Thank you for purchasing Joomla template. This documentation consist of several parts and shows you the entire process of setting up Joomla Web site from scratch. We did our best to make this manual as clear and easy to follow as possible.
What is Joomla CMS?
Joomla CMS is an open source solution for building rich content Web sites. It enables you to build Web sites and powerful on-line applications and it requires almost no technical skill or knowledge to manage. Many aspects, including its ease-of-use and extensibility, have made Joomla the most popular Web site software available.
What is Joomla template
Joomla template is a skin for your Joomla CMS based Web site. In other words you can easily change your Joomla Web site appearance installing new template in a few easy steps. With all it's simplicity Joomla template is provided with all necessary source files and you are free to edit or extend it the way you need.
Files structure
The template package you downloaded contains several folders. Let's see what each folder contains:
Documentation - contains documentation files
Documentation (Installation and Editing).html - main documentation file. You are right here :)
Joomla - contains Joomla theme files
theme###.zip - main theme archive. Contains all theme files. Should be installed through Joomla extension manager
fullpackage.zip - contains complete Joomla installation with engine files, theme and sample content
unzip.php - file used to extract files from the fullpackage.zip when uploaded to the hosting server
Screenshots - contains template screenshots. Not for production
pkg_bundle.zip - contains additional extensions provided with the theme
fonts_info.txt - contains links where the template custom fonts can be downloaded
info.txt - contains instructions on how to extract source files
Preparation
Before you proceed to setting up your Joomla Web site please make sure you are fully prepared. Please complete the following preparation steps:
Editing software
To feel comfortable working with Joomla template we recommend you to download all applications required. You can see the list of required software at the template preview page. The requirements may vary for different templates so we'll tell you here what is needed in general:
First of all you need the right applications to extract the password protected sources_#########.zip archive. You can use WinZip 9+ (Windows) and Stuffit Expander 10+ (Mac).
You may also need Adobe Photoshop application. It is used to edit .PSD source files and it necessary if you want to edit template design graphics and images.
To edit template source code files you need some code editor like Adobe Dreamweaver, Notepad++, Sublime Text etc.
To upload files to the hosting server you may need an FTP Manager like Total Commander, FileZilla, CuteFTP etc.
Hosting
As Joomla CMS is a PHP/MySQL based application you need to prepare a hosting environment to run Joomla.
If you have a live hosting please make sure it matches Joomla software requirements and is ready to be used for Joomla websites.
Otherwise you can run Joomla locally on your computer using the local server. To create a local hosting server please use the localhost applications as WAMP, AppServ, MAMP etc. Any of those can be easily installed as any other program and used to run Joomla.
Please check the tutorials below on how to configure local development environment:
To avoid unnecessary actions and save your time please choose the installation method you prefer:
I don't have a Joomla website and I want to install it from scratch. (Complete Installation)
I already have a Joomla based Web site and just want to change it's appearance installing new template.(Template Installation)
Complete Installation
Complete installation method can be used if you want to setup Joomla website from scratch. We assume that you have completed all preparation steps and have all necessary stuff.
Step 1. Uploading and unzipping
To start working with Joomla you need to upload files to your hosting server. This can be done using your hosting file manager or some third party FTP manager.
Open your template package directory and go to the 'Joomla' folder
In your browser type path to the 'unzip.php' file on your server (http://your_domain_name/unzip.php)
You should see the following screen:
Img 1. Unzip.php initial screen.
In the 'Choose your zip file' select box please select uploaded fullpackage.zip file.
In the 'Unzip to' filed specify the directory where you want to extract files.
Click 'Unzip' button to proceed.
Please make sure to set correct permissions for the directory where you are planning to extract files. Permissions should be CHMOD 755 or 777 depending on your server configuration.
Step 2. Creating Database
When you are done uploading files to the hosting server you can prepare new database for your Joomla website. You can create new database using database management tool from your hosting control panel (usually PhpMyAdmin).
Open your browser and in the address bar type root to your Joomla directory(e.g. http://your_domain_name/joomla). You should see the initial Joomla CMS installation screen:
Using the "Select Language" box choose the Joomla installation language.
Please note: "Select Language" box allows you to choose only the language of the Joomla installation process. It won't affect your Web site language.
In the "Main Configuration" area you need to fill all form fields. Required fields are marked with asterisk * symbol.
Fill "Admin Email", "Admin Username" and "Admin Password" fields in the right column to create new Joomla website user with administrative rights.
"Admin Email", "Admin Username" and "Admin Password" are required to access your Joomla Web site backend. Keep them safe.
When you are done click button in the top-right corner to proceed.
2Database
Img 3. Joomla CMS installation. Step 2. Database
At the second step of the Joomla CMS installation you need to input your database details. If you are not sure please contact your hosting provider to get the correct details.
As you are installing Joomla from scratch you only need to input "Host Name", "Username", "Database Name" and "Password". You can usually leave other options default. Though there can be some differences depending on your hosting provider.
When you are done click button in the top-right corner to proceed.
3Overview
Img 4. Joomla CMS installation. Step 3. Overview
You are almost done installing Joomla CMS. At the Overview step you need to select if you want to install Joomla Sample data.
Please note: Sample Data is required if you want to make your Joomla Web site appear as the template preview preview with all images, sample text and modules configured.
Select the Sample data package you want to install or select "None" of you want to setup pure Joomla website without any content.
In the Overview section you can check your installation settings and see if your hosting server matches Joomla requirements. If you have any red notification boxes in the "Recommended settings" section please contact your hosting provider for further assistance.
When you are done click button in the top-right corner to proceed.
4Installation Complete
Congratulations! You have successfully installed Joomla CMS.
For security reasons please delete the "Installation" directory from your Joomla root.
Now you are ready to proceed to configuring your Joomla CMS based Web site. Click "Site" button to view your Web site or "Administrator" to view Joomla backend.
Template Installation
This installation method can be used if you already have a Joomla website and just want to change the website appearance installing Joomla template.
1 Open Joomla administration panel and using the top menu go to "Extensions > Extensions Manager" screen.
Select your newly installed template and click "Make Default" button in the top left corner. Now you can view your website to see the changes.
Sample Data Installation
Sample data is used to make your Joomla website appear as the template preview page. It contains sample articles, images, modules and website settings etc. If you are not planning to install sample images or any other sample content please skip this step.
To install sample data you need to complete two simple steps.
1Upload sample images.
To upload sample images please open your template package directory and go to the "sources" folder. There you should see the "to_the_root_directory" directory. It contains files that should be placed to your Joomla installation root. Please use the file manager to upload files to your server.
2Import SQL file.
The final and most important step of the sample data installation is the import of the SQL file. SQL file is a backup of the sample database, all Joomla website data is stored there. SQL file can be imported using your database management tool (phpMyAdmin). The template SQL file - "dump.sql" is located in the "sources" directory of the template package.
Please DO NOT import SQL file if you have a live website as it will totally replace your website database and all your data will be lost.
Beware: before importing SQL file please make sure your database table prefix matches the table prefix in the SQL file.
You can check the table prefix directly in the database through the database management tool. Check for the tables names. The prefix is a set of symbols before the table name. (e.g. table "jos_assets" prefix is "jos_"). You can also find the database prefix in the "configuration.php" file in your Joomla root directory. Search for the line 19: public $dbprefix = 'jos_'; (where prefix is "jos_")
If the table prefixes don't match open "dump.sql" file with your code editor and using the Search & Replace tool (CTRL+F or CTRL+H hotkeys) replace "jos_" table prefix (used in the SQL file) with the one that matches your database.
To extend Joomla CMS functionality we use some additional extensions: plugins, modules, components. All Extensions used in the template are located in the "sources" directory and for your comfort are packed to the single archive bundle "pkg_bundle.zip". The bundle can be easily installed as any other extensions using Joomla Extensions Manager(check Img6 and Img7).
Configuration
Configuring Modules
Modules in Joomla are used to output content in some prepared positions. Available positions may vary in any particular template but general positions map can be seen below:
Img9. Joomla Template module positions map
As you can see the content area is marked with different color. It has been done as the content area can't handle any modules by default. It displays only main page content.
All positions are turned off if no modules assigned so they won't hamper you.
Please note: If you installed template sample data or used Complete installation method you can skip the following step as it is related to the manual modules configuration.
The table below lists all modules used in this template and shows how to configure them correctly. All modules can be accessed through Joomla Administration panel from the Extensions > Module Manager screen.
Img10. Joomla Modules manager
Modules Configuration Table
#
Name
Type
Position
Class Suffix
Show Title
Order
Pages
Additional info
1
Copyright
mod_footer
copyright
no
1
All
2
Archives
mod_articles_archive
aside-right
yes
6
Blog Blog Sub1 Blog Sub2 Blog Sub3 Blog Sub4 Blog Sub5 Blog Sub6
3
Superfish Menu
mod_superfish_menu
navigation
navigation
no
1
All
4
Camera Slideshow
mod_camera_slideshow
showcase
no
1
Home
5
Social Media
mod_menu
copyright
no
1
All
6
Login Form
mod_login
aside-right
yes
1
Testimonials FAQs
7
Search
mod_finder
header
offset3 finder
yes
1
All
8
Who We Are
mod_articles_single
maintop
yes
2
About Us
9
Job Opportunities
mod_articles_single
maintop
yes
4
About Us
10
History
mod_articles_news
maintop
yes
3
About Us
11
The Best of Professionals
mod_articles_news
mainbottom
yes
4
About Us
12
Services Overview
mod_articles_news
feature
services-overview
yes
1
Services
13
Method
mod_articles_single
maintop
yes
1
Services
14
How it works
mod_articles_single
mainbottom
yes
2
Services
15
Additional Services
mod_articles_single
mainbottom
yes
3
Services
16
Offers
mod_articles_single
aside-left
yes
1
Offers
17
Useful Links
mod_articles_single
aside-left
yes
1
Offers
18
Selling
mod_articles_single
aside-left
yes
1
Offers
19
Increase Productivity
mod_articles_single
content-bottom
yes
1
Offers
20
Employment
mod_articles_single
content-bottom
pull-right
yes
1
Offers
21
Categories
mod_articles_categories
aside-right
yes
5
Blog Blog Sub1 Blog Sub2 Blog Sub3 Blog Sub4 Blog Sub5 Blog Sub6
Custom HTML module configuration
For the custom HTML modules (type: mod_custom) there are sources .html files included. You may find them in the template package "sources" directory. Open .html file with your code editor and copy the code to the module Custom Output area in the Joomla admin panel.
Img11. Custom HTML module
When you are done click button to keep your changes.
Camera Slideshow module configuration
Camera Slideshow module is developed as a combination of default Joomla Articles - Newsflash module and Camera Slideshow jQuery plugin. By default Camera Slideshow module renders articles from "Slider" category (category can be changed). Each slide is a single article. To display slide image you need to load "Intro Image" to the appropriate article.
Img12. Article Intro image
To add Caption to the slides put some text to the Article body.
Tip: If you add Read More to the article body, slider will display only intro text - text before Read More.
All Camera Slideshow settings are available through Joomla Administration panel. Locate Camera Slideshow module in "Extensions > Module Manager" and click Camera Settings tab to configure slideshow.
You can check detailed video tutorials on how to configure Camera Slideshow module:
Elastislide module is a combination of default Joomla Articles Newsflash module and Elastislide jQuery plugin. By default Elastislide module renders articles from "Carousel" category (category can be changed). Each carousel item is a single article. To add image to the carousel you need to load intro image to the article as described at the Img12 illustration.
Same as images Elastislide carousel module can render article titles and text.
All Elastislide settings are available through Joomla Administration panel. Locate Elastislide module in "Extensions > Modules Manager" and click "Elastislide Settings" tab to configure carousel.
Configuring Pages
Gallery Page
Gallery page displays posts from the 'Gallery' category and it's subcategories. Gallery page has a filter in the top right corner that allows to filter images by categories.
Adding Images To add more images to the gallery you simply need to add new articles to the 'Gallery' subcategories. Each article should have full image and intro image uploaded. Both images are usually placed into the 'images/gallery' directory.
Img13. Gallery Item images
Intro image is displayed at the gallery and gallery item views. Full image is displayed when clicked on the intro image.
Adjust layout Gallery page layout can be adjusted as any Joomla category page. Open 'Menus > Main Menu' section from the Joomla administration panel and edit Gallery menu item. Switch to Advanced Options tab and you'll get access to the Gallery page settings.
For example if you want to change the number of columns for the Gallery page change the Columns option from the Blog Layout Options settings area.
Img14. Number of columns for the Gallery page
Contacts Page
Contacts page displays the contact form, address and Google Map. To change the contact details (contact email, address etc) go to the Components > Contacts > Contacts > Website Owner. Using the tabs at the top you can get access to various contact options.
To configure what should be rendered at the contacts page go to the System > Global Configuration > Contacts section
Google Map To configure Google Map please edit the templates\theme###\html\com_contact\contact\google_map.php file. It contains the embedded iframe code from the Google Map website. You can replace it with your own one.
Conclusion
We did our best to make this documentation as clear as possible. However if you have any difficulties with Joomla template or any suggestions on improving template or documentation - feel free to contact our support team through the: