Upgrading site with big gap between version of X in use on site and current version

Hi,
I have inherited a site currently using Version: 4.6.4 of the X theme and a custom child theme that appears to be based on the Integrity child theme.

Cornerstone 1.3.3 is installed but the pages are built with WPBakery Visual Composer version 4.12.1.

I have purchased a current license for X and want to update the site but first I wanted to reach out and see if there are any caveats or issues that I should be aware of moving from the older versions of the theme and plugins.

I understand that you can’t provide any input on the custom child theme but I’d appreciate your input on any potential issues upgrading the parent theme and related builder plugins.

Also, if there’s a significant risk of breaking the site, would it be safer NOT to upgrade? Is there anything in the new theme and/or builder plugins that are “must haves” to keep the site secure?

Thanks very much for your input!

Hi @chemistry_matters,

Thank you for writing in, we understand your site situation but please keep in mind that since a lot of things change from that version, not only with the Theme but to the plugins and the Wordpress itself, this will break a few things on your site (and your customization). So my first advice is you set up a Staging server and clone your site, this way we can work through the Staging site (updating) while keeping your live site active.

How to Easily Create a Staging Site for WordPress (Step by Step)

After you successfully cloned your site, let us update the Wordpress. If you have a lot of outdated plugins, I would advise that you deactivate those first so we can avoid having a conflict (possible fatal error) between outdated plugins and updated Wordpress.

Updating WordPress

Remember to clear all your caching features (plugin, server-side, CDN, and browser’s cache) after updating so that the code from the latest release is always in use. This will help you to avoid any potential errors. It would be better if you can deactivate all your caching features at this stage

After you successfully update the Wordpress, Next is to update the X theme, the current latest X theme is 7.2.2. The Automatic Update feature more likely will not work anymore with your version, so please follow the Manual Updates guide instead, see the following link there is an instruction there, also a link where you can download the latest X zip file.

Updating Your Themes and Plugins

After you successfully updated the X theme, we need to update the Cornerstone as well, with the latest X installed, updating the Cornerstone should be easy. Deactivate and delete your current Cornerstone version,and then navigate to X > Validation, you should see a notification prompting you to install and activate Cornerstone, follow that notice.

After you successfully update X and install Cornerstone, re-validate your X theme. This is to make sure that you can re-install the latest version of Extensions in the next step.

Product Validation

To update the Extensions to the latest versions that are supported by the latest X and Wordpress:

  • Ensure your theme is validated so Extensions can be installed automatically
  • Deactivate and delete the extensions, from the plugins panel.
  • On the X > Validation > Extensions, locate and re-install the extensions that you need.
  • Visit “Plugins” panel in your Dashboard to activate the newly installed version.

You can see all the latest compatible versions here.

After that update all your 3rd party plugins.

How to Properly Update WordPress Plugins (Step by Step)

Again, remember to clear all your caching features after updating.

Then activate your plugins one by one and see if something is causing an issue/error.

After you can confirm that your updated site is working fine, then the last step is to migrate your Staging site (updated) to your live site (outdated).

Cornerstone / Content Builder - Migration

Let us know how it goes,
Cheers!

Hi,
Thanks very much for your recommended steps to upgrade. We are definitely planning to use a Staging site as advised.

Just one followup question – does WPBakery Visual Composer still work with the latest version of X theme? For some reason, the site uses that builder instead of Cornerstone and we’d rather still with WPBakery Visual Composer (at least for now) and not have to re-do all of the pages.

Thanks!

Hi @chemistry_matters,

You’re always welcome!

Yes, it is still working. WPBakery Visual Composer compatible version is version 6.1.

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