Hello Peter,

I am really sorry for the delay of this reply as it is a Thaipusam public holiday for us here.
**If you have do some customization from your side, you have do the backup first before re-install the latest version of the product.

Let's say if you would want to upgrade the latest version of Easyblog, first you can upload/install from the extension manager without uninstall step, because when you re-install again that mean all the latest file just overridden in your older file, it won't affect any problem when you re-install. Second you can update from the Easyblog updater.
But another component you have to using the first method update to latest version (re-install from extension manager). Hope this explanation help.

Hi Arlex

Using extension manager to install will replace older files but what if some of the files are no longer in use/outdated. Will those be removed automatically or simply stay there? Also where are the images and other files that get uploaded stored? Since I believe all data is stored in mysql, I feel the cleanest is to remove and simply install the new version. I just want to make sure this is ok and will work with all the products. Better safe to ask the experts at StackIdeas than to assume myself.

Hello Peter,

Sorry for late reply to this,
Using extension manager to install will replace older files but what if some of the files are no longer in use/outdated. Will those be removed automatically or simply stay there?
>> Yes, the file will simply stay at there if some of the files are no longer in use after you re-install.

Also where are the images and other files that get uploaded stored? Since I believe all data is stored in mysql, I feel the cleanest is to remove and simply install the new version.
>> Yes, when you uploaded the image that is stored in your database, when you re-install from extension manager, the uploaded file is still there.
Hope this explanation help.

Hi Arlex

This is a major concern!!

If all the files are stored in the database, wouldn't it be very heavy and become much harder to import later (if needed) through the browser due to limitations? With product like ES, I can imagine the database increasing dramatically due to social activities. It'll be an issue with all other products but not as major as ES. Is there an option store files in a separate folder similar to what wordpress is doing?

Hello Peter,

Sorry but I think there is some confusions here. None of the template files are stored in the database When you perform MAJOR upgrades, it's best to uninstall and install on top of it. Major version includes for example, 3.8 -> 3.9 or 1.0 -> 1.1. In EasySocial. All the images that are uploaded on the site are uploaded to the folder /media/com_easysocial/ it's not stored in the database

So glad to hear files are not in the database and inside the /media/com_easy... folder instead.

Sounds like that is the main folder to back up

Thanks for clarifying Mark!!

You are most welcome