It's time for me to migrate my friend Harold's website from Joomla 3 to Joomla 4.
00:00:00 Introduction and Pre-Migration Preparation
00:30:00 Template Migration Issues
01:00:00 Content & Module Migration
01:30:00 Final Migration & Fixes
02:00:00 Post-Migration Tasks
Summary
1. Pre-Migration Cleanup:
- Removed Joomla 3-only extensions (JotCache, sh404SEF, Content XB Auto Save, etc.)
- Used Akeeba's Magic Eraser to clean obsolete files
- Ran "Discover" to find and remove orphaned extensions
2. Migration Process:
- Used Migrate Me4 for test migrations (multiple attempts)
- Enabled debugging/error reporting for troubleshooting
- Toggled "Safe Mode" to identify incompatible extensions
- Resolved template issues by switching from Asteroid to Template Creator CK
3. Template Recreation:
- Created new template matching original layout
- Identified and recreated module positions
- Added custom CSS for styling adjustments
- Rebuilt footer structure with module positions
4. Post-Migration Tasks:
- Updated Regular Labs extensions
- Migrated Akeeba Backup to Joomla 4 version
- Fixed database errors (e.g., finder_links table)
- Added social media icon using custom HTML module
5. Finalization:
- Set up automated backups via MySites.guru
- Verified PHP version compatibility (8.1+)
- Performed final site audit
Common Issues & Solutions:
- Template compatibility: Rebuilt template from scratch when framework issues arose
- URL routing: Ensured proper .htaccess and SEF settings
- Module assignments: Manually reassigned modules to new positions
- Extension compatibility: Disabled/removed non-J4 extensions before migration
Pro Tips:
1. Always test migrations on a copy first
2. Clean up J3 site before migrating
3. Have a template strategy (rebuild or migrate)
4. Use Migrate Me4's safe mode for troubleshooting
5. Expect to manually adjust some elements post-migration
The entire process took approximately 2.5 hours for this simple site, demonstrating that even basic migrations require careful planning and testing.
Please send any feedback or bug reports or queries to;
Contact Tim Davis ►
Joomla Training Cohort ► https://cybersalt.com/jtc
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