The problem: The Joomla version isn’t being displayed in the admin footer while logged into the backend. The module also isn’t showing up in the admin’s list of admin modules.

The issue: In one or more Joomla 2.5.x updates, the SQL to add the module into the #__modules (jos_modules) table were omitted. This is touched on (though the issue described doesn’t exactly match my experiences) in this JoomlaCode.org ticket.

The solution: Fire up your favorite SQL editor (phpMyAdmin, SQL Workbench, SQL command line, etc.) and execute the following:

INSERT INTO `jos_modules` (`title`, `note`, `content`, `ordering`, `position`, `checked_out`, `checked_out_time`, `publish_up`, `publish_down`, `published`, `module`, `access`, `showtitle`, `params`, `client_id`, `language`) VALUES
(‘Joomla Version’, ”, ”, 1, ‘footer’, 0, ’0000-00-00 00:00:00′, ’0000-00-00 00:00:00′,  ’0000-00-00 00:00:00′,  1, ‘mod_version’,  3, 1, ‘{“format”:”short”, “product”:”1″, “layout”:”_:default”, “moduleclass_sfx”:”", “cache”:”0″}’, 1, ‘*’);

Note: Ensure that you change jos_modules to match your own install’s prefix. In most stock installs these days the prefix is randomized (e.g. exasd_modules, or ocqdf_modules).

Once this record has been added, the Joomla Version module will show up in the list of admin modules under Module Manager. Edit the module (click it’s title) and then click Save. Voila, the module should now display in the footer as expected.

Whew. Been bothering me for months. =)

Someone might also find this helpful from Frankie Inguanez.

1) The jos_components table is gone. Just gone. This is the table that among many other varied purposes used to hold the admin component’s menu hierarchy. It’s now been rolled into jos_menu, which is potentially much cleaner. To migrate from the old site’s jos_components method to the new jos_menu method, I exported the pertinent records from jos_components as a SQL dump, then found a similarly configured component in a stock Joomla 2.5 install (I used the Banners component, which has four child menus) to use as a base. This allowed me to manually migrate my component’s menus on the new site.

Note: Also had to manually create an entry in jos_extensions for the component. Might be simpler going forward to simply create an install package/manifest and let Joomla take care of all this itself going forward. Sigh. Starting to miss the good old days of 1.5. Heh.

2) The $mainframe global variable is gone. Just gone. Seems to be a pattern. To get around this, I took some advice from this post. However, instead of adding the $mainframe declaration in the Joomla core like the author suggested (yikes!), I added it to the variable file I had that referenced it: The admin component, the front-end component, and the functions.php file in my template.

<?php
defined(‘_JEXEC’) or die(‘Restricted access’); // no direct access

// $mainframe was deprecated in 1.6, so adding back in so component works in 1.6+
global $mainframe;
$mainframe = JFactory::getApplication();

Great stuff. Check out Amber Clinic Manager over at the Gray Swan Software website if you’re in the market or know someone who is.

Got this recently, regarding the recently-past health care reform legislation. It’s an attempt to clear up the misinformation spread by those opposed to the law.

Dear Brad:

Over the last few months I have received countless calls and emails from people across the Kansas City area eager to share their opinions on health care reform. Unfortunately, this issue has been polarized so much that it is hardly recognizable. Misinformation on the health care bill is abundant. To help clear up some of the confusion that currently exists about the health care bill, H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, I have provided the following information:

Myth: The cost of health care reform will add to the deficit.

Reality: The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) report has found that the bill will reduce the deficit by $143 billion over the first ten years, and $1.2 trillion in the second ten. The bill accomplishes these great savings by eliminating systemic waste and ultimately lowering the cost of health care.

Myth: The bill institutes socialized Government run health care.

Reality: The health care reform bill increases competition by expanding private health insurance. Claims that the bill has a single payer system, similar to the health care system in Canada are inaccurate. The bill does not have single payer, nor does it include a public option.

Myth: The bill will be paid for by raising taxes on the middle class.

Reality: For the vast majority of Americans, taxes will not increase. A new tax will be levied on families making over $250,000 a year. However, the bill provides affordability credits for families at 400% of the poverty level. For example, a family at 275% of the poverty level ($60,640 income) would save 47% on premiums compared to current law. Further, a family with an income of $38,590 would see an 85% premium reduction.

Myth: The bill will hurt small businesses.

Reality: Without reform, small businesses will continue to experience increasing insurance costs, as they have by 129 percent since 2000 according to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Less than half of small businesses can currently afford to offer health care benefits. This bill includes $50 billion in tax credits to help small business provide assistance to employers and to provide coverage and the quality of care that larger businesses do. Further, the vast majority of small businesses, 96% will be exempt from the shared responsibility requirement.

Myth: Premiums will rise as a result of reform.

Reality: The CBO actually estimates that premiums for current health insurance plans will go down. Given the new array of options brought on by competition, one might chose a new, more comprehensive insurance plan and pay slightly higher premiums for that extra coverage.

Myth: The bill publically funds and encourages abortions.

Reality: The bill includes specific provisions to ensure a strict separation between public funds and private premiums. Abortion funding will never be required in health care plans, and states will retain final authority over abortion policies within their exchange program.

Myth: You will not be able to keep your existing insurance.

Reality: If you are happy with your current insurance, you will be able to keep it. This reform bill aims to provide more affordable options with a higher quality of care and will not eliminate your existing insurance plan.

Thank you again for taking the time to educate yourself about what health care reform really means. I encourage you to view the bill and its summary online, at http://thomas.loc.gov and the CBO cost estimate at http://www.cbo.gov/. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future if I may be of further assistance. Also, I encourage you to visit my website at http://www.house.gov/cleaver, where you can sign up for my electronic newsletter and receive updates on my latest activities as your Representative.

Sincerely,

Emanuel Cleaver, II
Member of Congress

Check out how to build a custom 404 error handler into your Joomla template here.

Each ad network uses different case sensitivity rules for the clickTAG variable (groan), so check into your network’s requirements. Google AdWords has a help page on clickTAG coding here.