Help a newb out: how to get a list of installed modules? Is there a way to 'pack them' back into separate archives?

Please, help a newb out:
How to get a list of installed modules?

Can a module be altering some 'system' (opencart) files when it is being installed?

Is there a way to 'pack' modules files back into separate archives so that those could be used to install them on a clean system elsewhere?

wewlad wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 13, 2017 11:37 pm

How to get a list of installed modules?

On Extensions -> Modules page.

wewlad wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 13, 2017 11:37 pm

Can a module be altering some 'system' (opencart) files when it is being installed?

It certainly can.

wewlad wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 13, 2017 11:37 pm

Is there a way to 'pack' modules files back into separate archives so that those could be used to install them on a clean system elsewhere?

Modules are usually a bunch of files in "admin" and "catalog" folders plus optional VQMod (XML file). You can try to restore the packages manually for each module yourself by looking for specific file name (for example, "modulename"). Or simply re-download all packages.

thekrotek wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 13, 2017 11:45 pm

> How to get a list of installed modules?

On Extensions -> Modules page.

But that list contains 'pretty' names and some of them are even localized (not in english), so it's hard to use those for figuring out the source they were obtained from.
Also, some plugins there seem to be 'plugin packs' and probably depend on each other, so they aren't atomic/independent.

thekrotek wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 13, 2017 11:45 pm

> Can a module be altering some 'system' (opencart) files when it is being installed?

It certainly can.

But that means that once they are installed I can neither restore the system to the state when it was not yet installed (because the system files got already altered)! Or am I wrong?

thekrotek wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 13, 2017 11:45 pm

> Is there a way to 'pack' modules files back into separate archives so that those could be used to install them on a clean system elsewhere?

Modules are usually a bunch of files in "admin" and "catalog" folders plus optional VQMod (XML file). You can try to restore the packages manually for each module yourself by looking for specific file name (for example, "modulename"). Or simply re-download all packages.

Yeah, but what if a plugin adds files to different catalogs? I wish there was a description file that would have a list of all the files owned/installed by a plugin.
Or better just keep modules separately...

Anyways, thanks for the reply.

wewlad wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 14, 2017 12:26 am

But that list contains 'pretty' names and some of them are even localized (not in english), so it's hard to use those for figuring out the source they were obtained from.

Not that hard: hover your mouse over Edit link near desired extension and you'll see the route. Last part of the route - extension's file name.

wewlad wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 14, 2017 12:26 am

Also, some plugins there seem to be 'plugin packs' and probably depend on each other, so they aren't atomic/independent.

They're quire rare, but yes, they exist.

wewlad wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 14, 2017 12:26 am

But that means that once they are installed I can neither restore the system to the state when it was not yet installed (because the system files got already altered)! Or am I wrong?

Yes, wrong. Extensions modify core files via VQMod/OCMod. In short, they're modified "on the fly" or in cache. Core files remain the same.

thekrotek wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 13, 2017 11:45 pm

Yeah, but what if a plugin adds files to different catalogs? I wish there was a description file that would have a list of all the files owned/installed by a plugin. Or better just keep modules separately...

Usually only these folders are affected (for example, module):

admin/controller/module
admin/language/[language code]/module
admin/model/module
admin/view/[path to theme]/module

And same for catalog. Since OC 2.3 "extension" folder was added to the path.

But in general you either keep original packages or re-download them.

thekrotek wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 14, 2017 1:17 am

Not that hard: hover your mouse over Edit link near desired extension and you'll see the route. Last part of the route - extension's file name.

Thanks. That way I figured out I have module/subscriptiоnprоducts and module/subscriptiоnprоducts_viеw, which google knows nothing of :-(

thekrotek wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 14, 2017 1:17 am

Yes, wrong. Extensions modify core files via VQMod/OCMod. In short, they're modified "on the fly" or in cache. Core files remain the same.

I suspected this, just wanted the confirmation, thank you!

thekrotek wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 14, 2017 1:17 am

But in general you either keep original packages or re-download them.

That's what I'm telling my pal, the site owner, I hope it's not too late to contact the original developer of the site.