Load sampledata

The Load sampledata action installs the fictional demo content included with the JEM package. It is useful for testing JEM views, registrations, venues, categories, types, images, attachments, links, and frontend menu layouts before building real event content.

Sample data is intended for test and demo sites. Do not load it on a production site that already contains real JEM content.

Where to Find This Action

Open the Joomla administrator and go to Components → JEM. The Load sampledata icon is shown in the JEM control panel.

Loading sample data requires JEM management permission. Users without the required Joomla permission cannot run this action.

When to Use Sample Data

Use sample data when you want a quick working dataset for learning, testing, documentation, or checking a new JEM installation.

Scenario	Recommended use	Why
Fresh test installation	Load sample data before creating real events.	Gives you ready-made events, venues, categories, images, and registrations to inspect.
Template or layout testing	Use sample data to check list, detail, calendar, map, and module output.	Provides varied records for frontend display tests.
Registration workflow testing	Review sample events with booking, waiting-list, and capacity settings.	Helps test booking display and backend registration counters.
Documentation or screenshots	Use sample records as neutral demonstration content.	Avoids exposing real site data in screenshots or guides.
Existing production site	Do not load sample data.	Sample data is demo content and should not be mixed with real event data.

Important Requirement: Empty JEM Data

JEM only allows sample data to be loaded when no JEM data already exists. This prevents demo records from being mixed into a real site by mistake.

If JEM already has categories, events, venues, or other content, the action is blocked.
If only the default empty Uncategorised category exists, JEM can remove it and continue.
If the Uncategorised category already has event relations, the action is blocked.

To test sample data on a site that already has real JEM content, clone the site to staging first or use a separate test Joomla installation.

What Sample Data Adds

The sample dataset is installed from the package files under administrator/components/com_jem/assets. It includes SQL data plus images and attachment files.

Data area	Examples	Use it to test
Categories	Music, museum, and audience-style category examples.	Category lists, category filters, category calendars, and category colours.
Types	Event, category, and venue types with icons and colours.	Type-based views, type icons, type colours, and type filters.
Venues	Sample venue records with address and map-related data.	Venue lists, venue detail pages, maps, and venue calendars.
Events	Past, current, future, recurring, featured, and registration-enabled events.	Event lists, calendars, event detail pages, timelines, and registration display.
Images	Event, venue, and category images from the sample archive.	Thumbnails, detail images, responsive layouts, and image cleanup workflows.
Attachments and links	Sample downloadable files and supporting links.	Attachment layouts, link layouts, and backend attachment auditing.

What Happens During Loading

When the action runs, JEM imports the demo SQL, extracts sample assets, and places files in the correct JEM folders.

JEM checks whether existing JEM data already exists.
JEM prepares any sample-data schema fields needed by the current version.
The SQL file sampledata.sql is loaded into the JEM tables.
The current administrator is assigned as creator for sample records where applicable.
Sample images are copied into images/jem/events, images/jem/venues, and images/jem/categories.
Sample attachment files are copied into the configured JEM attachment path.
The temporary extraction folder is removed.

The sample data archive is extracted temporarily. If extraction fails, check that the Joomla temporary folder is writable.

Images and Attachments

Sample images and attachments are copied as physical files, not only database records. This lets the demo content show realistic images and downloadable files immediately after loading.

Event images are copied to the JEM event image folder.
Venue images are copied to the JEM venue image folder.
Category images are copied to the JEM category image folder.
Attachment files are copied under the configured JEM attachment path.
Thumbnail files are included when the sample archive provides them.

If you later remove sample data manually, remember to remove unused sample image and attachment files as well, or use Housekeeping where appropriate.

Recommended Workflow

Install JEM on a fresh Joomla test site.
Open the JEM control panel.
Click Load sampledata.
Wait for the success message.
Create frontend menu items for the JEM views you want to test.
Publish any JEM modules you want to review.
Open JEM Statistics and check the new content totals.

After Loading Sample Data

Sample data is most useful when paired with frontend menu items and modules. The records exist in the backend immediately, but the frontend only shows them through configured Joomla menu items and module positions.

Create menu items for event lists, calendars, category views, venue views, and user-area views.
Publish JEM modules such as Basic, Wide, Calendar, Teaser, Banner, Venues Map, Jubilee, or Types.
Check event detail pages, venue pages, attachments, links, images, and registration sections.
Use the Statistics panel to review the installed totals.
Use the sample records to test custom CSS, template overrides, and layout settings.

Removing Sample Data

Sample data can be removed manually from the backend lists, or fully cleared with the destructive Housekeeping option that deletes all JEM data.

Delete all JEM data removes JEM content data. Use it only on test or staging sites, and only after making a backup if anything on the site should be kept.

For a small cleanup, delete sample events, venues, categories, types, and attachments manually.
For a complete demo reset, use Housekeeping on a test site.
Check whether physical image and attachment files should also be removed.
Do not use a test site with sample data as a production site without cleaning it first.

Troubleshooting

JEM says sample data is already installed

Check whether JEM already contains categories, events, venues, or other records.
Use a fresh test site if you want to load the sample dataset.
Do not delete real data just to load sample data on a production site.

The archive cannot be extracted

Check that Joomla's temporary folder is writable.
Check filesystem permissions on the administrator component assets folder.
Confirm that sampledata.zip exists in the installed JEM package.

Sample images do not display

Check that files exist under images/jem/events, images/jem/venues, and images/jem/categories.
Check file permissions.
Clear Joomla cache and browser cache.
Regenerate thumbnails from Housekeeping if thumbnail sizes were changed later.

Sample attachments are listed but do not download

Check the configured JEM attachment path.
Confirm that the attachment object folders and files were copied.
Check file permissions and access levels.
Use the Attachments backend view to inspect the records.

Related Project Notes

#2030 is relevant when testing the sample dataset with newer type and attachment workflows.
#2142 adds the backend Attachments view, useful for checking sample attachment records.
#2186 introduces the backend Statistics panel, useful for reviewing sample data after loading.