Couldn't install new theme in Joomla! Why is that?

It is the first ever Joomla site I created but I couldn't install a theme I downloaded from somewhaere on the net. I watched a video in youtube and do exactly then error message "Error! Could not find a Joomla! XML setup file in the package."

I tried 3 themes from different sources and the result is the same. Anyone?

 

Most likely it is a compatibility issue. Are you sure that you are using a template that is compatible with the version of Joomla you are running? If you have a 2.5 site 1.5 templates won't work. Sometimes 3.0 templates may not work with 2.5 sites.

Other than that there is also the possibility that the file needs to be unzipped before you upload and install. Sometimes developers package multiple versions of a component, template, or module in one big zip file and you have to unzip and then use the one that matches your joomla version.

If you are sure that it is neither of these problems then unzip the package and upload them all to your /templates folder. Then go into extensions->Discover and tell it to discover anything missing. It will look through the folders and find anything that has not been properly installed.

If that doesn't work then my advice would be to find a different template.

 

This happened to me lots of times and it only happened because I forgot to unzip the file that I got from the template provider. So, just unzip and upload the correct archive.

 

There is no extensions->Discover
I uploaded theme to tempates folder unzipped it but couldn't find discover so It couldn't work forme. Sorry guys I have to revert to WP or HTML. I will learn Jomla another time.

 

Sorry, I should have said Extensions -> Extension Manager then on that page click Discover.

If you don't have that option you must be running Joomla 1.5 in which case THAT is your problem. Upgrade to Joomla 2.5 or 3.0 then try installing a template that is compatible with that version.

 

Thank you. I guess the version is 1.5 b/c the installer fantastico says so. And as you said the version can be the problem but I have to learn Joomla when I have the time.

 

If you do choose to try Joomla again be sure to upgrade or install version 3.0 instead of the 1.5 version that Fantastico provides. 1.5 is no longer supported with security releases and you can't find many good components for it easily any more.

 

In the case that you are using an old version of Joomla, you can try checking this chart to give you an idea of how the joomla release cycle works:

 

UnZip First

 

Good but wouldn't it be nice if there was a link LIKE in wordpress that notifies you the version and prompts you to upgrade to the latest software?
But in general I believe WP is more user friendly.

 

The newest versions of Joomla (2.5 and later) all have automatic update checking built in. They notify you when a Joomla system update is available and can also let you know when components need updating if the maker of the component chooses to use the update feature.

The old Joomla 1.5 version that Fantastico was offering you did not have the update checker as part of the CMS software.