Engine Templates

If you are using the Joomla platform to manage and develop your website, you probably know that Joomla! 5 has just been released with many new interesting and useful features. However, is it necessary to update Joomla! 4 to Joomla! 5 now If you are utilizing our Joomla! 4 templates? It’s time for you to explore the answer with the blog we introduce to you today!

Basic information about Joomla! 5

Recently, the Joomla developer has officially announced that Joomla! 5 was released on October 17th, 2023. This latest version brings a plethora of advanced features that will greatly enhance the overall Joomla experience. They include code optimization, heightened security measures, faster loading speeds, and streamlined website management capabilities. If you’re eager to dive into the specifics of these new features, look no further than here.

When Joomla! 4 was introduced two years ago, users faced a complex and meticulous process of migrating everything from Joomla! 3 to Joomla! 4. It was vital to exercise caution in order to avoid any loss of data. Additionally, users had to adapt to the new interface of Joomla! 4, which was quite different from its predecessor, Joomla! 3. However, the transition from Joomla! 4 to Joomla! 5 will be much smoother. The admin interface will remain largely unchanged, meaning the upgrade process will be simpler and less time-consuming.

If you have your Joomla! 4 geared up for an impressive upgrade to Joomla 5, here’s an important heads-up. It is imperative to ensure your current Joomla version is 4.4.0 before moving ahead with the transition to Joomla! 5.0. So, if you’re using a Joomla version lower than 4.4.0, kindly make the necessary upgrade to Joomla 4.4.0 first. Once that’s securely in place, you can smoothly progress towards the magnificent Joomla! 5.0.

How to update Joomla! 4 to Joomla! 5 simply?

We announce that our Joomla! templates are now available in the Joomla! 4.2.8 version. Rest assured, we are here to guide you through the two main steps required to seamlessly transition to Joomla! 5. The first step is updating Joomla! 4.2.8 to Joomla 4.4. After that, let’s continue to update Joomla! 4.4 to Joomla! 5.0.

Updating Joomla! 4.2.8 to Joomla! 4.4

It’s easy and simple for you to update Joomla! 4.2.7 to Joomla! 4.4 without any trouble or difficulties. Let’s get started by opening your admin dashboard, navigating to the System option, and choosing the Joomla 4.4.0 in the Update section.

The system will present you with a comprehensive pre-update check for Joomla 4.4.0. Should all elements align flawlessly, simply mark the box beside the declarative statement “Acknowledge the warnings about potentially incompatible extensions and proceed with the update.” With anticipation coursing through your veins, proceed to confidently press the distinguished Update button.

After running comprehensive tests on our Joomla! templates, we are thrilled to announce the transition from Joomla! 4.2.8 to Joomla! 4.4 is seamlessly flawless. This upgrade guarantees a hassle-free experience, as it poses no risks of data loss or any unwelcome surprises. Feel confident and worry-free while effortlessly embarking on this update endeavor.

Updating Joomla! 4.4 to Joomla! 5.0

To embark on the journey of updating Joomla! 5.0, it is paramount to guarantee that your esteemed website gracefully embraces the array of technical prerequisites listed below.

• PHP: 8.1
• MySQL: 8.0.13+
• MariaDB: 10.4+
• PostgreSQL: 12+

So, Is it necessary to update Joomla! 4 to Joomla! 5 now? After checking and ensuring your site adapts to all the technical requirements above, you will explore the 3 options below and choose the most suitable one:

• Are you currently using normal Joomla! templates (the templates don’t use third-party extensions such as eCommerce extensions or booking extensions) from Enginetemplates? If yes, you’ll be thrilled to know that upgrading from Joomla! 4 to Joomla! 5 is now a breeze. All of them are expertly crafted with the Helix Ultimate Framework, meaning they already include the latest version that is fully compatible with Joomla! 5. Helix Ultimate framework can be updated using the Joomla update system. Whenever a new version of Helix Ultimate is available, you will receive a notification in the Joomla control panel, then proceed to update Joomla! from version 4.4 to 5.0. for a seamless transition.
• When utilizing our eCommerce Joomla templates, it is crucial for you to verify the compatibility of the eCommerce extensions with Joomla 5. Specifically, before making the transition from Joomla 4.4 to Joomla 5.0, it is of utmost importance to ensure that the authors of the eCommerce extensions have developed a compatible version that functions seamlessly with Joomla 5. Should a compatible extension be available, it is advisable to update it prior to the upgrade. However, in the event that the eCommerce extensions have not yet been adapted for Joomla 5, it’s a good idea for you to continue using Joomla 4.4 and patiently await the release of the latest version that is fully compatible with Joomla 5. At present, Hikashop has successfully adapted to Joomla 5, although there is no available information regarding Virtuemart and J2Store’s compatibility.
• In case the templates you are using are ones including functional extensions, such as booking extension Solidres, it’s necessary for you to get in touch with the extension author to ensure that the extension you are using is compatible with the Joomla! 5 version. Once all functional extensions work well with Joomla! 5, it’s time for you to update the extensions and then upgrade Joomla! 4 to Joomla! 5.

Some issues related to Helix Ultimate and Pagebuilder Font Awesome 6. How to fix them?

At present, there are 2 issues with Helix Ultimate and Pagebuilder Font Awesome 6, including menu arrow icons and rating star icons in a single post. Let’s see the issues with the two following images.

There are 2 ways to solve the 2 issues above. You can add code to custom CSS or update the Fonts file to solve them. Here are the detailed instructions.

Solving issues with code

Option 1: To fix this issue, you need to log in to your admin dashboard -> Click on System -> Templates-> Site Templates -> [template-name] Details and Files -> Open index.php file, at line 129, please add font-awesome.min.css. See image below

Option 2 – Step 1: Go to admin dashboard -> System -> Site Template Styles (in the Templates section).

Step 2: Choose the active template you are utilizing for your site. Then click on the Template Options.

Step 3: Open Custom Code -> Custom CSS. Now, add the code below if you want to solve the menu arrow icons issue.

.offcanvas-menu .offcanvas-inner ul.menu>li.menu-parent>.nav-header>.menu-toggler:after,
.offcanvas-menu .offcanvas-inner ul.menu>li.menu-parent.menu-parent-open>.nav-header>.menu-toggler:after,
.offcanvas-menu .offcanvas-inner ul.menu>li.menu-parent.menu-parent-open>a>.menu-toggler:after,
.offcanvas-menu .offcanvas-inner ul.menu>li.menu-parent.menu-parent-open>.menu-separator>.menu-toggler:after,
.offcanvas-menu .offcanvas-inner ul.menu>li.menu-parent li.menu-parent .menu-toggler:after,
.offcanvas-menu .offcanvas-inner ul.menu>li.menu-parent>a>.menu-toggler:after,
.offcanvas-menu .offcanvas-inner ul.menu>li.menu-parent>.menu-separator>.menu-toggler:after,
body.ltr .sp-megamenu-parent .sp-dropdown .sp-dropdown-items .sp-has-child>a:after,
body.ltr .sp-megamenu-parent>li.sp-has-child>a:after,
body.ltr .sp-megamenu-parent>li.sp-has-child>span:after,
.chzn-container.chzn-container-single .chzn-single div>b:after,
.article-ratings .rating-symbol span.rating-star,
#modal-menu ul.sp-megamenu-parent li.sp-has-child>a:after,
#modal-menu ul.sp-megamenu-parent li.sp-has-child>span:after,
.header-modules .search form:after {
font-family: "Font Awesome 6 Free";
}


Solving issues with Fonts File updating

Another approach to tackle the issues would be to update the Fonts File. To effectively execute this solution, it is imperative to begin by obtaining the Fonts File package and subsequently extracting it from its compressed state.

Now, it’s easy for you to upload the Fonts File via File Manager (for VPS or Hosting with FTP/SFTP support) without any trouble.

If you desire to upload the Fonts File via FTP, let’s visit your hosting cPanel -> create an FTP account -> link to your website folder (normally it’s the “public_html” folder). After connecting, it’s time for you to browse your local drive to upload from the Local Site window on the left. Then, drag the files to an appropriate folder in the Remote Site on the right, /var/www/html/[site-name]/templates/[template-name]/fonts

In case your hosting supports cPanel, you are easily able to access cPanel > File Manager, open your website folder, and upload the Fonts File with the folder path we showed you above.

Issues Icon  & Background image doesn’t show on SP Page builder 5. How to fix them?

Let’s see the issues with the following image.

To fix this issue, you need to log in to your admin dashboard -> Click on Components > SP Page Builder > Pages > Page needs to be edited for icon
Go to Section > click the edit Features box. Then set the size for the icon and Save.

For the background image problems, if you don’t see the same display as the sample Demo, please go to Section > Tab Style > Background and choose the Image tab.

Closing thoughts

In light of recent developments, we would like to inform you that Joomla! 5 has recently been unveiled. So, is it necessary to update Joomla! 4 to Joomla! 5 now? It is important to note that it will take some time for other third-party extensions to align themselves with Joomla! 5 in terms of compatibility and optimization. As a result, our Joomla! templates have to wait for the latest updates from these extensions to ensure everything works well.

ET Digital Team

We’re a Digital Team from EngineTemplate with 5 content experts. Our team has 5 years exp in open source Joomla and WordPress, we make daily blogs and build useful resources for everyone who is having issues with open source while using it.