Just posting for reference:
Helix Ultimate: fatal error due to orphaned stub overrides after demo → blank template switch
Environment
Joomla 4/5
Helix Ultimate 2.x
Windows + IIS
PHP 8.3
Repro Steps
Fresh Joomla install
Install Helix Ultimate
Install Helix demo template (e.g. Estate)
Switch to shaper_helixultimate (blank)
Open Template Options
Actual Result
Fatal PHP error, e.g.:
Failed opening required
templates/shaper_helixultimate/html/layouts/joomla/system/message.php
Also observed:
templates/shaper_helixultimate/html/com_content/featured/default.php
templates/shaper_helixultimate/html/layouts/chromes/sp_xhtml.php
Errors surface sequentially.
Expected Result
Template Options loads.
Cause
Demo templates install stub override files in
templates/shaper_helixultimate/html/
which call HTMLOverride::loadTemplate() but have no target files.
Switching to blank Helix leaves orphaned stubs → fatal error.
Workaround
Delete stub overrides under
templates/shaper_helixultimate/html/.
Notes
Order-dependent. No user-created overrides. Likely demo installer / override lifecycle bug.
