script (including the new random prefix for J2.5) and run it. 20 seconds later your Joomla 1.6-2.5.x website will have all your J1.5 articles and users...

DISCLAIMER:

This is to help ME migrate Joomla 1.5 sites to Joomla 1.6 automatically. I have also been using this happily for Joomla 2.5.x websites and more recently for an experimental Joomla 3.0.x website.

• I do not work for Joomla!
• This script is for my own use.
• Joomla! are in no way liable for this script.
• You can copy this script as long as you specify a link to its source.
• You can use this script as long as you don't hold me responsible for the results.
• If you don't understand what this script is doing, you shouldn't be running it. Please ask someone who does.

Well this isn't a problem for those that don't use RokDownloads. The other day, I logged in to upload some new files and manage some of my downloadable files... Only to find that the Rokdownloads manager would not list any of my files!?!

I am in the middle of writing a component that will hopefully comprise bug-tracking and download management all in one.

Until then, I thought I'd STFW (google) this issue and post a solution considering that even RocketTheme don't want to share this solution unless we continue to pay for the subscription. Understandable to some extent, greedy in another.

So far the solution has been to open this with Internet Explorer with a cleared-cache. A little annoying in view how much I hate Internet Explorer and it's various versions which only work with particular systems... Do not uninstall/install other modules/components as I believe this is some issue with overloading or with the actual code and you can get to this file manager to work without changing your Joomla! setup.

Watch this space for when I find a definitive answer!

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