How do I determine which template my site is using? I didn't install it and it was done a few years ago. There are several templates in the template folder.

Hi Debtfreedivas,

Go to Extensions > Extensions Manager > And look for the template with a star next to it, where Location = Site. (Your front end template).

Thank you!

You are welcome. Glad OSTraining can be helpful. :-D

Oh yes, this is well worth the fee already. :) So I updated my site to 2.5 today, but the template from my current site doesn't show up in the list of templates in the 2.5 admin tool. Can I use my existing template or do I need to buy a new version for the upgrade?

Hi debtfreedivas,

Could we get a link to your site to take a quick look?

Take a look at the following documentation:

1) How to Migrate Joomla 1.5 to 2.5 (specially the part about templates in the "Before you get started" section):
www.ostraining.com/blog/joomla/how-to-migrate-joomla-15-to-25/

2) Migrate a Joomla 1.5 Template to 2.5:
www.ostraining.com/blog/joomla/update-a-joomla-15-template/

Kind regards,
Nick

Sure. Original: debtfreedivas.org/

2.5 Upgrade: debtfreedivas.org/jupgrade/

I'm trying to find out if the site that I bought this has an upgrade for 2.5, but according to the site in the description of the Template Manager, I can't find the original template.

I noticed that the template name: theme498 does not show up in the list of templates in the new joomla admin.

Hi debtfreedivas,

Use your host's file manager to check the index.php of the template, located at:
/templates/theme498/index.php

Edit that index.php and look for any copyright or author information. If you can't find it in there, in the same folder edit the templateDetails.xml and look for the same info.

Kind regards,
Nick

Okay, this is the same URL. So if they don't get back to me or do not have an updated version, can I update the template another way?

I found this tutorial on your site. Should I go ahead and follow this?
www.ostraining.com/blog/joomla/update-a-joomla-15-template/

Hi debtfreedivas,

Could you explain what you mean by the same URL? Which URL?

Yes, see #2 above.

Kind regards,
Nick

Yes, that's the correct tutorial. :)

Kind regards,
Nick

Oh URL - meaning that in the templatedetails.xml, the author listed was the same site as I found in the description of the template manager. I emailed them and the email bounced.

I'll go through the tutorial. However, I'm not clear. Should I just copy the template folder to the template folder in the jupgrade path?

Hi debtfreedivas,

If you actually upgrade the template, yes you can copy the folders to the template folder in jupgrade.

Then to register it with Joomla, go to Extensions > Discover tab, Purge Cache, then click the discover icon.

If the template is discovered, you can put a check next to it then click install.

If it's not updated, this won't help.

Sounds like it might be time for a new template:)

Cheers,
Ed

oh wow. i need a new one. but i was not ready just yet. How difficult is it to update the template?

I tracked down your template and it was originally done by joomlaxe.com, which is kind of an informal template company in Indonesia. You'd be better off going with a more established company so you can get support on what you do.

It's not too difficult to update a template, but I'm getting the feeling that it could be a lot of trouble for you if you haven't taken our templating course. YOu should do that first if you are going to attempt it.

Otherwise, check our list of recommended developers and see if they can help you.www.ostraining.com/resources/joomla/developers/ That would be the easiest route.

Whichever route you go, be sure you have backups and that you experiment on a test site, not your actual site. Get everything working in a test site before you go live.

Ed

Okay. I do have backups in place. Thank you for the options. I think I'll see if the developers can help me as my time is limited. Thanks!!!

Yes, you might need professional help. At least that's what my friends keep telling me :)

Kidding aside, it sounds like the best solution for you. You will avoid a ton of frustration and wasted time.

Good luck and let us know if you have any problems and how it turns out.

Cheers,
Ed

Ha!

Okay I will. Thanks. This service is excellent, BTW. Great idea for those of us with just enough knowledge to be dangerous. :)

Glad to help. Keep asking questions!

Cheers,
Ed

I am giving upgrading my template a try before developers. When I tried to discover the old template, theme498, I received this error. Any ideas?

Fatal error: Call to a member function setDebug() on a non-object in /home/www/debtfreedivas.org/jupgrade/libraries/joomla/installer/adapters/template.php on line 543

BTW, I'm using the upgraded admin tool and my files are still under the jupgrade folder.

So, I tried again to install the old template and this time it worked. But of course something is off.

debtfreedivas.org/jupgrade/

I went through the tutorial, but there was no param section in the XML file and I didn't fine a live_site variable in the index.php. I honestly didn't see much of what the tutorial mentioned in terms of updating in the new version. Any ideas of where I need to start to fix this template?

Hi debtfreedivas,

Try the following documentation first:
docs.joomla.org/Upgrading_a_Joomla_1.5_template_to_Joomla_1.6

Your template might be simpler and might not need as much modification.

Kind regards,
Nick

Hi Nick,

I followed the tutorial for converting to 1.7. There were no changes. There were no params in my current template, although I did add the <config> block as described. Also, the $app variables didn't exist already. Seems like this might be a basic template. Do you have any other ideas on what I might be missing?

Hi debtfreedivas,

Did you add the "2.5 Doctype" and change:to:?

That should be all that's needed by the sounds of it.

Kind regards,
Nick

I did change the <install> to <extension>.

Is changing the 2.5 doc type something in addition to this tag?

I missed that step. This is the current doc type. How do I change this?

<!DOCTYPE install PUBLIC "-//Joomla! 1.5//DTD template 1.0//EN" "dev.joomla.org/xml/1.5/template-install.dtd">

FYI - I changed everything from 1.5 to 2.5, still same results.

Hi debtfreedivas,

OK, so all that's left is to zip up the template and try installing it via extension manager. It will either install successfully or you'll get a nice detailed error message.

Kind regards,
Nick

this is the error.

JInstaller: :Install: Cannot find XML setup file

I already have the template installed. I can't delete it from template manager.

Hi debtfreedivas,

Please send me the zipped template file to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. so that I can double check it for you.

Kind regards,
Nick

see attached...

You probably don't want everyone else to have a copy so I removed it after downloading :)

Kind regards,
Nick

Oh. That's fine. :) Thanks.

OK, the issue is that you have way too many other folders zipped in there. In the file that you sent me, unzip it then look for the "theme498" folder and zip that up. Then try installing it. You should get the following detailed error message:
On line 130 for "type=", you'll notice you're missing a double quote. That's throwing it off. Add the double quote and that should get rid of that error message.

Looking ahead you're probably going to get another error message at the last line because you still have </install>, which should actually be </extension>. So get that changed and you'll hopefully be set :)

Kind regards,
Nick

I copied that code from the tutorial you sent me, just FYI.

Okay. Still no change. However, there's something else probably in the way. I had already installed theme498 in the new admin tool. When I tried to delete it, the message said you can't delete the last style in a template. So I just changed the folder name on the server and tried to install it again. Now there are two copies of theme498 in the template manager, both set to default. Also another two copied were added with the new template. It installed with no errors, but the page didn't change. How can I remove theme498 from the template list so I can retry the fresh install?

Hi debtfreedivas,

Set one of the regular Joomla templates (e.g. Beez 2) as the default template then go to Extensions >> Extension Manager >> Manage (tab) >> select the theme498 >> Uninstall.

Kind regards,
Nick

I do appreciate your help, but that didn't make a difference either. The page still looks the same...incomplete. Any other ideas?

Hi debtfreedivas,

Are you getting any error messages when you install the template? If not, could you email me ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) your current zipped up template?

Kind regards,
Nick

Hi debtfreedivas,

Looks like the template is installing well now. Good job!

Get rid of the following code and it should work :)
Kind regards,
Nick

Do I have to reinstall the template? I remove the code and no changes. I have a meeting with one of the developers on your list today. We'll see if he can help without breaking the bank.

Hi debtfreedivas,

You're almost done. You shouldn't need a developer. Yes, reinstall please.

Kind regards,
Nick