Upgrading an older Mautic instance can sometimes feel like a journey through uncharted territory. Recently, I went through the process of updating from version 2.15.3 to 2.16.3, and it wasn’t without its challenges. To save you the trouble, I’ve documented the issues I encountered and the solutions that worked for me.
[Symfony\Component\Debug\Exception\FatalErrorException]
Compile Error: require_once(): Failed opening required ‘PHPEXCEL_ROOTPHPExcel/Shared/PCLZip/pclzip.lib.php’ (include_path=’.:/usr/share/php’)
The Process and Problems
1.Initial Attempt via GUI
I started the upgrade through the Mautic GUI, but it froze without completing.
2.Switching to Command Line
I tried the command line upgrade, only to be met with this error:
To fix this, I found a helpful guide here: Install Mautic on Ubuntu 18.04 Server.
3.Next Error: ZipArchive Issue
After re-running the upgrade, another error appeared:
[Symfony\Component\Debug\Exception\ClassNotFoundException]
Attempted to load class “ZipArchive” from the global namespace.
Did you forget a “use” statement for “PHPExcel_Shared_ZipArchive”?
I consulted this tutorial: How to Update Mautic (Without Clicking the Button).
4.Final Fix: Install PHP-Zip
Despite following the above steps, the dreaded “site offline” message persisted. The breakthrough came when I realized that php-zip wasn’t installed on the server. Installing it resolved the issue, and the upgrade completed successfully.
Final Thoughts
Upgrading Mautic can be daunting, but with patience and the right resources, it’s manageable. If you’re hosting with Mailertizer, feel free to reach out for support to avoid such headaches—we’re here to help ensure your upgrades go smoothly.
