Omeka Update Issues? How to Get Your Site Back on Track
Have you recently updated your Omeka install or has Installatron done it automatically for you and pieces or pages on your website are now broken?
Never fear, we likely have the solution!
In almost all cases we have found broken installs are the result of using themes or modules that have not been updated to the most recent version. While WordPress has handy automatic or one-click updates for themes or plugins, this installer only handles the update process for the core Omeka S application and does not manage your modules and themes. This means you could have gone months or even years without updating!
One module in particular that seems to be giving users the most trouble with the recent Omeka S update to version 4.2.0 is the Common Module.
To investigate what's causing issues on your install, a great place to start is the error_log located in your File Manager. If you can't find this file in your install, it's likely that you need to enable error logging first - we have instructions on how to do that here: Enable Error Logging in Omeka (Classic and Omeka S)
Your error_log will likely directly identify the culprit of the break directly by name. Here's an example of what that error might look like:
While this may look like a bunch of mumbo jumbo, it can give you important clues into the root cause of your errors - in this case, it was the Common Module.
Resolving this issue can be handled a couple different ways - from deactivating the module or incompatible theme, to rolling back to a backup of your site with a previous version of Omeka installed - but the best solution is to manually update the problem module or theme so that it's once again compatible with the newest version of Omeka.
In general, we recommend updating your themes and plugins whenever possible to ensure your site stays the most functional, secure, and up-to-date that it can be without any problems.
To update your themes and modules, you'll need to delete the old files in your File Manager and replace them with the updated ones. We have instructions on this process here: Managing Plugins and Themes in Omeka and Omeka S.
Keeping your Omeka core, modules, and themes updated together is the best way to prevent these issues in the future. Regular maintenance may take a little extra time, but it pays off in a more stable, secure, and reliable site. If you run into trouble along the way, the error log is your best diagnostic tool—and the Reclaim Support Team is always available to help.
