Convert Joomla 2.5 template to 3.0

Question

I have a custom joomla 2.5 template and I wish to convert it to Joomla 3.0. Currently the only method I found is how to convert a Joomla 1.5 to 2.5. Please guide me here because I have spent almost a month on this. I found a method http://docs.joomla.org/J3.1:Converting_A_Previous_Joomla!_Version_Template but I do not understand how to go about it. If you could also give a clear procedure on how to implement the steps in the link I have posted this would help me alot.

Solution

This answer may not be in a detail manner but here you go with some steps:

1. Identify plain HTML from Joomla 2.5 template. Keep it in separate file for a moment.
2. There are many functions, constants that are deprecated in Joomla 3.x e.g. DS constant which is used to provide "/" in Joomla 2.5. You need to replace it with "/".
3. Common functions like getting sitename, logo etc. will need a code change. You can take a reference from Protostar template. You can see how they have retrieved value of sitename from the code. It seems to be hard at first but when you go ahead gradually, you will get familiar with Joomla 3 template engine.
4. Once everything is done, you can go ahead and edit XML file. You can copy and paste templateDetails.xml from Protostar template. Make sure to change important elements like filename, folder etc.

Zip the whole template folder and install it on your website make it default. If you find any errors then go ahead and turn on error reporting in PHP. Resolve those errors and make your template work on Joomla 3

Comments

[Hakeem K-Manie]

When I try installing the template I get this error. Warning JInstaller: :Install: File does not exist C:\xampp\htdocs\upgrade\tmp\install_516fdddd9d220\images\tra‌​ns.gif What could be the problem?

[Valentin Despa]

Well, the error is quite explicit. trans.gif is missing. Check your template file to see if inside your template you have images\trans.gif

[Hakeem K-Manie]

I was able to get around that by installing via the Directory. Though I am still getting errors when i set the template as the default.

[Hakeem K-Manie]

I finally got the template to install with no erros, but the problem i have now is that the module positions do not work, the only thing loading is the logo, up to this line of code <strong class="logo"><a href="<?php echo $tpl->base_url(); ?>"><?php echo $tpl->sitename(); ?></a></strong> in index.php. I am certain that the issue is in index.php, I want to know if I should re-define all the module positions. How are the module positions defined in Joomla 3.0, everything in the manifest file seems inorder.