Documentation

The Basics documentation is the starting point for installing, updating, upgrading, checking requirements, and keeping a JEM site maintainable. Use these pages before changing a live Joomla site or moving between Joomla major versions.

Basic Documentation Pages

The pages in this section cover the technical preparation and maintenance tasks that should be understood before configuring events, venues, calendars, modules, plugins, or custom layouts.

Choose the Correct Path

The most important basic decision is whether the site needs an installation, an update, or an upgrade.

Version Compatibility

JEM release lines are aligned with Joomla major versions. Always check the current system requirements before installing a package.

Before Changing a Site

Basic maintenance is safest when the same preparation steps are used every time.

1. Check the Joomla version and installed JEM version.
2. Check system requirements for the target JEM package.
3. Make a full backup of Joomla files and the database.
4. Test the change on a staging copy when the site is important.
5. Download the correct full JEM package for the Joomla major version.
6. Review custom template overrides, custom CSS, modules, plugins, and menu items after the change.

After Installing or Updating

After JEM is installed or updated, check the main backend and frontend areas before handing the site back to editors.

• Open Components → JEM and confirm that the control panel loads.
• Open the Update check screen and review the installed version.
• Check global settings, especially layout, images, attachments, permissions, countries, and user-control options.
• Check existing frontend menu items such as event lists, calendars, venues, categories, search, and user-area pages.
• Check JEM modules and plugins if the site uses them.
• Clear Joomla cache and browser cache after layout or CSS-related changes.

Where to Go Next

After the basics are clear, continue with the documentation area that matches the task.

Common First Steps

On a new JEM installation, administrators usually start with a small working setup before enabling more advanced features.

1. Install the correct JEM package for the Joomla version.
2. Open JEM Settings and review global defaults.
3. Create or review categories, venues, event types, and venue types.
4. Create one or more events.
5. Create frontend menu items such as Simple List, Event Detail, Calendar, Venues, or Search.
6. Publish JEM modules only when they are needed.
7. Enable optional plugins only when the site uses those integrations.

Troubleshooting

The installer rejects the package

• Check that the JEM package matches the Joomla major version.
• Check PHP version, database support, and required PHP extensions.
• Check Joomla's extension installer message for the exact cause.

The site works in the backend but not the frontend

• Create or review Joomla menu items for JEM frontend views.
• Check publication state, access levels, categories, language settings, and dates.
• Check template overrides and custom CSS if output looks broken after an update.

An update or upgrade path is unclear

• Identify the current Joomla version and JEM version first.
• Read the Updating and Upgrading pages before installing a package.
• Use a staging copy when the site has real production data.

Related Project Notes

• #1552 is relevant to expanding help and documentation coverage for JEM users.
• #1945 records early Joomla 6 testing work that informs compatibility guidance.
• #1951 tracks the Joomla 6 / JEM 5 playground and related compatibility work.
• #2076 documents an early JEM 5 testing issue around saved configuration data.

Related Documentation

• System requirements
• Installation
• Updating JEM
• Upgrading JEM between Joomla major versions
• Update check
• Load sampledata
• Backend documentation
• Frontend documentation