Installing plugins: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 16:49, 1 June 2012

There are optional plugins available that can extend Moodle in all sorts of ways - new activities, new quiz question types, new reports, integrations with other systems and many more. This page gives some important advice you should consider before adding them and general advice on how to install them.

You should always look for a 'readme' file or other documentation supplied with the plugin and read that carefully.

Before you do anything else...

VERY IMPORTANT: Warning: Please be aware that some contributed modules and plugins have not been reviewed, and the quality and/or suitability for your Moodle site has not been checked. Please be careful when considering using one. It may not do what you expect, it may have serious security issues or it may even not work at all.

Do you really need the plugin? More functionality means more things to support, more things to (potentially) go wrong and more things to worry about at upgrade time.
Is the plugin supported and maintained? If something goes wrong can you get support? Will bugs be fixed?
If the plugin does not work in a future version of Moodle, what will you do about it?
Beware of patches! If a plugin modifies or replaces core files then be very careful. It can only be guaranteed to work with the exact build (version) of Moodle it was created for and is highly unlikely to survive a Moodle upgrade.

Moodle requirements

You must have access to your Moodle code files to upload or install the plugin. If you installed Moodle in the first place then you should be fine. There is no way to install plugins through the web interface.
Your plugin may impose additional requirements on the server. In particular, plugins to access other systems or services may need specific PHP plugins (e.g. LDAP or other database drivers). Check the documentation.

Downloads

Contributed plugins may be downloaded from the Moodle plugins directory.

In addition, the old Modules and Plugins database and old Themes database are still available - some plugins have not been moved over.

NOTE: Make sure you select the correct version. Most plugins for Moodle 2.0+ will work in all 2.x versions of Moodle. Question Types changed in Moodle 2.1 and require specific plugins for Moodle 2.1+. Plugins (and themes) for Moodle 1.9 and earlier will NOT work. There is no point trying!

Installation

First, establish the correct place in the moodle code 'tree' for the plugin. Some plugins need elements installed in multiple locations. To complicate matters not everybody packages up plugins in the same way. It's best to unzip/unpack the plugin in an empty directory first just to see what it looks like and to check for 'readme' files. Common locations are (there are others):

/path/to/moodle/mod/ - modules (i.e. activities and resources)
/path/to/moodle/blocks/ - blocks (in the sidebars)
/path/to/moodle/question/type/ - questiontypes
/path/to/moodle/course/format/ - course formats
/path/to/moodle/admin/report/ - admin reports
/path/to/moodle/theme/ - themes

Then:

Download the zip file
Upload or copy it to your Moodle server
Unzip it in the right place for the plugin type (or follow plugin instructions).
In your Moodle site (as admin) go to Settings > Site administration > Notifications (you should, for most plugin types, get a message saying the plugin is installed)
Test the plugin

Note: The plugin may contain language files. They'll be found by your Moodle automatically. These language strings can be customized using the standard Settings > Site administration > Language editing interface.

If you have problems...

Check the file permissions. The web server needs to be able to read the plugin files. If the the rest of Moodle works then try to make the plugin permissions and ownership match.
Did you definitely unzip or install the block in the correct place?
Because Moodle scans plugin folders for new plugins you cannot have any other files or folders there. Make sure you deleted the zip file and don't try to rename (for example) an old version of the plugin to some other name - it will break.
Make sure the directory name for the plugin is correct. All the names have to match. If you change the name then it won't work.
Turn on Debugging - any error messages?
Ask in the appropriate forum in Using Moodle section 3, 'Moodle contrib'. Make sure you describe your system (including versions of MySQL, PHP etc.), what you tried and what happened. Copy and paste error messages exactly. Please provide the link to the version of the plugin you downloaded (some have very similar names).

Uninstalling a plugin

To uninstall a plugin

Go to Settings > Site Administration > Plugins > Plugins overview and click the Uninstall link opposite the plugin you wish to remove
Use a file manager to remove/delete the actual plugin directory as instructed, otherwise Moodle will reinstall it next time you access the site administration

Plugins overview

The Plugins overview page in Settings > Site Administration > Plugins > Plugins overview lists all installed plugins, together with the version number, availability (enabled or disabled) and settings link (if applicable).

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Installing Moodle}}
-<p class="note">''This page requires updating.'' Please do so and remove this template when finished.</p>
+There are optional plugins available that can extend Moodle in all sorts of ways - new activities, new quiz question types, new reports, integrations with other systems and many more. This page gives some important advice you should consider before adding them and general advice on how to install them.
+''You should always look for a 'readme' file or other documentation supplied with the plugin and read that carefully.''
-''Warning: Please be aware that some contributed modules and plugins have not been reviewed, and the quality and/or suitability for your Moodle site has not been checked. The modules and plugins may have security problems, data-loss problems, interface problems or just plain not work. Please think carefully about maintenance before relying on contributed code in your production site, as some of this code may not work with future versions of Moodle.''
+== Before you do anything else... ==
+'''VERY IMPORTANT:''' Warning: Please be aware that some contributed modules and plugins have not been reviewed, and the quality and/or suitability for your Moodle site has not been checked. Please be careful when considering using one. It may not do what you expect, it may have serious security issues or it may even not work at all.
+* Do you '''really''' need the plugin? More functionality means more things to support, more things to (potentially) go wrong and more things to worry about at upgrade time.
+* Is the plugin supported and maintained? If something goes wrong can you get support? Will bugs be fixed?
+* If the plugin does not work in a future version of Moodle, what will you do about it?
+* Beware of ''patches''! If a plugin modifies or replaces core files then be very careful. It can only be guaranteed to work with the exact build (version) of Moodle it was created for and is highly unlikely to survive a Moodle upgrade.
+=== Moodle requirements ===
+* You must have access to your Moodle code files to upload or install the plugin. If you installed Moodle in the first place then you should be fine. There is no way to install plugins through the web interface.
+* Your plugin may impose additional requirements on the server. In particular, plugins to access other systems or services may need specific PHP plugins (e.g. LDAP or other database drivers). Check the documentation.
 ==Downloads==
-Contributed modules and plugins may be downloaded from...:
+Contributed plugins may be downloaded from the [http://moodle.org/plugins/ Moodle plugins directory].
+In addition, the [http://moodle.org/mod/data/view.php?id=6009 old Modules and Plugins database] and [http://moodle.org/mod/data/view.php?id=6552 old Themes database] are still available - some plugins have not been moved over.
-* [http://moodle.org/plugins/ Modules Plugin Directory]
+'''NOTE:''' Make sure you select the correct version. Most plugins for Moodle 2.0+ will work in all 2.x versions of Moodle. Question Types changed in Moodle 2.1 and require specific plugins for Moodle 2.1+. '''Plugins (and themes) for Moodle 1.9 and earlier will NOT work. There is no point trying!'''
 ==Installation==
-To install a contributed plugin:
+First, establish the correct place in the moodle code 'tree' for the plugin. Some plugins need elements installed in multiple locations. To complicate matters not everybody packages up plugins in the same way. It's best to unzip/unpack the plugin in an empty directory first just to see what it looks like and to check for 'readme' files. Common locations are (there are others):
-# You must have access to the server containing Moodle. This can be direct access, through a network or to a remote server through Internet with an FTP client, you can't do it from "inside" Moodle itself. (There are many free FTP programs like FileZilla [http://filezilla-project.org/] that can be used. If you use FTP, you will need to know [from the server provider] the ID and password and maybe a couple more things. Once it is setup, it's as easy as other file management.)
-# Locate the plugin in [http://moodle.org/plugins/ Modules Plugin Directory], find the plugin version that matches your Moodle version and click on version release name (or 'Learn more' link).  You will see installation instructions for this plugin type.
-# Download the zip file and unzip it to the corresponding directory.
-# In your browser, go to your Moodle site, login as administrator and choose ''Site Administration > Notifications > Continue''
-# Perform other plugin-specific actions to enable this plugin (add a block to the page, enable filter, add module to some course, etc.)
-Note: The plugin may contain language files.  They'll be found by your Moodle automatically. These language strings can be customized using the standard ''Site Administration > Language'' editing interface.
+* /path/to/moodle/mod/ - modules (i.e. activities and resources)
+* /path/to/moodle/blocks/ - blocks (in the sidebars)
+* /path/to/moodle/question/type/ - questiontypes
+* /path/to/moodle/course/format/ - course formats
+* /path/to/moodle/admin/report/ - admin reports
+* /path/to/moodle/theme/ - themes
-===Installation trouble-shooting===
+Then:
-If you visit the admin page and don't get a message about a new block (or module) being successfully installed then check the following:
+# Download the zip file
+# Upload or copy it to your Moodle server
+# Unzip it in the right place for the plugin type (or follow plugin instructions).
+# In your Moodle site (as admin) go to ''Settings > Site administration > Notifications'' (you should, for most plugin types, get a message saying the plugin is installed)
+# Test the plugin
-* You unzipped the archive to the proper directory
+Note: The plugin may contain language files.  They'll be found by your Moodle automatically. These language strings can be customized using the standard ''Settings > Site administration > Language'' editing interface.
-==Module and block removal==
+===If you have problems...===
-To remove a contributed module:
-# First make sure that you don't use this module in any course
-# Access ''Administration > Modules > Activities > Manage activities''
-# Click on delete next to the module you wish to remove.
-# Use a file manager to remove/delete the actual module directory from ''mod/'' directory, otherwise Moodle will reinstall it next time you access the site administration.
-To remove a contributed block:
+* Check the file permissions. The web server needs to be able to read the plugin files. If the the rest of Moodle works then try to make the plugin permissions and ownership match.
-# Access ''Administration > Modules > Blocks > Manage blocks''
+* Did you '''definitely''' unzip or install the block in the correct place?
-# Click on delete next to the block you wish to remove.
+* Because Moodle scans plugin folders for new plugins you cannot have any other files or folders there. Make sure you deleted the zip file and don't try to rename (for example) an old version of the plugin to some other name - it will break.
-# Use a file manager to remove/delete the actual module directory from ''blocks/'' directory, otherwise Moodle will reinstall it next time you access the site administration.
+* Make sure the directory name for the plugin is correct. All the names '''have''' to match. If you change the name then it won't work.
+* Turn on [[Debugging]] - any error messages?
+* Ask in the appropriate forum in [http://moodle.org/course/view.php?id=5 Using Moodle] section 3, 'Moodle contrib'. Make sure you describe your system (including versions of MySQL, PHP etc.), what you tried and what happened. Copy and paste error messages exactly. Please provide the '''link''' to the version of the plugin you downloaded (some have very similar names).
+==Uninstalling a plugin==
+To uninstall a plugin
+# Go to ''Settings > Site Administration > Plugins > Plugins overview'' and click the Uninstall link opposite the plugin you wish to remove
+# Use a file manager to remove/delete the actual plugin directory as instructed, otherwise Moodle will reinstall it next time you access the site administration
+==Plugins overview==
+The Plugins overview page in ''Settings > Site Administration > Plugins > Plugins overview'' lists all installed plugins, together with the version number, availability (enabled or disabled) and settings link (if applicable).
+[[File:Pluginsoverview.png]]
 ==See also==
-*Using Moodle [http://moodle.org/mod/forum/view.php?id=44 Contributed modules and plugins forum]
+*[[Contributed code FAQ]]
+*Using Moodle [http://moodle.org/mod/forum/view.php?id=44 Contributed plugins forum]
 *[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPUB_ReBPeg Installing contributed modules in Moodle video]
 *Using Moodle [http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=131413 Moodle not installing a new Activity Module] forum discussion
 * [[Installing Moodle from Git repository#Installing a contributed extension from its Git repository|Installing a contributed extension from its Git repository]]
+* [http://remote-learner.net/content/remote-learner-approved-moodle-modules Moodle Partner Remote-Learner's list of approved Moodle modules]
+For developers:
+*[[:dev:Category:Plugins|Plugins developer documentation]]
+*[[:dev:Plugin validation]]
 [[Category:Contributed code]]
+[[de:Plugins installieren]]

Documentation