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2.2.4. Automatic Installation

To install VirtueMart into Joomla! or Mambo you need to download the file VirtueMart_1.1.x-COMPLETE_PACKAGE.zip (or VirtueMart_1.1.x-COMPLETE_PACKAGE.j15.zip if you want to install on Joomla! 1.5). This file contains various Elements for VirtueMart.

Important

This "complete package" file is not installable! Its contents are, but they must be unpacked first.

"Complete Package" Contents:

  1. Unpack the file 'VirtueMart_1.1.x_COMPLETE_PACKAGE.zip' to a local directory.

  2. Log in into the Backend (using the URL ' http://www.yoursite.tld/administrator') to access the administrative interface.

    Backend Login Screen

    You need to have the priviliges of an Administrator / Superadministrator to install Elements.

  3. In Mambo/Joomla! 1.0 click Installers ⇒ Components. In Joomla! 1.5 click Extensions ⇒ Install/Uninstall in the Top Menu.

    Joomla! 1.5 Extension Manager

    Caution

    You must check if the directories listed above the component list are writable! If the directories are not writable, use ftp or JoomlaXplorer to change the permissions. For proper installation, the directories should be set to 777, after that you can change back to 755.

    In the part Upload new component (or Upload Package File) select the file 'com_virtuemart_1.1.x.zip'. This is the package file which contains all files for the VirtueMart Component, located on your computer (see Step 1).

    Now click on 'Upload File & Install'.

    Note

    Since the ZIP file is about 2 MB in size, you will have to wait a moment while the file is being uploaded to your server and unpacked. If the upload takes too long, try Step 4 or do the Manual Installation.

  4. Alternative: You can unpack the contents of 'com_virtuemart_1.1.x.zip' and upload those files to a directory in your Joomla! site (e.g /media or /tmp) using an FTP client. After you've done that, specify the directory on the server from where you want to install the files and click 'Install'.

    Note

    Package Files are mostly a ZIP or tar.gz compressed file directory, which includes all information for the installation. The main file is an XML document which describes the installation process. In order to use this function for your installation, your web server must support the zlib extension. You can check this in the Admin Section Menu item, System > System Info > System Information.

  5. The VirtueMart Component should be installed now. You'll see the Welcome Message Screen with some options for the next steps:

    Installation Welcome Screen

    You can now choose whether you want to install Sample Data (some Products, with Attributes, sorted in Categories) to see how things have to be set up.

    Or you can 'go directly to the Shop >>' without installing Sample Data.

    Caution

    This step again takes some time & the VirtueMart Installer is performing Database Queries now. So please be patient (especially when you're on Mambo)!

  6. Now you must install the VirtueMart "Main Module". In Mambo/Joomla! 1.0 click Installers ⇒ Modules. In Joomla! 1.5 click Extensions ⇒ Install/Uninstall in the Top Menu.

    Choose the file mod_virtuemart_1.1.x.zip in the File Dialog and click 'Upload File & Install'.

    Repeating this step you can install the additional modules for VirtueMart.

    Publishing the Module:

    Click 'Modules' ⇒ 'Site Modules' in the Top Menu. Now browse through the list of installed modules and find the one with the name 'VirtueMart Module'. Select it (click on the name) and modify its settings/details. You can now choose where to put the Module on your Joomla! site. For more information about modules please consult the Joomla! documentation (help.joomla.org).

    Important

    Anywhere you place the module on your site, IT MUST BE PUBLISHED. If it is not, you can't access or browse your shop.

    Additional modules

    mod_product_categories

    "Product Categories Module"

    It can display the product categories you have set up.

    mod_productscroller

    "Product Scroller Module"

    It can scroll certain products somewhere on your site using a marquee tag.

    mod_virtuemart_allinone

    "All-in-one module"

    Can display the latest, featured, top-ten or random products in one module using tabs.

    mod_virtuemart_cart

    "Mini-Cart Module"

    Displays the mini-cart for the customer with a link to the cart page.

    mod_virtuemart_currencies

    "Currency Module"

    Displays a drop down list of the Currencies, which are available/accepted in your Store.

    mod_virtuemart_featuredprod

    "Featured Products Module"

    Can display featured products in your store. Featured products are those which are "on special".

    mod_virtuemart_latestprod

    "Latest Products Module"

    Displays the newest products in your store.

    mod_virtuemart_login

    "Login Module"

    Displays a Login Form for VirtueMart Users.

    mod_virtuemart_manufacturers

    "Manufacturer Module"

    Shows all manufacturers from your store with a link to find all products of the selected manufacturer.

    mod_virtuemart_randomprod

    "Random Products Module"

    Does what the name says: displays random products from your store or a certain category.

    mod_virtuemart_search

    "Searchbox Module"

    Displays the VirtueMart searchbox (which lets the customer search for products).

    mod_virtuemart_topten

    "Top Ten Products Module"

    Displays the bestsellers from your store.

  7. Recommended: Mambot/Plugin Installation

    Click on 'Mambots' ⇒ 'Install/Uninstall' (or 'Extensions' ⇒ 'Install/Uninstall when using Joomla! 1.5) in the Top Menu.

    Search Bot

    Performs a search on the product table and delivers search results for Joomla's / Mambo's site search. Select the file 'vmxsearch.mambot_1.1.x.zip' (called 'vmxsearch.plugin_1.1.x.j15.zip' for Joomla! 1.5) and click 'Upload File & Install'.

    ProductSnapshot Mambot/Plugin

    Displays product figure/price/add-to-cart link in content items.

    Select the file 'vmproductsnapshots_1.1.x.zip' (called 'vmproductsnapshots_1.1.x.j15.zip' for Joomla! 1.5) and click 'Upload File & Install'.

    Publishing the Mambots/Plugins:

    Mambots/Plugins need to be published before they do ANYTHING. Click on Mambots ⇒ Site Mambots (Joomla! 1.5: Extensions ⇒ Plugins) in the Top Menu. Now browse through the list of installed Mambots/Plugins and find 'vmxsearchbot' and 'vmproductsnapshot'. Select one (click on the name) and modify its settings/details. Remember to publish it. For more information about Mambots/Plugins please consult the Joomla! documentation ( http://help.joomla.org).

You're now done with the Installation of VirtueMart and its Elements.

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