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Installing and Managing XOOPS Modules

Learn how to extend XOOPS functionality by installing and configuring modules.

Understanding XOOPS Modules

What are Modules?

Modules are extensions that add functionality to XOOPS:

Type Purpose Examples
Content Manage specific content types News, Blog, Tickets
Community User interaction Forum, Comments, Reviews
eCommerce Selling products Shop, Cart, Payments
Media Handle files/images Gallery, Downloads, Videos
Utility Tools and helpers Email, Backup, Analytics

Core vs. Optional Modules

Module Type Included Removable
System Core Yes No
User Core Yes No
Profile Recommended Yes Yes
PM (Private Message) Recommended Yes Yes
WF-Channel Optional Often Yes
News Optional No Yes
Forum Optional No Yes

Module Lifecycle

graph LR
    A[Find Module] --> B[Download]
    B --> C[Extract]
    C --> D[Install]
    D --> E[Configure]
    E --> F[Use]
    F --> G{Maintain?}
    G -->|Yes| H[Update]
    G -->|No| I[Disable]
    I --> J[Remove]
    H --> E

Finding Modules

XOOPS Module Repository

Official XOOPS module repository:

Visit: https://xoops.org/modules/repository/

Directory > Modules > [Browse Categories]

Browse by category: - Content Management - Community - eCommerce - Multimedia - Development - Site Administration

Evaluating Modules

Before installing, check:

Criteria What to Look For
Compatibility Works with your XOOPS version
Rating Good user reviews and ratings
Updates Recently maintained
Downloads Popular and widely used
Requirements Compatible with your server
License GPL or similar open source
Support Active developer and community

Read Module Information

Each module listing shows:

Module Name: [Name]
Version: [X.X.X]
Requires: XOOPS [Version]
Author: [Name]
Last Update: [Date]
Downloads: [Number]
Rating: [Stars]
Description: [Brief description]
Compatibility: PHP [Version], MySQL [Version]

Installing Modules

Method 1: Admin Panel Installation

Step 1: Access Modules Section

  1. Log in to admin panel
  2. Navigate to Modules > Modules
  3. Click "Install New Module" or "Browse Modules"

Step 2: Upload Module

Option A - Direct Upload: 1. Click "Choose File" 2. Select module .zip file from computer 3. Click "Upload"

Option B - URL Upload: 1. Paste module URL 2. Click "Download and Install"

Step 3: Review Module Info

Module Name: [Name shown]
Version: [Version]
Author: [Author info]
Description: [Full description]
Requirements: [PHP/MySQL versions]

Review and click "Proceed with Installation"

Step 4: Choose Install Type

☐ Fresh Install (New installation)
☐ Update (Upgrade existing)
☐ Delete Then Install (Replace existing)

Select appropriate option.

Step 5: Confirm Installation

Review final confirmation: 

Module will be installed to: /modules/modulename/
Database: xoops_db
Proceed? [Yes] [No]

Click "Yes" to confirm.

Step 6: Installation Complete

Installation successful!

Module: [Module Name]
Version: [Version]
Tables created: [Number]
Files installed: [Number]

[Go to Module Settings]  [Return to Modules]

Method 2: Manual Installation (Advanced)

For manual installation or troubleshooting:

Step 1: Download Module

  1. Download module .zip from repository
  2. Extract to /var/www/html/xoops/modules/modulename/
# Extract module
unzip module_name.zip
cp -r module_name /var/www/html/xoops/modules/

# Set permissions
chmod -R 755 /var/www/html/xoops/modules/module_name

Step 2: Run Installation Script

Visit: http://your-domain.com/xoops/modules/module_name/admin/index.php?op=install

Or through admin panel (System > Modules > Update DB).

Step 3: Verify Installation

  1. Go to Modules > Modules in admin
  2. Look for your module in list
  3. Verify it shows as "Active"

Module Configuration

Access Module Settings

  1. Go to Modules > Modules
  2. Find your module
  3. Click on module name
  4. Click "Preferences" or "Settings"

Common Module Settings

Most modules offer:

Module Status: [Enabled/Disabled]
Display in Menu: [Yes/No]
Module Weight: [1-999] (display order)
Visible To Groups: [Checkboxes for user groups]

Module-Specific Options

Each module has unique settings. Examples:

News Module: 

Items Per Page: 10
Show Author: Yes
Allow Comments: Yes
Moderation Required: Yes

Forum Module: 

Topics Per Page: 20
Posts Per Page: 15
Maximum Attachment Size: 5MB
Enable Signatures: Yes

Gallery Module: 

Images Per Page: 12
Thumbnail Size: 150x150
Maximum Upload: 10MB
Watermark: Yes/No

Review your module documentation for specific options.

Save Configuration

After adjusting settings:

  1. Click "Submit" or "Save"
  2. You'll see confirmation: 
    Settings saved successfully!

Managing Module Blocks

Many modules create "blocks" - widget-like content areas.

View Module Blocks

  1. Go to Appearance > Blocks
  2. Look for blocks from your module
  3. Most modules show "[Module Name] - [Block Description]"

Configure Blocks

  1. Click on block name
  2. Adjust:
  3. Block title
  4. Visibility (all pages or specific)
  5. Position on page (left, center, right)
  6. User groups who can see
  7. Click "Submit"

Display Block on Homepage

  1. Go to Appearance > Blocks
  2. Find the block you want
  3. Click "Edit"
  4. Set:
  5. Visible to: Select groups
  6. Position: Choose column (left/center/right)
  7. Pages: Homepage or all pages
  8. Click "Submit"

Installing Specific Module Examples

Installing News Module

Perfect for: Blog posts, announcements

  1. Download News module from repository
  2. Upload via Modules > Modules > Install
  3. Configure in Modules > News > Preferences:
  4. Stories per page: 10
  5. Allow comments: Yes
  6. Approve before publishing: Yes
  7. Create blocks for latest news
  8. Start publishing stories!

Installing Forum Module

Perfect for: Community discussion

  1. Download Forum module
  2. Install via admin panel
  3. Create forum categories in module
  4. Configure settings:
  5. Topics/page: 20
  6. Posts/page: 15
  7. Enable moderation: Yes
  8. Assign user groups permissions
  9. Create blocks for latest topics

Perfect for: Image showcase

  1. Download Gallery module
  2. Install and configure
  3. Create photo albums
  4. Upload images
  5. Set permissions for viewing/uploading
  6. Display gallery on website

Updating Modules

Check for Updates

Admin Panel > Modules > Modules > Check for Updates

This shows: - Available module updates - Current vs. new version - Changelog/release notes

Update a Module

  1. Go to Modules > Modules
  2. Click module with available update
  3. Click "Update" button
  4. Select "Update" from Install Type
  5. Follow installation wizard
  6. Module updated!

Important Update Notes

Before updating:

  • Backup database
  • Backup module files
  • Review changelog
  • Test on staging server first
  • Note any custom modifications

After updating: - [ ] Verify functionality - [ ] Check module settings - [ ] Review for warnings/errors - [ ] Clear cache

Module Permissions

Assign User Group Access

Control which user groups can access modules:

Location: System > Permissions

For each module, configure:

Module: [Module Name]

Admin Access: [Select groups]
User Access: [Select groups]
Read Permission: [Groups allowed to view]
Write Permission: [Groups allowed to post]
Delete Permission: [Administrators only]

Common Permission Levels

Public Content (News, Pages):
├── Admin Access: Webmaster
├── User Access: All logged-in users
└── Read Permission: Everyone

Community Features (Forum, Comments):
├── Admin Access: Webmaster, Moderators
├── User Access: All logged-in users
└── Write Permission: All logged-in users

Admin Tools:
├── Admin Access: Webmaster only
└── User Access: Disabled

Disabling and Removing Modules

Disable Module (Keep Files)

Keep module but hide from site:

  1. Go to Modules > Modules
  2. Find module
  3. Click module name
  4. Click "Disable" or set status to Inactive
  5. Module hidden but data preserved

Re-enable anytime: 1. Click module 2. Click "Enable"

Remove Module Completely

Delete module and its data:

  1. Go to Modules > Modules
  2. Find module
  3. Click "Uninstall" or "Delete"
  4. Confirm: "Delete module and all data?"
  5. Click "Yes" to confirm

Warning: Uninstalling deletes all module data!

Reinstall After Uninstall

If you uninstall a module: - Module files deleted - Database tables deleted - All data lost - Must reinstall to use again - Can restore from backup

Troubleshooting Module Installation

Module Not Appearing After Install

Symptom: Module listed but not visible on site

Solution: 

1. Check module is "Active" (Modules > Modules)
2. Enable module blocks (Appearance > Blocks)
3. Verify user permissions (System > Permissions)
4. Clear cache (System > Tools > Clear Cache)
5. Check .htaccess doesn't block module

Installation Error: "Table Already Exists"

Symptom: Error during module installation

Solution: 

1. Module partially installed before
2. Try "Delete then Install" option
3. Or uninstall first, then install fresh
4. Check database for existing tables:
   mysql> SHOW TABLES LIKE 'xoops_module%';

Module Missing Dependencies

Symptom: Module won't install - requires other module

Solution: 

1. Note required modules from error message
2. Install required modules first
3. Then install the module
4. Install in correct order

Blank Page When Accessing Module

Symptom: Module loads but shows nothing

Solution: 

1. Enable debug mode in mainfile.php:
   define('XOOPS_DEBUG', 1);

2. Check PHP error log:
   tail -f /var/log/php_errors.log

3. Verify file permissions:
   chmod -R 755 /var/www/html/xoops/modules/modulename

4. Check database connection in module config

5. Disable module and reinstall

Module Breaks Site

Symptom: Installing module breaks website

Solution: 

1. Disable the problematic module immediately:
   Admin > Modules > [Module] > Disable

2. Clear cache:
   rm -rf /var/www/html/xoops/cache/*
   rm -rf /var/www/html/xoops/templates_c/*

3. Restore from backup if needed

4. Check error logs for root cause

5. Contact module developer

Module Security Considerations

Only Install from Trusted Sources

✓ Official XOOPS Repository
✓ GitHub official XOOPS modules
✓ Trusted module developers
✗ Unknown websites
✗ Unverified sources

Check Module Permissions

After installation:

  1. Review module code for suspicious activity
  2. Check database tables for anomalies
  3. Monitor file changes
  4. Keep modules updated
  5. Remove unused modules

Permissions Best Practice

Module directory: 755 (readable, not writable by web server)
Module files: 644 (readable only)
Module data: Protected by database

Module Development Resources

Learn Module Development

Best Practices for Modules

  1. Install One at a Time: Monitor for conflicts
  2. Test After Install: Verify functionality
  3. Document Custom Config: Note your settings
  4. Keep Updated: Install module updates promptly
  5. Remove Unused: Delete modules not needed
  6. Backup Before: Always backup before installing
  7. Read Documentation: Check module instructions
  8. Join Community: Ask for help if needed

Module Installation Checklist

For each module installation:

  • Research and read reviews
  • Verify XOOPS version compatibility
  • Backup database and files
  • Download latest version
  • Install via admin panel
  • Configure settings
  • Create/position blocks
  • Set user permissions
  • Test functionality
  • Document configuration
  • Schedule for updates

Next Steps

After installing modules:

  1. Create content for modules
  2. Set up user groups
  3. Explore admin features
  4. Optimize performance
  5. Install additional modules as needed

Tags: #modules #installation #extension #management

Related Articles: - Admin-Panel-Overview - Managing-Users - Creating-Your-First-Page - System-Settings