There are many types of Joomla extensions that you can add to the site, such as components, modules, plugins, and so on. Joomla extensions can be installed by using any of these methods:
- Upload Package File
- Install from Directory
- Install from URL
Let’s take a quick look through the advantages and disadvantages of each method.
1. Upload Package File
You use this method when you prefer installing the extension without unpacking the archive file. However, it takes a long time to install the extension to a hosted web site (on a remote server).
Follow these steps:
- Download one or more archive files (normally in .zip or gz format) from the extension provider’s web site to your local disk drive.
- Click the Browse button to specify the location to which the extension’s archive file is to be downloaded.
- Click the Upload File & Install Joomla will read the contents of the archive file and install the extension.
2. Install from Directory
Using this method, you unpack the archive file into a directory and upload that directory onto the server.
Follow these steps:
- Download the extension’s archive file to your local disk drive.
- Create a temporary directory on the local disk drive and unpack the extension’s archive file into this temporary directory.
- Using FTP, upload the contents of this directory (including files and subdirectories) to a directory on the server.
- In the Install Directory field, specify the directory to which you uploaded the files and subdirectories of the package.
- Click the Install Joomla will install the contents of the given directory.
3. Install from URL
Using this method, you don’t download the archive file to your local computer; you instead just specify the URL of the target archive file. Then click the Install button and Joomla will automatically install the extension directly from this URL. This method is preferred when installing the extension on a hosted web site (remote server). The archive file of the extension (to be installed on the web site) is first uploaded to the remote domain; then its URL is specified in the Install URL box.
When installation is done, the screen displays the message Install Component Success. If the installation is not successful, an error message is displayed.
By default, the newly installed extension is in unpublished mode, so you need to enable it from the respective manager, such as the Module Manager or Plugin Manager.
Source: Harwani B M (2015), Foundations of Joomla!, Apress; 2nd ed edition