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03

May

2008

Joomla 1.5 extensions - Our favourites
Written by David Towers   

The best Joomla 1.5 extensions Yesterday we shared with you the most important Joomla 1.5 extensions that we recommend you install. Those extensions were appropriate for nearly every Joomla 1.5 website.

Today we'd like to share with you a larger list of our favourite Joomla 1.5 extensions. This list includes over 15 extensions (modules and plugins) which will help you customise Joomla 1.5 to create the sort of website you desire. The list includes extensions for Joomla 1.5 which are useful for SEO, image management, creating blogs and creating communities.

 

Why use Joomla 1.5 extensions?

The reason for installing modules and plugins in Joomla 1.5 is to expand the functionality of your website. (It's a credit to the Joomla community how many good quality extensions exist).

We have created this list of extensions because we have used them when building Joomla 1.5 websites and that we can recommend them for use on other websites.

If you feel like we have missed off a useful plugin, please follow the link at the bottom of the table below to suggest a new extension or alternatively click here to contact us.

What does the extension do? Is it free? Is it native?
Sh404sef
Search engine friendly URLs, meta tag management for each page (title, description, keywords, author, language), add h1 tags to contentheadings and componentheadings.


Legacy mode required
JoomlaPack
Complete site backup (including files and database)


JCE 1.5
WYSIWYG editor


Xmap
HTML and XML Sitemap


Breast Cancer Awareness RSS Syndicator For Joomla 1.5
RSS syndicator


Signallogin
Fully customisable login module


Google Adsense Plugin
Add Google Adsense into content easily


AdSense Module
Google Adsense module


Calendar Icon
Show article date in neat CSS format


Jom Comment
Flexible and customisable comment system

$30

Community builder
Build and manage communities


Legacy mode required
RokAccess
Hide content according to membership status (Requires hack from GoodWebPractices).


Blog post avatar
Add author avatar next to article title


HTML Tidy PHP
Ensures clean and tidy HTML markup


HighSlide for Joomla
Lightbox effect for displaying images


Ninja Shadowbox
Lightbox effect for viewing media (images, video and websites)


Frontpage Slideshow
CSS slideshow plugin

$30

JSN ImageShow
Flash slideshow plugin

$30

jReviews
Review and rating system

$100

Joomla 1.5 extensions we recommend

What do you think about this list? Are there any plugins that you think we have missed out?

34 Comments
0
fuqaha
May 04, 2008
Votes: +0

One thing that really hinders me from using 1.5 for all my sites is the lack of real gallery component. Unless someone manage to port PonyGallery or RSGallery / create a new gallery component, i think im gonna stick with 1.0.x.

=)

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David Towers
David T
May 05, 2008
Votes: +1

Hi fuqaha, thanks for your comment! RSGallery 2 is being made available for Joomla 1.5 in legacy mode. You download the production Alpha here: http://rsgallery2.net/content/view/92/62/ Why not give it a try?

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Steve | Hannisdal Express
Steve Moseley | Hannisdal Express
May 07, 2008
Votes: +0

I love frontpage slideshow - using it on our new upcoming site smilies/smiley.gif Also just tried out Joomlapack. Great component for backing it up.

Although you have to pay for it, I'd also mention Joomla Cloner as a great tool - Especially for 1.0x without the FTP layer.

I had all sorts of issues with permission problems and transferring my site. If I did it will FTP then the server owned it. Then I had to keep permissions wide open which I didn't want to do. Joomla Cloner uses php to open it, so the permissions stay with PHP. Very nice. Haven't tried moving a 1.5 site yet, but it was a God send for 1.0x.

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David Towers
David T
May 07, 2008
Votes: -2

JoomlaCloner from http://www.joomlaplug.com/ is available for Joomla 1.5 but is actually called XCloner, it's basically a newer version. We have been using JoomlaCloner here at GoodWebPractices with Joomla 1.0 and agree that it's a fantastic backup tool.

Are you working on a new site for Hannisdal Express Steve? Using Joomla 1.5?

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Steve Moseley | Hannisdal Express
May 08, 2008
Votes: -1

@David

Yes - the site is almost done. We just waiting on a few things. We are using Joomla 1.5 which has been interesting.

To me, it seem like there are 1-2 extensions in a category I want. If those don't work, then I've got problems. We wanted to have a newsletter component so we settled on Acajoom's Free Newsletter component. Its pretty powerful but I hated some of the management (such as changing outputted text). I had to live with it though as there wasn't too many other options.

Once I get the site up, I'll have to have you guys check it out and give me some traffic! smilies/smiley.gif

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Steve | Hannisdal Express
Steve Moseley | Hannisdal Express
May 08, 2008
Votes: +2

David,

Where did you guys get those date numbers for the articles? I know I've read about it somewhere but can't remember what it is.

Thanks!

Steve

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Steve | Hannisdal Express
Steve Moseley | Hannisdal Express
May 08, 2008
Votes: +0

Never mind! I see it is already on the list!

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David Towers
David T
May 08, 2008
Votes: -1

Hi Steve,

Great to learn your new site is using Joomla 1.5! We've developed a number of sites in Joomla 1.5 and much prefer it to Joomla 1.0... Joomla 1.5 is especially advantageous when clients are using the website, simply because its more user friendly.

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Andrea
May 10, 2008
Votes: -2

You miss the best: Jreviews. Yes, is only available for 1.0 since now, but the 1.5 version is coming.

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Kyle Ledbetter
May 11, 2008
Votes: +0

Somehow missed the Calendar Icon on the Joomla Extensions site, thanks for listing that one, just added to the JoomlaPraise blog. Congrats on the site btw, it's come along nicely.

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David Towers
David T
May 11, 2008
Votes: +0

Andrea - when JReviews 1.5 becomes available it will be added to the list!

Kyle - Glad you found the list helpful. The Blog calender is a nice little extension! smilies/smiley.gif What do you think of our potential homepage switch by the way Kyle? http://www.goodwebpractices.co...ayout.html We're going to use PraiseSlides hopefully...

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Peety
May 13, 2008
Votes: +3

Thanks for the list. It reminded me to get an update for FrontPage Slideshow. And I think I will give Jom Comment a try..

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David Towers
David T
May 13, 2008
Votes: +0

Glad you have found the list useful Peety! Good luck trying out Jom Comment smilies/smiley.gif

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Seree
May 14, 2008
Votes: +0

Hi David,

Thanks for sharing and I really love RokAccess as I'm preparing my site to go membership.

Best regards,
Seree W.

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David Towers
David T
May 14, 2008
Votes: +0

Hi Seree! You're welcome! RokAccess is a great extensions for having certain content only for members! smilies/smiley.gif

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Alexis
May 30, 2008
Votes: +0

Great for this purpose

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Zibi
June 13, 2008
Votes: +1

Jreviews is released in 1.5 native version.

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David Towers
David T
June 16, 2008
Votes: +1

Thanks Zibi I have added it to the table.

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Jez
June 19, 2008
Votes: +1

Great list - very helpful - thanks very much!!!

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m0nb0f
June 24, 2008
Votes: +1

Great list,
So, could you tell me what is the comment system that you use ? Is it Jom Comment ?
I find it good (avatar and sytem of vote).
http://extensions.joomla.org/component/option,com_mtree/task,viewlink/link_id,4389/Itemid,35/ is great too but the support is ended smilies/cry.gif
Regards

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David Towers
David T
June 24, 2008
Votes: +0

Hi m0nb0f!

We're using Azrul's JomComment! We really like it and can certainly recommend it! In actual fact I'm currently writing a post about JomComment now... So if you come back tomorrow you will be able to read in detail what we think about it. smilies/smiley.gif

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David Towers
David T
June 25, 2008
Votes: +2

The new post about Jom Comment is here m0nb0f:

http://www.goodwebpractices.com/joomla/azrul-jom-comment-review.html

Hope you find it useful.

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Lauren G
June 30, 2008
Votes: +2

Any suggestions on an extension for 1.5 that will help with RSS feed issues - the way DS-Syndicate does for 1.0?

I can't figure out how to get the "Read more" link to show up in my site's feed and it's frustrating and problematic....

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Francis Alisson
September 12, 2008
Votes: +0

This is a very very good site. Congratulations.

Best regards from Brazil

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Halbertech
September 22, 2008
Votes: +1

This is a pretty good list. I do think, however, that the sh404sef choice is the worst SEF for joomla 1.5. It's stability is fair at best! I've used it and it is a nightmare to configure. The winner for 1.5 hands down is SEF Advance 2008 (Emir Sakic) and second Artio. I can't figure out why sh404sef is an editor's pick...Also JCE is a good editor...although I give a slight edge to wysiswygpro. eXtplorer file manager utility is a handy tool and newcomer intellispire updater for joomla are tools no joomla admin should be without. Nice job on the list.

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erichansa
September 26, 2008
Votes: +0

very good article. thanks

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David Towers
David T
November 28, 2008
Votes: +1

Glad you guys have found this post useful. Lauren, for RSS feeds in Joomla 1.5 we recommend using the Breast Cancer Awareness RSS Syndicator: http://www.bodyhealthdebate.co...tor-joomla

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Looker
January 22, 2009
Votes: -1

Jom Comment is not working with IE7. Button "Add Comment" failed.

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munja
April 26, 2009
Votes: +0

hello... i wanna ask you something... can anyone tell me what is the best community pack for joomla... i tried comuna but something is wrong with administrator access...

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pranesh Roy
July 10, 2009
Votes: +0

i want to a form which contents an email address field & a name field after fill the for user can redirect to the inner page & name,email address save to the database

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johnreil
October 15, 2009
Votes: +0

hi pranesh roy, can you give me a link telling a step by step installation guide for frontpage slideshow, also steps in adding photos and configuring it, im just new in websiting.

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johnreil
October 15, 2009
Votes: +0

hi Steve Moseley | Hannisdal Express, can you give me a link telling a step by step installation guide for frontpage slideshow, also steps in adding photos and configuring it, im just new in websiting.

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Nurdin
October 17, 2009
Votes: +0

Nice list, but I'd like to add some other extension.
JomSocial
JCal
Kunena
Jcomments
DatsoGallery
JoomGallery
Seyret Video
RokDownloads
Phoca Download
Phoca Gallery

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Stas
December 28, 2009
Votes: +2

I propose to add also free PHP IDE Codelobster PHP Edition with special Joomla plug-in.

The last version includes so-called Joomla Template Editor (Theme Editor).
For the work with templates you don't need to install Joomla, you don't even need to have apache server. Plug-in combines necessary files and provides them in handy WYSIWYG view.
The list of all included files themes appears at the bottom, it is very easy to navigate through.

One more useful function: HTML inspector (as in FireBug),
that allows you to compare visual elements with lines of code that correspond to it.

Finally plug-in expands the list of auto-complete with functions of Joomla API
and allows to call for "help" for them directly from Joomla's site.

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