Installation

The Gantry framework itself is independent of any template. Each Gantry-enabled template relies on the Gantry framework to provide the underlying base and extensive functionality that enables the creation of such powerful sites. In early versions of Gantry templates we bundled the library together with the template to make deployment as easy as possible. However this lead to issues when we needed to update Gantry but not the template, so as of version 2.5 the library is broken out of the template.

There will be a 'bundle' that contains and installs the template plus the Gantry library in one simple installation process. Also, you can install the library and template independently if needed. This separation allows the upgrading of the template and the Gantry library to not require one another and makes it easier for the end user to stay up-to-date with all the latest features and functionality.

A quick way to see the installation process in action is to watch this short screencast. It will provide a run-through of the steps required to quickly and easily get Gantry installed.

Installing the Template + Library Bundle

The fastest way to install the core Gantry template is to install the unified installer bundle. First download the latest bundle from the Download Area. Save this file locally on your computer. Do not attempt to extract or expand this file.

Next navigate to your Joomla Administrator in your browser. Then choose the Extensions -> Install/Uninstall option from the main menu. This will take you to the Joomla installer area.

In the Upload Package File fieldset you will see a Browse button. Click this button and select your bundle archive you downloaded earlier. When selected, click the Upload File & Install button to proceed with the installation process.

The archive will be uploaded, extracted and installed at this point. For Joomla 1.5, the Gantry library will be installed as a hidden component. Basically that means that Gantry will be treated as a component but will not have a front-end or back-end presence. When Joomla 1.6 is released, Gantry will be installed as a Library, which is a new extension type for Joomla 1.6. The template will also be installed in the usual location and made available in the Template Manager.

After installation you will be able to see the rt_gantry_j15 entry in the Template Manager. Here you will find the version information that you can use to determine if updates are required in the future. You will also be able to see the com_gantry entry in the Components section of the Extensions Manager and it should also contain an entry showing the current Gantry version.

Installing the Gantry Library Only

Installing the stand-alone Gantry library is much like installing the bundle. First you have to download the latest stand-alone Gantry library from the Download Area. Save this file locally on your computer. Do not attempt to extract or expand this file.

Next navigate to your Joomla Administrator in your browser. Then choose the Extensions -> Install/Uninstall option from the main menu. This will take you to the Joomla installer area.

In the Upload Package File fieldset you will see an Upload button. Click this button and select your stand-alone Gantry library archive you downloaded earlier. When selected, click the Upload File & Install button to proceed with the installation process.

As with the bundle, the archive will be uploaded, extracted and installed. In the case of the stand-alone library however, only the library is installed in the components area, and without a template to use it you will not be able to do much with it.

After installation you will be able to see the com_gantry entry in the Components section of the Extensions Manager and it should contain an entry showing the current Gantry version.

You will need to make sure the new template is set to Default before you will be able to see it on the front-end of your site. To accomplish this, navigate to the Template Manager in your Joomla Administrator. Once there, you can select the radio button next to the newly installed Gantry template named rt_gantry_j15 and click the Default button in the toolbar. This should reload the page and now you should see an indication star next to the template you selected.

Installing the Gantry Template Only

Installing the Gantry template is much like installing the bundle or the library. First you have to download the latest stand-alone Gantry template from the Download Area. Save this file locally on your computer. Do not attempt to extract or expand this file.

Next navigate to your Joomla Administrator in your browser. Then choose the Extensions -> Install/Uninstall option from the main menu. This will take you to the Joomla installer area.

In the Upload Package File fieldset you will see an Upload button. Click this button and select your Gantry template archive you downloaded earlier. When selected, click the Upload File & Install button to proceed with the installation process.

As with the bundle or library, the archive will be uploaded, extracted and installed. The Gantry template requires the existence of the Gantry Library, so you must install the library first or the template will not function correctly. After installation you will be able to see the rt_gantry_j15 entry in the Template Manager. Here you will find the version information that you can use to deterine if updates are required in the future.

You will need to make sure the new template is set to Default before you will be able to see it on the front-end of your site. To accomplish this, navigate to the Template Manager in your Joomla Administrator. Once there, you can select the radio button next to the newly installed Gantry template named rt_gantry_j15 and click the Default button in the toolbar. This should reload the page and now you should see an indication star next to the template you selected.