WordPress & Joomla Documentation - ThemeXpert

Version Information

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The problems happen when we use open source (OS) software. And of course, the OS software will be upgraded to a version in every so often.

Our discussion now about two points: adopt a "stable trunk" practice and do time-based releases.

Stable Trunk

In software version control parlance, the trunk (think tree) is the working code used for releasing versions of the program. Developers can create branches (copies of the trunk's code) to work on major changes, like adding a new feature. By working in a branch, a group of developers can make all the changes they like without affecting either the main program or other developers working in other branches. When a feature is tested and ready, the branch for that feature is merged back into trunk and becomes part of the next release.

Time-Based Release Cycle

With Joomla, we don't know who might work on something or how many hours or days they might have available, let alone when they might finish it. So it is impossible to accurately predict when new features will be ready for release. On the other hand, there are great benefits to the community to have a predictable release cycle. The PLT's solution was to release on a planned time schedule.

STS and LTS Releases

With this background in mind, let's look at the specifics of the current Joomla release cycle. In that same 2009 meeting, the PLT decided on an ambitious goal – to release a new Joomla version every six months. Why such frequent releases? One important consideration is to motivate developers. Volunteers who contribute code to the project want to see their code or feature get used. If the time between releases is too long, we lose this motivating factor. Releasing more frequently also makes it easier to keep up with versions of software that Joomla relies on – things like PHP, MySQL, and TinyMCE. All of these programs are under constant development and change, and we need to be able to keep pace.

The choice is entirely yours. The only condition is this: if you go with an STS release (say 3.0 or 3.1), you need to understand that these have a short lifespan and that you are in effect committing to updating every six months until you get to the next LTS release (for example, 3.5). At that point, you can decide whether to stay on the STS path (and go for 4.0 / 4.1 / 4.5) or switch to the LTS path (and wait for version 4.5).

Why did Joomla skip from version 1.7 to 2.5?

In a meeting on July 2011, the PLT decided it would make things simpler if all of the LTS releases were X.5 releases (1.5, 2.5, 3.5, and so on). To get on that plan, we could either (a) call the January 2012 release 1.8 as planned and start the X.5 numbering with version 2; or (b) we could skip from 1.7 to 2.5 and have 2.5 as the next LTS release. We decided to put this to a vote in the community and the community chose to do (b). So the January 2012 release was called 2.5 and is the current LTS release.

Introduction

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What is Joomla!

Joomla is a free and open source content management system (CMS). Joomla uses for publishing content on the World Wide Web. Joomla! is a tested, extensible and effective tool supported by a very easy and friendly community of developers and users.

Do you want to get started easily with Joomla!, but you have no good idea about Jooma or, where to begin? If so, you have come to the right place.

Requirements

For Joomla 2.5.x , 1.7.x and 1.6.x

Software	Recommended	Minimum
MySQL	5.0.4 +	5.0.4 +
PHP	5.3 +	5.2.4 +
Supported Web Servers
Apache (with mod_mysql, mod_xml)	2.x +	2.x +
Nginx	1.1	1.0
Microsoft IIS	7	7

For Joomla 3.x

Software	Recommended	Minimum
PHP (Magic Quotes GPC off)	5.3.1 +	5.3.1 +
Supported Databases
MySQL (InnoDB support required)	5.1 +	5.1 +
MSSQL	10.50.1600.1 +	10.50.1600.1 +
PostgreSQL	8.3.18 +	8.3.18 +
Supported Web Servers
Apache (with mod_mysql, mod_xml and mod_zlib)	2.x +	2.x +
Nginx	1.1	1.0
Microsoft IIS	7	7

Installing Joomla 2.5

2016-05-08T19:10:04+06:00

According to install Joomla! On your PC, it is necessary to connect your own internet, for which you'll need a browser, a web server, a PHP environment and as well a Joomla supported database system. We call this a LAMP(Linux, Apache, My SQL, PHP) stack (or XAMP) and there is many client server available for Window, Mac and Linux, eg: XAMPP, AMP, MAMP etc. In this tutorial we'll give you example of how to install and configure joomla on XAMPP. The Joomla! Files will be copied to this system and configured with the Joomla! web installer.

XAMPP Setup

In order to install Joomla! At first install XAMPP for Joomla run to set up a server on your own computer. (You can also install Joomla on the web for trial, www.demo.joomla.org)

To create a local server to your PC Download the latest XAMPP installer for your version of Windows from the XAMPP site: https://www.apachefriends.org/
After downloading XAMPP, run the setup and follow the given instructions. Installing Apache and MySQL as services are recommended.

You can install XAMPP to other drive for future folder safety (like windows crash).

If firewall wants to block any features, click unblock all features.

After complete installation, run XAMPP Control Panel from desktop.

Click start for Apache & MySQL from Actions.

(If does not start Apache or mysql after clicking, please exit your internet messenger like Skype for those times)

Now minimize it to the taskbar. Now let us go get Joomla! for Setup.

Download & Unzip Joomla!

At first, we need to make a folder for Joomla!. Open the folder that you installed XAMPP into – usually C:\XAMPP or C:\Program Files\XAMPP on Windows.

Open up the folder htdocs Create a new folder in htdocs titled joomla

Now we download Joomla!2.5 or 3.0 From the this url https://www.joomla.org/download.html

After completing the download, use your favorite program to unzip/extract the files into the joomla directory that we created in htdocs

Now we are ready to setup Joomla!

Open your default internet browser.
Type in the address bar https://localhost/joomla then press Enter
Now select your desired language, and click the Next button.

4 . Pre-installation check

The Pre-installation check should help you verify whether your server environment is suitable for the installation of Joomla! or not. It's a good sign if you see mostly green test results. Depending on your configuration, there can be differences.

5 . Then click the Next button and you will get to the step License

All software products contain a license describing the allowed usage. Joomla! is licensed according to the GNU General Public License, version 2.0

6 . Database configuration

On the Database Configuration page, enter the details, then press Next. The user root is the MySQL administrator and can, therefore, do everything in your MySQL system. The password depends on your server environment (no password is needed with XAMPP, with MAMP the password is root too).

7 . FTP configuration

n order to avoid problems with access rights and possibly turned on PHP Safe Mode, you have the possibility to use the FTP functions of PHP for the upload and file handling. This is not necessary in a local installation.

8 . Main configuration

In this step, give your site name in Basic setting.
Then give your email address, user name & password.
For new and starter user, you can click Install Sample Data button to get all dummy data inside your Joomla installation.
Now click Install sample data.
Now Click on the button NEXT and the data will be transferred.

9 . Finish

In this step, you will be congratulated on having successfully installed Joomla!

You will now see an advisory message appearing in the display, prompting you to delete the directory called Installation You should follow this advisory because your Joomla! website will otherwise not run properly.

Now you have successfully installed Joomla! you can begin configuring your website and content. Click on Site to view your newly created website!

How to install / uninstall extensions

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Install Extensions

Joomla extensions help extend the Joomla websites' ability. There are five types of extensions for Joomla!: Components, Modules, Plugins, Templates, and Languages. Each of these extensions handles a specific function.

For the purpose of this tutorial we'll install the K2 component for Joomla. Follow the steps below to complete the installation of any Joomla module, component etc.

Download K2 from this url https://getk2.org/
Login to your Joomla admin area and then go to Extensions => Extensions Manager extension-install1

3 . In the Upload Package File click Browse and locate the K2 component archive which you already download. 4 . Click Upload & Install to upload the file and complete the installation.

Uninstall Extensions

You'll see the following tabs at the top: Install Update, Manage, Discover, Database, Warnings. Ensure you are on the Manage tab by clicking on it.

Use the filter feature or browse and find the extension you want to remove. Then check the box next to the extension you want to remove and click Uninstall from the top right menu.

You will then see this message: Uninstalling module was successful

How to create search engine friendly URLs

2016-05-08T19:08:39+06:00

When SEO is enabled, your links will be in human-readable format and this will help your website rank higher in search results.

To enable SEO for your Joomla website, follow the steps below:

Enable mod_rewrite If you are not sure, please contact your hosting provider. Then rename the htaccess.txt file in your Joomla installation directory to .htaccess Enable Joomla's SEO functionality from Site => Global configuration in the Site administration panel. In the SEO Settings section change Search Engine Friendly URLs and Use URL rewriting to Yes. Click on Save from the top right menu. seo-friendly

How to create Contact Us page

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Open your Joomla admin area and navigate to Components -> Contacts -> Categories

Click New icon. Give the Title name then Save.

Now return to Components -> Contacts -> Contacts

Click on the New icon to begin the setup of your Contact us page.

Enter the required values in the corresponding fields. Review the options listed in the right part of the page and set them per your needs. In order to receive a copy of the contact form inquiries, enter an e-mail address in the Contact details list. Now Save the Contact Us page setup. Now go Menus -> Main Menu

to publish it. Click on Add New Menu Item

Select Menu Item type from the corresponding dialog.

Enter the name to Menu Title that will display in the Menu. Set the other options that are not mandatory per your requirements. Save the new menu item and check it from the front end.

How to create new Menu Item

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From your Joomla administrator, go to Menus => Main Menu => Add new menu Item

Explain

Menu item type = (the type of link:component,URl,Alias) selects from select option.
Menu title = Give the title of the menu item that will display of the Menu.
Alias = Leave this blank & Joomla will fill in a default value from the title. This value will depend on SEO(search engine optimization) setting.
Note = enter some text here.
Link = link in this manu.
Status = set publication status.
Access = The access level group that is allowed to view this item.
Menu location = shows which menu a link will appear in this location.
Parent item = select the parent item from the menu.
Default page = sets this menu item as the default or home page of this site. You must have a default page set at all times.
Template style = select the specific template style or select default. Then click save & close icon.

How to create Joomla category

2016-05-08T19:06:22+06:00

At first Login from your Site Administrator.

Then go Content => Category Manager => Add new category

Explain

Title = Give any title name.
Alias = Leave this blank & Joomla will fill in a default value from the title. This value will depend on SEO(search engine optimization) setting.
Parent = select a parent category from the list.
Status = Set publication status from the list. If the article is not published, it will not be shown to your visitors.
Access = the access level allowed to view this item to another.
Permissions = Manage the permission settings for the user groups below. See notes at the bottom.
Language = Assign language in this category.
Then click save & close.

How to create article

2016-05-08T19:05:30+06:00

Explain

Title = give your article name in Title
Alias = Leave this blank & Joomla will fill in a default value from the title. This value will depend on SEO(search engine optimization) setting.
Category = we select a category from the menu.
Status = set publication status from the menu.
Permissions = set permissions
Featured =assign the article to the featured blog layout yes/No.
Language = Assign language in this category.
ID = record number in the database. Now click Save & close icon.

How to change Joomla templates

2016-05-08T19:04:47+06:00

The default template for the Front-end is marked with a star.

To change the default template to Beez2-Parks Site Select checkbox button left from the template name to select it. Click Make Default on the toolbar. Now, to see this change, go your home page and refresh.

You also can upload template if you already download template from the web.

To do this log in to your joomla website admin panel. Go to Extensions => Extension manager

Click upload package file and select your downloaded template which you want to upload.

Click upload & install. Now go to Extensions => Template manager

The default template for the Front-end is marked with a star. To change the default template which you already installed select checkbox button left from the template name to select it (the new template name which you have already uploaded). Click Make Default on the toolbar. Now, to see this change, go your home page and refresh.