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The BLC - Package / Plugins fails with errors

The broken link checker uses different plugins to perform its tasks.

During installation of new versions of the package and plugins, you might run into compatibility issues between the freshly installed package and older plugin(s).

Resulting in an error message or a page of death.

Usually, the front end should not be affected, as the link checker itself does not run on the visible frontend[1]. 

And also the Joomla! Administrator should work mostly. You might run into problems when visiting the link checker menu's itself or when saving a content item like an article.

Solutions for installation / update errors

  • Check for outdated version in the  'System → Extensions: Update' item.
  • Try to install them.
  • If this fails, then install the package manually by downloading it or using the 'package - URL'.

If above fails

The Joomla Update System loads the old version of the plugin just before an update. Just in case there are any pre-update jobs to perform. As a result, the update might break even the plugin is not actually used or needed.

  • Go to 'System → Extensions:: Manage'
  • Filter on 'BLC'
  • Disable all
  • 'System → Extensions: Update'
  • Update all
  • Go to 'System → Extensions:: Manage'
  • Filter on 'BLC'
  • Enable all

If the site or administrator are inaccessible

Either:

  • go to the database of your system and look for BLC extensions in *_extensions and remove them
SELECT * FROM `*_extensions` WHERE `name` LIKE '%blc%
  • use an FTP client to remove the folder(s): 
    • plugins/system/blc
    • plugins/system/blclogin
    • plugins/blc
    • administrator/components/com_blc

 

Please install the BLC Package first.

All the BLC plugins require the BLC package to be installed. There is an oddity in the Joomla install/update process where the package is installed (or updated) but the information in the database is not. The plugins rely on this information to ensure the package is present. So you might see the message 'Please install the BLC Package first' even with the package installed.

Usually it helps to reinstall the BLC package manually by downloading it or using the 'package - URL'.

 

[1] - The auto login plugin in plugins/system/blclogin and the system plugin in plugins/system/blc are active on the front end.