Thank you for reaching out and for the detailed context. I’m happy to clarify how you can approach the migration from Helix3 to Helix Ultimate.
First, it’s important to note that Helix3 and Helix Ultimate are fundamentally different frameworks. Due to architectural and structural changes, there is no direct or automated migration process that can transfer layouts, styles, or settings from Helix3 to Helix Ultimate while preserving everything exactly as-is.
That said, you can still migrate efficiently and minimize rework by following a structured approach:
Recommended Migration Approach
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Install Helix Ultimate alongside Helix3
You can keep Helix3 active while setting up Helix Ultimate. This allows you to reference the existing design during rebuilding.
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Recreate the layout structure manually
Header, footer, module positions, and page structure will need to be rebuilt using Helix Ultimate’s layout builder. While this is manual, it is usually faster than expected, especially for standard layouts.
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Match visual styles via custom CSS
Colors, typography, spacing, and other visual elements can be closely matched by:
- Configuring Typography, Colors, and Layout settings in Helix Ultimate
- Reusing or adapting custom CSS from Helix3 where applicable
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Menu and content remain intact
Joomla articles, menus, categories, and EasyStore data are not affected by the template change. Only template-specific layout and styling need to be recreated.
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EasyStore integration advantage
Helix Ultimate offers significantly better flexibility for EasyStore customization—especially when used with SP Page Builder—making it much easier to control layouts, product pages, and styling compared to Helix3.
Expectation Setting
While it’s not possible to avoid rebuilding entirely, most users find that recreating the layout in Helix Ultimate is far more manageable than anticipated, and the long-term benefits (performance, flexibility, EasyStore control, and future updates) outweigh the initial effort.