Time to move from JB to JA - help pls

NickMo1

I've decided after years of using the now quite old JB templates and extensions, that JB is not likely to survive the shift to J4.
Seeing as JA templates are released fairly frequently, it is time to move to those templates (especially those with K2 support).

The question is, what is the best way to do this if I want a fresh start? By that I mean completely remove JB template and extensions and start fresh with JA templates and extensions.

Can someone recommend a process to move from JB to a clean JA installation on my existing sites.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Nick

Ninja

NickMo1
Hi
First things is you have to decide which template you are going to use and what is the max modules that you can use with template.
For example JA template comes with JA ACM and in your previous site you have different JB module that can be replaced by that.

You can take backup of your live site and install the template you want to use. start moving the Modules on new template position and once all done you can remove older template.

wismasa

Are there any plans to update the last joomlabamboo templates and extensions to joomla 4?
(buildr+zeentools)

dm408

wismasa I have the same question - most of my client sites are built on the buildr templates with a lot of custom css and include the zentools module. I'm not hopeful, given what is stated in the blog post mentioned, regarding J4 compatibility plans. I suspect I'll leave the sites on J3 as it will be a nightmare to adapt 20+ websites with new templates. This was always the gamble I suppose with sticking to Joomla and Joomlabamboo. I tried to move to Wordpress but ran into issues with the maintenance/updating of commercial templates there too. I might give up web design as I'm not convinced Joomla 4 will save the Joomla CMS going forward and I'm not sure I have the resolve/time/commitment to fully move to Wordpress...

NickMo1

My reason for (sadly) moving from the JB to JA or perhaps GavickPro is as a result of this Blog post:

Joomlabamboo products are not yet confirmed to be updated to Joomla 4, it is still under the plan.
We do give the option to switch JB Pro membership to JA Pro that will give full access for all JA Templates.

taken from this blog post: https://www.joomlart.com/blog/news-updates/joomla-4-update-plan-and-product-support-life-cycle-are-here

I read somewhere that a lack of interest may have more to do with the work required to update the Zengrid framework V5, rather than the templates themselves.

There seems to be a plan to update the other template providers...

martinbeaumont

Sadly it's time to say goodbye to the JoomlaBamboo templates, I too have a lot of clients using the BuildR template, and Zentools2 - a great combination. I'd love to see them both updated for J!4

I think I'll miss ZenTools2 the most as it was so much more flexible than JA ACM, it didn't require data to be located in a bunch of different places, everything could be done using Articles which was great for clients to manage their own content.

I've started using the T4 Framework as an alternate although I'd love to find something a little more light weight and open source. I tried using Asteroid but way too much code and again content fragmentation from using Page Builder etc.

Ninja

martinbeaumont
Hi
If you are using Articles you can try JA content Listing Module that comes with different layout support to display Articles.

martinbeaumont

Ninja
Thanks, I liked the fact that with Zentools2 you could easily build your own layout, unlike JA CLM which only has a few layouts and no slider layout by default.
This might change in future versions, even better if there was a 'build your own layout' similar to Zentools, I hear WidgetKit might be a suitable alternative.

NickMo1

I agree regarding Zentools2: create your article once and use it many times to get a variety of styles - it's so efficient and there is only one file to edit.
Compare that with adding the same info every time you use - yet another - extension. The info then becomes quarantined to that extension and is not available to other extensions; and there is no article to reference!

saguaros

Hi guys,

There are more requests for Zentools module in Joomla 4 so the team would plan for the update to J!4. However, there is not detailed plan for now yet as, to be honest, we are working full time on J!4 as we have large collection of templates + extensions in several brands (JoomlArt, Gavick, Jomsocial, iJoomla, etc...) need to be updated to J4. Maybe update ZT to be compatible with J4 or a new extension with the same features, it will depend on the decision of the team so pls kindly wait.

Thank you!

NickMo1

Saguaros, thanks for the update. Sounds encouraging for Zentools or a J4 compatible equivalent.
Is there any news about BuildR or other JB templates and perhaps the Zengrid5 framework?

saguaros

NickMo1 There is no plan for it yet, let's wait for the decision from the team.

I will update here when having news.

muskbh

Hi saguaros

Any news about updating JoomlaBamboo Themes and stuff for J4. I am happily using Fullscreen, Grid on homepages and I have not found other themes at JA or other places that matches these.

NickMo1

I don't think it's going to happen. There seems to be a push to move JB subscriptions to JA if you want templates that are ready for J4.

saguaros

Hi guys

We have large collection of products: JoomlArt, Gavick, Shape5, Jomsocial, iJoomla, ... to update to Joomla 4. To be honest, we're working hard on JoomlArt/Gavick's products first, then continue to other. Joomla 4 is a big update and it would really take time.

Hope you understand.

iorbita

HI,
it would be interesting to know why give a second chance to Gavick and Shape5 and not to Joomlabamboo...

I have several sites that were built with Buildr and it put me in an awkward position towards my clients ... anyway I still hope to see Joomlabamboo in J!4 even if I think that it's not going to happen 🙁

Lorenzo

saguaros

Hi iorbita Thanks for your reply. The most difficult part is the code base of JB products - it's pretty old now comparing with Joomla 4. Updating to make it compatible with new things in Joomla 4 is not ideal, or revamp products for J4 will cost lots of time and human resource.

saguaros

muskbh I understand but at this moment, we have limited human resource and it's hard to cover all products and I already mentioned above

saguaros The most difficult part is the code base of JB products - it's pretty old now comparing with Joomla 4. Updating to make it compatible with new things in Joomla 4 is not ideal, or revamp products for J4 will cost lots of time and human resource.

iorbita

Hi,

The most difficult part is the code base of JB products - it's pretty old now comparing with Joomla 4

What does it mean? that Gavick and Shape 5 had an easier code to update? However it seems that they all used the same programming language, at what level Joomlabamboo code would have been more difficult to update?

Anyway, personally an update of Buildr template and Zentools module would be enough at least to begin with.

I'm still confident in a partial update... Thanks - Lorenzo

saguaros

iorbita Let's wait for the decision from the team, for now, there is no plan for update yet unfortunately.

muskbh

Hi saguaros and others...

Maybe you/somebody can guide me in directions of other templates which look like JoomlaBamboo: Fullscreen and Grid4 - I have looked so many places and cannot find looks like that.
I guess the reason many joined JoomlaBamboo was that their templates are the top on aesthetics and variation.

/Kasper