How to migrate extensions from old Joomla! 1.5

Overview

With our component SP Upgrade you may migrate core Joomla data from 1.5 to newer Joomla! (1.6, 1.7, 2.5, 3.x). But many people ask, what about the non core extensions. With this guide we will try to give a general direction of what steps to follow in order to migrate your extensions. For better understanding the concept of migration you should read the whole article.

Attention: This is just a general guide and is not intended to cover in detail all extensions. Depended on the extension you are urged to contact with corresponding extension provider for their unique migration procedure.

For migrating the core Joomla! data please read: User Guide - SP Upgrade

Joomla extensions are mainly separated to four different categories:

Components - Usually complex software that usually include database tables.
Modules - More simple items that appear on the site front end. Depended on the module, may or not include database tables.
Plugins - Similar with modules with the difference that 'interfere' to Joomla core coding and add specific functionality.
Templates - Those are the design of the site, and do not include any database tables.

What is the difference between Joomla! 1.5 and the new versions?

Joomla improved many things to the new release, especially the one of user groups and security. It is not in the scope of this document to describe the new features.

Joomla changes between 1.5 and the new versions are of two kinds. There are changes in the database structure and changes in the coding itself.

Database structure changes

The changes in the core database is handled by our migration tool that makes the necessary conversions between the data from the old to the new structure.

Usually the non core extensions do not make any changes to their database structure therefore it is not needed any 'special' conversion between the tables. Just a plain old export/import should be enough. Now this very much depends on the extension provider, but hopefully if any provider proceed with database structure changes, then he should provide a conversion procedure.

Coding changes

One of the Joomla main advantages is that provide open source 'ready' functions for developers to use. With the new Joomla! release some of this functions and names changed. This is exactly why Joomla 1.5 extensions are no longer compatible with the new release. Developers have to make the necessary changes in their coding in order to make them compatible, but as mentioned above not necessarily to their database tables.

The Process

Reading and understanding above information lead to the conclusion that all is needed to move an extension to the new Joomla! version is a compatible release. In case an extension is not compatible with the new Joomla! and the developer is not planning to release a compatible version then you are strongly suggested to use a similar new one.

So the process to fully migrate a Joomla site could be the follow:

BACKUP. Always backup your live site before you do anything.
Clean as much as possible your Joomla! 1.5. For example delete your pending articles and empty trash, given that you no longer need them. This is to avoid possible duplicate alias for items you replaced with new.
Migrate core Joomla data using SP Upgrade: User Guide - SP Upgrade
(below goes for each extension) Install the new Joomla! compatible extension the usual way using Joomla installer.
SP Upgrade 'Database Transfer' view, identify the extension's tables in the Joomla 1.5 database and transfer them.
From the new Joomla! back end modify accordingly extension general options, if any.
Create the menu items, or modules for the extension.
Test

As we already mentioned above process might not be appropriate for all extensions but for certain is a good starting point for completing your new Joomla! and go live.

Resources

Find below links to various resources on how to migrate the most famous extensions. Feel free to Google for the extension that interest you, and if you find a better resource we would appreciate to share with us.

Docman

Components Documentation