Unzip the downloaded file named com_virtuemart.2.0.18a_extract_first.targz.zip. This reveals two more files.

Log in to your Joomla! admin control panel by going to www.yoursite.com/administrator, navigate to Extensions | Extension Manager from the top menu and you will see the following screenshot:

We will use the first option labeled Upload Package File. Click on Browse and find the recently extracted VirtueMart file named com_virtuemart.2.0.xx.tar.gz.

When you have selected the correct file you can click on Upload & Install.

You should now see something like the following screenshot. Don't worry about the warning. We will come to that in the next recipe when we do some basic configurations:

If you get an error about the size of the upload or your browser just whirs around and never completes the task then do this: use FileZilla to upload the com_virtuemart.2.0.xx.tar.gz file to the TMP folder in the root of your Joomla! installation folder.

You can now use the section labeled Install from directory to get things done.

After uploading the file just add /com_virtuemart.2.0.xx.tar.gz to the end of the default file path and click on Install. All should now be good. Any time the Joomla! package installer fails to upload and install a package then you can do the same.

The core VirtueMart product is now installed, but before we conclude this recipe, let's add the VirtueMart AIO (all in one) extensions. This is all the virtually essential, predeterminable VirtueMart settings and modules, all of which are neatly lumped together in one installation.

From the same Extension Manager: Install page, click on Browse, select the com_virtuemart.2.0.xxx_ext_aio.tar.gz file, and click on Upload & Install.

You might have noticed the following message:

That is because once you have used the component and it has done its work it is no longer necessary to leave it installed. We will deal with that when we do some basic VirtueMart configuration later in this chapter.