Converting a Joomla 1.5 template to 1.7

I’ve recently been working on a simple Joomla 1.7 website and as I often do I decided to use an old self-made template as a base.

Now one of the things about Joomla 1.7 is that the templating system has changed somewhat so I can’t just copy the Joomla 1.5 version over with no changed. Some small modifications are necessary. The installation method has also changed; In Joomla 1.7 one installs templates like one would install any other extension. In addition each template can have a number of “styles” which work much like the old params model.

First change is the doctype. Use this:
<!DOCTYPE install PUBLIC "-//Joomla! 1.7//DTD template 1.0//EN" "http://www.joomla.org/xml/dtd/1.6/template-install.dtd">

Next use the <extension> keyword

<extension version="1.7" type="template" client="site">

Next update the name section. Note that this MUST be the same as the foldername of your template – not simply a descriptive name.

<name>templatefoldername</name>

Following that you can use all of the usual suspects, e.g.


<creationDate>23/10/11</creationDate>
<author>cmsbloke</author>
<copyright>(c) www.cmsbloke.com 2009</copyright>
<authorEmail>info@cmsbloke.com</authorEmail>
<authorUrl>http://www.cmsbloke.com</authorUrl>
<version>1.7.0</version>
<description>Custom Template for cmsbloke</description>
<files>
<filename>index.php</filename>
<filename>templateDetails.xml</filename>
<filename>favicon.ico</filename>
<filename>params.ini</filename>
<filename>html/index.html</filename>
<filename>template_thumbnail.png</filename>
<filename>images/footer.jpg</filename>
<filename>images/footerl.jpg</filename>
<filename>images/footerr.jpg</filename>
<filename>images/bg.jpg</filename>
<filename>images/content_bg.jpg</filename>
<filename>images/top.jpg</filename>
<filename>images/topl.jpg</filename>
<filename>images/topr.jpg</filename>
<filename>images/head.gif</filename>
<filename>images/mainl.jpg</filename>
<filename>images/mainr.jpg</filename>
<filename>images/sep.gif</filename>
<filename>images/logo.jpg</filename>
<filename>images/mainimg.jpg</filename>
<filename>css/template_css.css</filename>
</files>
<positions>
<position>left</position>
<position>right</position>
<position>top</position>
<position>banner</position>
<position>search</position>
<position>bottom</position>
<position>user1</position>
<position>user2</position>
<position>user3</position>
<position>user4</position>
<position>user5</position>
<position>user6</position>
<position>user7</position>
<position>user8</position>
<position>user9</position>
<position>debug</position>
<position>syndicate</position>
<position>slideshow</position>
<position>navbar</position>
<position>footer</position>
<position>languagebar</position>
<position>social</position>
</positions>
</extension>

Once you’ve changed this template.xml upload it with the rest of your Joomla template. Go into the Joomla administrator console and click on the Extensions | Install.

Now click on Discover. Your template should be listed for installation.

QED!