Moving from Joomla 2.5 to Joomla 3.3 with jDownloads

[larbut]

Hi,
I have read the upgrade instructions, but I have a question:

My site is currently on Joomla 2.5.24 and running Jdownloads 1.9.1.5.
I want to upgrade Joomla to version 3.3 and Jdownloads to version 1.9.2.10 Beta (to enable updating to Jdownloads 3.2)

My question is:
In what sequence do I do the upgrade?
1. Upgrade Joomla 2.5 to 3.3, and then upgrade Jdownloads from 1.9.1.5 to 1.9.2.10 Beta?
or
2. Upgrade Jdownloads from 1.9.1.5 to 1.9.2.10 Beta, and then upgrade Joomla from 2.5 to 3.3?

I hope my question makes sense..

-Lars

[ColinM]

Lars
Your question makes perfect sense!  I am in the same process myself.  Presently I am waiting for Arno to get back from holidays to discuss with him the optimum route. I will then document it.

Colin

[Arno]

Hi,

2. Upgrade Jdownloads from 1.9.1.5 to 1.9.2.10 Beta, and then upgrade Joomla from 2.5 to 3.3?

this is not possible. So i think the only usefull way is this:

1. Upgrade Joomla 2.5 to 3.3, and then upgrade Jdownloads from 1.9.1.5 to 1.9.2.10 Beta?

But i must say that i have this scenario not really tested until today. 
So it would be the best to test it first on a local test environment.
Create before a backup with jD backup function can be here very useful.

[larbut]

Thank you for the replies, Colin and Arno.

Colin, I'm still quite far from making the jump to J3.3, so if you do the upgrade, please let me know how you do.

-Lars

[ColinM]

Lars, Arno
Have made first attempt at moving jDownloads from Joomla 2.5.x to Joomla 3.3.x  Nearly works!   There are a couple of things that need ironing out.

The strategy adopted was to take a database backup of j25 series with Tools backup, including user group option (NB do nhot think this should be optional), the used File Zilla FTP to get copy of j25 series directories root/jdownloads and root/images/jdownloads.

Installed Joomla 3 and installed jDownloads 3.2.9 beta. 
Disabled Auto Monitoring.
Restored Backup from j25 series
With FTP deleted root/jdownloads and root/images/jdownloads
With FTP copied saved j25 versions of root/jdownloads  and root/images/jdownloads

Two problems discovered so far.  One is that backup does not save/restore User Group Rankings (reported as separate bug)  - obviously because rankings added later.
Second problem is a bit more difficult and it is to do with Access levels.  Joomla 3 has more 'built in' View levels, specifically Public(id=1), Registered(id=2), Special(id=3), Guest(id=5) and Super User(id=6), than Joomla 2.5 with Public(id=1), Registered(id=2), Special(id=3), and Customer Access Level(id=4).  The first 'free' access level id in Joomla 3 is 7, and the first free id   in Joomla 2.5 is 5.  It may be possible to just add 2 to the joomla 2.5 Access id to make it into the correct joomla 3 Access level id.  But more work needs doing here to check it out.

However it does seem that a special procedure will be needed to enable the conversion of jdownloads from joomla 2.5 to joomla 3. .  It may be feasible to do the Access change if the j32 series recognises that the backup is coming from a j25 series by adding in a comment in the backup file - relying on the file name could be too uncertain.

More later

Colin

[larbut]

Hi Colin,
This is interesting reading.
I hope Arno can look into the issues.

-Lars

[ColinM]

Lars
Have successfully "almost" upgraded from Joomla 2.5.24 to Joomla 3.3.3 and re-instated jDownloads AOK.  

Procedure is logically straightforward.  I am writing a note.  

All the following needs to be done on a test site first to iron out any 'bugs'.  Obviously as a preliminary a full site backup using say Akeeba backup and then restoring on to local PC running WAMP or similar is a good scheme. In summary it means doing the following.
1. Using ftp or some other file system to save a copy of the Joomla 2.5.x jdownloads directory on your PC or elsewhere in your site.
2. Using ftp or some other file system to save a copy of the Joomla 2.5.x images/jdownloads directory on your PC or elsewhere in your site.
3. Using phpMyAdmin or similar to export the j25 series jdownloads tables to an sql file including Drop Table commands.  
4. Upgrade from Joomla 2.5 to 3.3.3 (can be 'interesting') with jDownloads modules and plugins disabled
5. Then uninstall all j25 jDownloads, including deleting the data files and the database items.
6. install latest j32 series.  
7. Next is to turn off Auto Monitoring in jDownloads.
8. Then overwrite the two directories with the saved ones
9. Import the saved sql file with phpMyAdmin or similar.
10. Re-enable auto monitoring

At this moment in time there remains a question about the category and downloads permissions.  The above procedure does not retain permissions!! Hmmm


Colin

[larbut]

Hi Colin,
Thank you for the good work!

I have a couple of questions:
What jDownloads version did you start with on J2.5.x ? (before the upgrade started)
From your steps, I understand that jDownloads 25 table structure is identical to J3.2?
Is there currently a workaround for the permission issues?

-Lars

[ColinM]

lars
Permissions remain a problem!  I am talking with Arno about possible solutions.  Suggest at present you stay as you are whilst we work on it further.
Colin

[larbut]

Hi Colin,
Any progress on this issue?

[ColinM]

Apologies but I got tied up with other things - also been away on holiday!!  Still on my list

Colin

[larbut]

Excellent, Colin!
The end of 2014, and thus the end of Joomla 2.5, is getting closer, so I assume there are a lot of sites in the same situation as mine, having to move from Joomla 2.5 to Joomla 3.x and still preserve the great functionality of jDownloads.
-Lars

[ColinM]

Hi
Have just written article about migrating from jD1.9.1.6 on Joomla 2.5 to ultimately jD3.2.x on Joomla! 3.2 or higher (actually I did tests on Joomla! 3.3.6)
http://www.jdownloads.net/documentations/item/from-jd1-9-1-x-on-joomla-2-5-to-jd3-2-on-joomla-3-2?category_id=40

Colin