Moving from an existing Joomla 3 to clean Joomla 4 website

Hi,

I have been using my older Joomla 3 website with Contact Enhanced Pro for several years, but I don't have a lot of options to update it to Joomla 4.

I would like to know the best way to get the existing data from my old Joomla 3 website into a brand new clean Joomla 4 website?




Currently, I have on the Joomla 3 site:

Contact Enhanced Pro - Version 3.10
PHP version 7.4.33
mysl = 5.7.41
Joomla Version = 3.9.28




Currently, I have on the new Joomla 4 site:

PHP version 7.4.33
mysl = 5.7.41
Joomla Version = 4.2.6




Thanks, Michael

Dear Michael,

The ideal upgrade method is to keep your Joomla 3 updated and Contact Enhanced Updated in Joomla 3 and then migrate to Joomla 4. However, you chose to start with a clean Joomla 4 installation. It's also possible but requires more work. You'll just lose the category reference and you'll have to create the categories again. The Contact linked user's ID might change and you might need to change it. If you use the Linked user option;

1. Make sure Contact Enhanced for your Joomla 3 is up to date.
2. Copy all Contact Enhanced Database tables (starting with #__ce_) from your Joomla 3 to your Joomla 4 database.
3. Install Contact Enhanced for Joomla 4. This will perform the database table changes automatically.
4. If you use Multiple Files Form Field and keep uploaded files on your server, make sure to copy the files as well. The file directory is on your Contact Enhanced Configuration.
5. Create the Categories again and assigned them to your contacts and form fields.
6. Assigned the users again;
7. You might see the "Unable to find the user with id ###" error. This is because the user id changed and now we lost the "created by" reference in all contacts and form fields.

Even though it's possible to "move" all the data from Joomla 3 to Joomla 4, I don't recommend it. It's better to create a copy and upgrade your Joomla 3 to Joomla 4.

Best regards,

Hi Douglas,

Duplicating the website and updating makes a lot more sense. I assume once I have it updated and have a matching version on both, I can copy all the tables over to the new Joomla 4 database and it should pick up where it was on the old website?

If you duplicate your site and then upgrade from Joomla 3 to Joomla 4, all you need to do is install Contact Enhanced for Joomla 4 after the upgrade. There's no need to follow the steps I provided in my previous post.

Best regards,

Yes, I understand that part, but I will now have the old website updated and that would normally be the end of it. But this website and template are old. I am building a totally separate website based on Joomla 4 with a modern template. I will copy the pages from the old website to the new one. I will put a fresh Contact Enhanced installation on the new Website. How can I get the data from the old, but now updated website with Joomla 4 to the new website?

I don't recommend creating a new Joomla 4 website from scratch. The supported upgrade method is to upgrade Joomla directly, then update or install a new template and other extensions. This way you don't have to create categories and articles again.

Anyway, if you choose to create a Joomla 4 from scratch, the you have to follow those steps I provided earlier. It will require a lot more of work, but it's doable.

Best regards

Hi Douglas,

I decided to take your advice and update the existing website from Joomla 3 to Joomla 4 and I will change the template when I get it all set. I successfully upgraded from Joomla 3 to Joomla 4.2.7 and updated all existing extensions that I use. The only problem was with Contact Enhanced, it failed at the end of the installation and gave me the error that I have attached. The extension is showing the new version when managing extensions, but the menu items for contact enhanced became strange and if you go to the menu item, it fails. I did save the DB before I attempted updating Contact Enhanced. Any suggestions on what went wrong or how to fix this?

Thanks, Michael

Dear Michael,

That's strange. It seems the files are missing. Can you try to install it again?

Best regards,

Hi Douglas,

I noticed on the first attempt yesterday I received a Server Timeout. I did look at that and found that a Cron Job for Akeeba backup had been sitting there causing higher I/O and Memory issues. I removed that today and it all went back to normal.

I reloaded the Joomla files and DB, and updated to Joomla 4 with no problems again. it makes it through the CE installation (4.3.6) but has an error as shown in the attached snapshot. The CE menu options look normal at first, until click on them and then display differently (see attached). If I rerun the CE (4.3.6) installation, I get the same message as yesterday with all those missing folder paths (snapshot attached).


Thanks, Michael

FYI: Here is a snapshot of the Extensions for Contact Enhanced

I'm not sure what's causing this issue.

The missing folder paths should not display that error because we won't attempt to delete them if they don't exist.

Can you provide FTP access to your site? You can send the credentials to me using the Support > Contact Form or reply to this forum's New post notification EMAIL.

Best regards,

Hi,

I sent you the information via your Support Contact Form.