Staff replied SP Page Builder

Upgrading from 3.8.10 - getting Error SQL Duplicate column name 'catid'

Asked by Tracey Field 3 months ago Last activity 2 months ago

Hi all, returning customer here, using pagegbuilder 3.8.10, joomla 5.4.6

I've seen the emails about the vulnerability so am attempting to take action and upgrade but I'm getting the following error:
Warning
JInstaller: :Install: Error SQL Duplicate column name 'catid'

and so the install is stalling. I would be grateful for advice.

I'm not techy at all, but can follow basic instructions that don't use IT language (I often find the answers and advise on this forum goes over my head as it assumes more knowledge than I have).

16 replies

Ziaul Kabir Staff

3 months ago

Hello,

Thanks for reaching out to us. Could you please share temporary administrator access to your Joomla backend? You can provide the credentials securely in the hidden content section. Also, please take a full backup of your site before we make any changes.

Once I have access, I’ll investigate further and see what’s causing the issue. Let me know once you’ve shared the details!

Best regards,

Tracey Field Asked this

3 months ago

Hi just realised when I sent the details I didn't do them as a direct reply to you, so you might not have noticed them?

Tracey

Tracey Field Asked this

3 months ago

Details in the hidden content section, thank you!

Ziaul Kabir Staff

3 months ago

Hello,

Could you please try upgrading SP Page Builder incrementally using the following versions instead of upgrading directly to the latest release?

SP Page Builder 4.0.1
SP Page Builder 4.0.11
SP Page Builder 5.0.4 (or 5.0.5)
SP Page Builder 5.2.0
SP Page Builder 5.7.2
Finally, upgrade to SP Page Builder 6.6.2

Following this upgrade path ensures that all required database migrations and file updates are executed correctly before moving to the next major version. Since there were significant architectural and database changes between v3, v4, v5, and v6, upgrading directly from v3 to the latest version may result in installation errors or database inconsistencies.

If you continue to experience any issues after following the recommended upgrade sequence, please let us know. We'll be happy to assist you further.

Best regards,

Tracey Field Asked this

3 months ago

Hi, the install still failed on the first older version 4.0.1 with the same message: JInstaller: :Install: Error SQL Duplicate column name 'catid'

Tracey

Tracey Field Asked this

3 months ago

trying to install version 4.0.1 gave me the same error message, and also shut down the whole website, so I had to roll back to my backup, so further assistance is still required please. Thanks. Tracey!

alleja

2 months ago

where do I find all the previous versions of pagebuilder to migrate from J3 to 4 to 5?

Ziaul Kabir Staff

3 months ago

Please, check this post: https://www.joomshaper.com/forum/question/40549

Thanks

Tracey Field Asked this

3 months ago · edited

i don't know how to execute sql commands, that sounds way over my head - can you give me a step by step break down of how to do that please?

This is the instruction given:

Navigated to cPanel -> phpMyAdmin. Select the relevant database. (Yes I can do this bit)

Executed the following SQL operation: (I'm not sure how to do this, is it simply a case of selecting the database, clicking the SQL tap and then copying and pasting the command below and then clicking GO?)

ALTER TABLE yourDatabaseTablePrefix_sppagebuilder DROP COLUMN catid

Here add your database table prefix in here yourDatabaseTablePrefix, You will found it in your Root Joomla folder -> configuration.php (This bit I'm stuck on, where do I find my root joomla folder configuration php to find my database table prefix?)

Like I said in my original question, I'm not techy, I don't understand IT language, but I can follow very basic step by step instructions.

Thanks

Ziaul Kabir Staff

3 months ago

Hello,

No problem at all! I'll explain it step by step, You can also take help from AI.

Step 1: Open phpMyAdmin

Log in to your cPanel.
Open phpMyAdmin.
Select your Joomla database from the left-hand menu.

Step 2: Find your database table prefix

Before running the SQL command, we need to know your database table prefix.

To find it:

In your cPanel, open File Manager.
Navigate to your Joomla installation (this is your Joomla root folder). It is often in public_html, unless Joomla is installed in a subfolder.
Look for a file named configuration.php.
Right-click the file and choose Edit or Code Edit.
Search for the following line:

public $dbprefix = 'abc123_';

The value between the quotes is your database table prefix. For example, if it shows:

public $dbprefix = 'abc123_';

then your table prefix is:

abc123_

Step 3: Run the SQL command

Go back to phpMyAdmin.
Make sure your Joomla database is selected.
Click the SQL tab at the top.
Replace yourDatabaseTablePrefix in the command below with your actual table prefix.

For example, if your prefix is abc123_, the command will become:

ALTER TABLE abc123_sppagebuilder DROP COLUMN catid;

Paste the command into the SQL box.
Click Go.

If everything is correct, the command will execute successfully.

If you're unsure about any of these steps, especially finding the configuration.php file or identifying the table prefix, just send us a screenshot of your File Manager (or the configuration.php file with any sensitive information hidden), and we'll guide you further.

Thanks

Tracey Field Asked this

3 months ago

Hi, I'm not sure if it is this one in the hidden content?

Ziaul Kabir Staff

3 months ago

Ok, then correct SQL command is:

ALTER TABLE jos_sppagebuilder DROP COLUMN catid;

Thanks

Tracey Field Asked this

3 months ago

Here is what it said when I ran the SQL command:

MySQL returned an empty result set (i.e. zero rows). (Query took 0.0075 seconds.)
ALTER TABLE jos_sppagebuilder DROP COLUMN catid;

Warning: #1264 Out of range value for column 'created_on' at row 1
Warning: #1264 Out of range value for column 'modified' at row 1
Warning: #1264 Out of range value for column 'checked_out_time' at row 1

I then tried to install version 4.0.1 as you suggested

It came up with: JInstaller: :Install: Error SQL Duplicate column name 'ordering'
Has knocked my site out again and when I click on the update extensions option instead of showing extensions with updates it shows this error message:
An error has occurred.
0 Failed opening required '/home/customer/www/confidentdrivers.co.uk/public_html/components/com_sppagebuilder/builder/classes/base.php' (include_path='.:/usr/local/php82/pear')

So I've had to roll everything back to my latest back up.

Grateful for your next suggestions!

Tracey

Ziaul Kabir Staff

2 months ago

Hi,

Could you please share your cPanel or phpMyAdmin access with us via our Hidden Content Section? I'll check the issue and do my best to resolve it.

Thank you!

Tracey Field Asked this

2 months ago

Hi I've added you as a collaborator to my hosting account, details in hidden content.

Ziaul Kabir Staff

2 months ago

Hello,

I spent a considerable amount of time checking your site, and I noticed that multiple attempts had already been made to fix the issue. I created a backup, tested the site on my local environment, and was able to resolve the problem.

However, the Securitycheck Pro extension is not working correctly. To prevent it from causing further issues, I temporarily renamed the following folders:

JROOT/plugins/system/__securitycheckpro
JROOT/components/__com_securitycheckpro
JROOT/administrator/components/__com_securitycheckpro

If you need to use the extension again, simply remove the leading __ from each folder name to restore them.

After that, I recommend reinstalling the latest version of Securitycheck Pro on your site, as the current installation appears to be incomplete or incompatible.

I share a backup, run it on your staging site then if you think all good. then run it on your production site.

Thank you.

Tracey Field Asked this

2 months ago

Hi, I don't think you work over the weekend and I needed my site back up after every page was left not working, so I had to go back to a back up. I will jump over to Security Check Pro support, aim to get that sorted next. Tracey

Tracey Field Asked this

2 months ago

Hi, thank you, yes, Ive been trying the different things you have suggested for the past week, hence the multiple attempts.

I am not techy and don't understand IT speak, I don't know what you mean by a staging site and how to do what you have said. The only bit I understand is that Security Check Pro is causing a conflict.

And my website is now down and not working? Tracey

Tracey Field Asked this

2 months ago · edited

Hi, the support team at security check pro helped me so that I am now running the latest version of security check pro so that should no longer be a problem.

I went back to the original suggestion of updating in stages, with spagebuilder 4.0.1 but got the duplicate catid error message again. I ran the sql as you said, and got this message:

MySQL returned an empty result set (i.e. zero rows). (Query took 0.0101 seconds.)
ALTER TABLE jos_sppagebuilder DROP COLUMN catid;
[ Edit inline ] [ Edit ] [ Create PHP code ]
Warning: #1264 Out of range value for column 'created_on' at row 1
Warning: #1264 Out of range value for column 'modified' at row 1
Warning: #1264 Out of range value for column 'checked_out_time' at row 1

Obviously I don't have a clue what that means (guessing empty result set mean it couldn't do what was asked?), but hoping for the best I tried again to instal 4.0.1 I then got a new error message saying: JInstaller: :Install: Error SQL Duplicate column name 'ordering'

All of the above knocked my website out again somewhere along the line, with this error showing on the website: The server returned a "500 - Whoops, looks like something went wrong."

So I've returned to my backup and I am back at the beginning again.

In your last message you mentioned running a file on a staging site and then running it on a production site, but embarrasingly, not being tech savy, I don't know what that means or how to do that. Is that my only way forward now or are there any other options? Tracey

Tracey Field Asked this

2 months ago

Hi Alleja

You can find older versions by:

Logging into your account
Click Downloads
Click Extensions
Click SP PageBuilder Pro
Click either the name or where it says changelog
On the right side you will see a button that says Older Versions, click that
You will now see a drop down menu with stable older versions that you can download.

Hope that helps (I'm not techy but happy to give step by step on stuff I have found)
Tracey

Ziaul Kabir Staff

2 months ago

Hi Tracey,

One possible solution is to uninstall SP Page Builder and reinstall it. However, please keep in mind that after doing this, you may need to recreate your SP Page Builder modules again. Your SP Page Builder pages should remain as they were.

If you do not want to rebuild the SP Page Builder modules manually, the alternative option would be to hire a developer who can inspect and repair the database structure and migration issues directly.

Please also note that custom modifications and upgrades are not included under our standard support policy. Our support covers product-related issues and normal usage guidance, but website-specific customization or migration fixes require additional work.

Thank you for your support and understanding.