How to automate distribution of Joomla extensions with Cobalt and Joomla update service feature.
Cobalt 8 is the perfect extension to distribute another Joomla extensions. It has all you need. You can distribute them free or paid on subscription (membership) base or sell individual downloads. Perhaps Cobalt 8 is the most flexible solution to create download sections.
More than that Cobalt 8 has new feature to support Joomla Update mechanism. When you create download listing, it automatically creates XML version of this listing to connect to Joomla update. And here I’ll describe how configure it.
Please look on this Joomla update example (read documentation).
MintJoomla Documentation
<updateservers>
<server type="extension" priority="2" name="My Extension's Updates">http://example.com/extension.xml</server>
</updateservers>
This is what you have to insert in to extension installation XML file. We will talk how to get correct URL later but look what have to be returned by this http://example.com/extension.xml url.
<update>
<name>Joomla! 1.7</name>
<description>Joomla! 1.7 CMS</description>
<element>joomla</element>
<type>file</type>
<version>1.7.0</version>
<infourl title="Joomla!">http://www.joomla.org/</infourl>
<downloads>
<downloadurl type="full" format="zip">
http://joomlacode.org/gf/download/frsrelease/15279/66552/Joomla_1.6.5_to_1.7.0_Package.zip
</downloadurl>
</downloads>
<tags>
<tag>stable</tag>
</tags>
<maintainer>Sam Moffatt</maintainer>
<maintainerurl>http://sammoffatt.com.au</maintainerurl>
<targetplatform name="joomla" version="1.6"/>
</update>
Pay attention on <version>, <element>, <tag>, <type> and <downloadurl>. Those are important parameters that have to be there. This means that at least those parameter have to be defined in our download content type.
Create Content type Download and add following fields
| Field Type | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
select |
Element Type | This is what we will insert into <type>. There is limited number of possible values, that is why you can use select and this list of values. component, module, plugin, file, package, library, language. When you add listing this have to be the same as in your extension installation XML. Example type in installation XML: <install type="component" version="1.5.0" method="upgrade"> |
text or select |
Folder | This is required only for type plugin. The folder where it is being installed. Like system, content, … |
text |
Version | This is text field. You will enter values there like this 1.0, 1.0.1. Note, do not enter texts like 1.0 - Beta. Update system will not work this way. There is separate field for that. |
text |
System Name | This is more complicated value. It is installed name of the extension. To get it, open DB table #__extensions, find your installed extension and see what is there in element column.  |
select |
Version Tag | This is where you can insert extension status. Use select with values Alfa, Beta, CP, RC, Stable. |
uploads or paytodownload |
Download | You can use one of the fields. The upload field will allow you to distribute your downloads free and on membership base. The paytodownload field will allow you to sell downloads individually along with membership sales and free downloads. And t will also allow others to sell from your site. |
This is how type may looks
Now you have to create menu link type Cobalt -> Update Server.
In the parameters associate all the fields.
As finalisation of this process, open link you have just created. You will see list of your listings and their codes.
Just insert those in to your installation XML of your extensions. That is it. But first, click the link and check update XML is generated correctly.
Now when you update your listings on the site, change version, upload new file, … it will automatically feed all your clients with update information. All in one place. You do not need to update anything else. just work with your download listing.
Although there are some things out there, Cobalt 8, may be considered as ONLY solution to distribute Joomla Extensions.