The most problematic part when updating components in Joomla! CMS is the update of the database tables and their columns.
Extensions (components) do not install themselves in Joomla! CMS. They are installed by Joomla! extension manager which uses SQL update files to update table columns in database.
It sometimes happens that the update is not performed correctly, because the SQL file tries to add a column to the database table that already exists there. Unfortunately, there is no workable method to determine if a column already exists inside static SQL file and the installation ends with an error.
Commands like: ALTER TABLE ... ADD COLUMN ... end with error in case that the required column already exists in the database. This is valid for MySQL database, not for MariaDB database. In MariaDB database, you can use ALTER TABLE ... ADD COLUMN IF NOT EXISTS ... This command would solve all problems. But the problem is, there is no difference between MySQL and MariaDB driver in Joomla! CMS. So we cannot use this MariaDB command because it will throw an error in MySQL database.
In short: all problems with updating columns would be solved by the "IF NOT EXISTS" command part, which does not exist for one database, and where it exists, it cannot be used because it would cause an error in another database.
So, if you get following screen when installing component, mostly the update SQL file needs to be found and the SQL command needs to be commented or removed manually.
This action should be done mostly by advanced users who have the knowledge to search in files and edit them:
1) SQL update files can be found in ZIP installation package, for example in Phoca Cart installation package, you can find them in following folder:
- ZIP: admin/update/sql/mysql
2) Unzip the installation ZIP package, go to the above mentioned folder and search in files for the column name which was displayed in error message.
3) Open the file where this column name occurs and comment the whole SQL command (starting with ALTER TABLE ...) or delete it (Comments in SQL files are set per double dashes (--))
For example FROM:
ALTER TABLE `#__phocacart_product_stock` ADD COLUMN `sku` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '';
ALTER TABLE `#__phocacart_product_stock` ADD COLUMN `ean` varchar(15) NOT NULL DEFAULT '';
TO:
-- ALTER TABLE `#__phocacart_product_stock` ADD COLUMN `sku` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '';
-- ALTER TABLE `#__phocacart_product_stock` ADD COLUMN `ean` varchar(15) NOT NULL DEFAULT '';
4) ZIP the installation package back (including newly edited files) and try to install the component again.
Phoca Cart 3.5.4
If you get the problem when updating Phoca Cart to version 3.5.4 and the problematic column is "sku" or "ean", you can try to install prepared package where the SQL commands were commented. There is no need to do manual changes described above. The package is ready to install (it does not include the SQL queries which are problematic).
Download alternative Phoca Cart version 3.5.4 and install it in Joomla! extension manager.
There are two major reasons why future versions of Phoca Gallery will change significantly:
1) Joomla! 4
2) Output modernization
Joomla! 4
All Phoca extensions are written directly for Joomla! CMS and if the Joomla! CMS changes, the extensions must also change. Therefore, Phoca Gallery is gradually being rewritten so that it would work in Joomla! 4.
Output modernization
Unfortunately, it is not possible to do design output changes in minor versions because of backward compatibility and override features. Such changes must be made in major versions. Therefore, it sometimes takes longer to implement a modern look. Such a change is now planned.
So now there will be three directions instead of two directions, if we are talking about the development of Phoca gallery:
1) Phoca Gallery 4.4.0 - it includes minimum design changes. This version is intended for existing users and the existing Joomla! 3.9 version.
2) Phoca Gallery 4.5.0 - in this version, support for responsive display will be extended. This means that most non-responsive popup libraries and all that are built on the Mootools library will be removed. Parameters which can be moved to CSS will be also removed. Float box based output will be changed to Flexbox based output. HTML output will be simplified. This version of Phoca Gallery will be designed primarily for Joomla! 4.
3) Phoca Photo 4.0.0 - Phoca Photo is a Bootstrap responsive alternative for Phoca Gallery. Just like in Joomla! 3, Phoca Photo will add the ability to view Phoca Gallery output using the Bootstrap library in Joomla! 4.
Phoca Gallery version 4.4.0 Beta can be tested now. Be aware, it is a development version and should be used for testing only. Download it on Phoca Gallery download page.
Phoca Cart is a part of Joomla! system. Such robust system can negatively affect audits on your site. For example audits made by Lighthouse Audits. Joomla! system is composed of many parts like templates, modules, plugins, components, etc. Such parts can load a lot of libraries, some of them can be obsolete and all this can have negative impact on audit results.
See example: Joomla! Templates Directory
This website has the following audit results:
- Accessibility: 100%
- Best Practices: 100%
- SEO: 100%
HTML output of Phoca Cart tries to follow audit advices regarding accessibility, best practices and SEO. But in order to achieve such good results, it is necessary to install Phoca Upgrade System plugin, which will help us manage loading of some problematic Javascript libraries.
Following parameters can be set in this plugin:
Remove Obsolete Bootstrap Javascript - removes the old version of Bootstrap Javascript, for example, if your template is loading modern Bootstrap version (version 3 or 4), you can remove version 2 (which is a part of Joomla! 3.x) with this plugin.
Remove Mootools Javascript - removes the Mootools library because it also loads occasionally in Joomla! system
Remove jQuery Migrate Javascript - removes jQuery Migrate library - this is useful if you use the Enable New jQuery Version parameter
Enable New jQuery Version - replaces the outdated jQuery library used in Joomla! for newest version
Remove Front Editing Javascript - if you are not using frontend editing, you can also remove this library.
Of course, you have to check the Javascript console, because some extensions, for example, may not be able to work with the latest jQuery version. But if you have an extension that can work with it, modern jQuery means extra points in the audit because the outdated jQuery library loaded in Joomla! subtracts some points from the audit. All this is important if your website emphasizes accessibility, best practices and SEO.
Main function of Phoca Upgrade System plugin is replacing obsolete Bootstrap 2 code with newest Bootstrap code. This is helpful when your template uses Bootstrap 3 or 4 for rendering HTML output but Joomla! 3.x output is still rendered with obsolete Bootstrap 2 library.
Phoca Cart 3.4.0 Beta has been released. It is Beta version - development version, so it should not be installed and tested on production site. Please, test only on development websites.
What is new and what needs to be tested in Phoca Cart 3.4.0?
1) Product administration was completely overwritten and now Joomla! subforms are used for additional images, attributes, options, specifications, discounts, additional download files and price history items. This means that now all these items can be ordered by drag and drop function.
Additional Images:
Attributes and options:
Specifications:
Discounts:
Additional Download Files:
Price History:
2) There is new feature regarding product downloadable files. Now you can set more than one download file for product.
Such files can be downloaded by users in frontend in download area or per token links (guest users).
3) There is new parameter: File To Play. A file to play can be displayed and played in frontend in item view.
4) Just like the frontend, even administration now includes RTL CSS file.
5) Ask a question form can be sent to more email accounts.
6) Labels and tags can be displayed on the same place
Please test only on development websites and if you find any bug, please report it to Phoca Forum. Thank you.
Download Phoca Cart 3.4.0 Beta: Phoca Cart download website.
There are different map types and different ways how to display maps on website. The most common types of maps are:
- Google Maps
- OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
You can add Google Maps into your website directly (Google Maps API is needed) or embed into your website e.g. per iframe solution. To display Google Maps on your Joomla! website, just download and install Phoca Maps component and Phoca Maps plugin.
With help of Phoca Maps component you can display the map directly when you create a menu link to map. With help of Phoca Maps plugin you can display the map inside your article on position you will define. You can even display such map in module position. For both methods you need to have Google Maps API key.
But in case of plugin, there is an alternative to add the map without API key - per embed function.
See example:
OpenStreetMap
With help of OpenStreetMap you can even display the map in component, articles or modules. There are different OpenStreetMap map types. Some of them require API key, some can display maps without any API key. In Phoca Maps you can display following OpenStreetMap map types:
- OpenStreetMap
- OpenStreetMap (Black and White)
- OpenStreetMap (Germany)
- OpenStreetMap (France)
- Humanitarian OpenStreetMap
- Thunderforest (API key needed)
- Mapbox (API key needed)
- OpenTopoMap
- Wikipedia Maps
For more information about how to display maps with help of Phoca Maps see: