The upgrade from Joomla 1.5.x to Joomla 2.5.x is not a quick process… no simple click of a button for this one!
So here’s a simple explanation of the steps involved in a sizable CMS software upgrade like going from Joomla 1.5.x to 2.5.x.
This is meant to be a simple overview for clients who would like to know what’s involved…
Here’s what we’d do:
10 steps to upgrading to Joomla 2.5
1. Take a back-up of your existing Joomla website
We need a copy of the website for two reasons. Firstly so we have the original in case any stage of the process goes wrong! Secondly so we can do the upgrading on a cloned version of your site on our testing server. This will ensure that there is no disturbance to your live website. Whilst we are doing this work, you should not make any updates to the live website or these will be lost when the upgraded site goes live..
2. Upgrade Joomla to the latest version of 1.5 (if needed)
Your website has to be upgraded to the latest version (1.5.26) before it can be migrated to 2.5
3. Check all your Extensions
You website will include a number of extensions which give it added functionality. We must ensure that any of the extensions your website uses (such as contact forms, fade-image shows, photo galleries, e-commerce shopping carts) have versions which will work on Joomla 2.5. If not, we would need to find an alternative extension that will provide the same functionality.
4. Check any customization
If your website had any customization to meet your special requirements, then we need to ensure none of this is lost in the upgrade process.
5 Install Joomla 2.5 and all new Extensions
We will install the latest version of Joomla and all the latest versions of the extensions you have on your site.
6. Create a 2.5 version of the website’s template.
A Joomla 1.5 template does not work on a 2.5 version as the structure is different. We therefore need to create a new version of your template. This will keep the exact appearance of your existing website unless you decide that now is a good time to have a total revamp!
7. Migrate all content from the existing site to the new version
All the content that you have added to your site now needs moving to the new version of your website: all the images, articles and products (if you have e-commerce). Part of this process may be done automatically, but because there is a change in the structure and the functionality of Joomla 2.5, some of this process has to be done manually.
8.Testing, testing …
At this stage we would test that all the upgraded extensions on your site work in the same way as on the existing website and that the template and styling looks identical..
9. Show you the website on the testing server
We allow our clients to take a good look at the site whilst it is on the testing server so they may be satisfied that all is working as it was before.
10. Move the new version of the website to the live domain.
Of course at this stage we will double-check that everything is OK. Then we hand back control of the site to you!
