FW Gallery 5.0.0 is a major release focused on the new component architecture. It serves as a basic model for all subsequent FW Gallery releases and works as a single platform with a set of add-ons that are allocated into two packages corresponding to the former Light and Grand versions. Add-ons are FW Gallery specific Joomla extensions (modules, plugins, data type, and design).

The first package (former Light version) includes the component with a  limited number of add-ons and second package (former Grand) includes the component with all available add-ons. Earlier there were separate structures and databases for Light and Grand versions, now FW Gallery has the same structure and database and comes in two packages.

FW Gallery v5.0.0 represents a transition point to the main platform (main component) with independent add-ons. Soon, all add-ons will be independent of the platform. Consequently, you will be able to choose as many add-ons as you like to create a gallery with a desired set of functionalities.

Critical Steps to upgrade

As a result of the structural change, make sure to follow the recommendations below:

• Upgrade to the latest major v4.x.x version before upgrading to v5.0.0.

Feel free to ask for installation file using General question form of your Client section on fastw3b.com.

• Note that when a basic package (former Light) is updated, it is NOT installed over the previous Light version. For that reason, along with FW Gallery Light, you will see FW Gallery component next to it in the Components dropdown. When an extended package (former Grand) is updated, it is installed over the previous Grand version. For that reason, you will see a familiar FW Gallery menu item within Components dropdown. This comes as a result of the structural change outlined above.
• Make sure to import your gallery data to the new FW Gallery.

Go to your Dashboard in Admin panel and find green Import data on top. Import functionality allows importing all galleries and files to a new FW Gallery.

• Revise your layouts on front-end for both Grand and Light versions.

Make sure you select correct layouts for all FW Gallery menu items after the extension is installed.

• Revise gallery settings on the front-end for both Grand and Light versions.

As now gallery settings moved from Menu item parameters to gallery settings (Admin Panel -> Galleries -> Edit), you will need to set all settings again to have it all working if you had any specific settings on particular menu items. Global settings will get imported though.

• Please note that downgrade from version 5.x.x to 4.x.x is NOT possible.

Please use our Documentation section and Ticket Support on fastw3b.com if you need more information on upgrade and a new release.

Changes in FW Gallery that may affect current layouts and settings

Along with the component structure, we have implemented a lot of valuable and helpful changes. Let’s take a look at them below:

• Add-ons section.


All add-ons are displayed and managed via this section. Make sure they are activated to ensure that all needed functionalities are up and running. 

Reference materials: New FW Gallery concept: platform with add-ons article.

• Gallery display settings moved to gallery level.


Now gallery settings are available at the gallery level, not menu item level. Just locate your gallery settings and switch to the Design tab to configure multiple display settings for galleries, gallery listing, and files/file listing. 

• Gallery settings priority.


Gallery settings priority has been changed. Now local gallery settings have priority over parent settings while parent settings have priority over global configuration.

• Configuration section. 


We have redesigned Configuration section. There are 4 tabs available:

• General. You can set image sizes, watermark, gallery designs, date format, and comments via this section.

• Galleries. All settings associated with galleries are set via this section.

• Files. All settings associated with files are set via this section.

• Add-ons. All settings of the activated add-ons hit this section.


• FW Gallery plugin instead of FW Gallery Content Plugin.

FW Gallery Content Plugin was limited to articles only. A new FW Gallery module allows inserting galleries and files anywhere on your website via different module positions or within the articles as well. The gallery within the module can be customized just like any other gallery. Thus, you can set design, grids, files rows, etc.  

Reference materials: How do you put a module inside an article 

• Data Management section.

Use this section for backing up and restoring your gallery data before every update or as a tool to prevent data loss. This section is also used for all import procedures. Thus, Facebook, Instagram, and Google import settings are located in this section.

Need more information on the topic?

Get familiar with How to migrate to FW Gallery 5.0.0 tutorial to find more information about upgrading procedure.

Please use the comments section at the bottom of each documentation page to comment and suggest improvements that will make the product experience better.

If you need more information on the topic, use Support page in Client section on fastw3b.com. Feel free to submit your feedback on our new concept and architecture using Suggest an Idea form. Use General Question or other forms to get more information on the topic.

The new FW Gallery is a feature-rich component with many new powerful solutions. Now it is an entirely new component with grids, designs, file info display effects, and on hover effects independent from each other. The additional features such as video display, import/export functionality, tags functionality, etc. are implemented via Add-ons (FW Gallery specific functional extensions, data types and designs) allocated in its own section in Admin Panel. 

The new FW Gallery has become more flexible, attractive, and easy to use. Let’s take a look at top 10 innovations.

Gallery display settings moved to gallery level

Earlier galleries display settings could be configured at menu item level or in global settings. It caused inability to differently configure multiple galleries assigned to one and the same menu item. Now all gallery display settings are configured at gallery level or in global settings. In other words, each gallery can be configured individually even though being assigned to one and the same menu item. There is a certain secession in settings priority. Local settings have priority over parent settings while parent settings have priority over global configuration.

Documentation reference: Gallery settings.

Add-ons enhancing FW Gallery capabilities

All advanced functionality is re-designed via a straightforward and user-friendly add-ons concept. FW Gallery capabilities can be enhanced via multiple add-ons installed on top of the main component. All add-ons are managed from one place, the Add-ons section. If the add-on is enabled, its configuration section appears in the Add-ons tab of the global configuration section. Each add-on has its banner, icon, and configuration.

Reference materials: New FW Gallery concept: platform with add-ons article.

6 designs

Galleries can be styled with 6 responsive and elegant designs. Starting from a standard built-in Bootstrap design that is available for free you can get 5 more coming as separate add-ons - Fancy, Palaloid, Beauty, Classic, and Pinterest.

Each design has been revised and enhanced. Design settings apply to grids and gallery/file info display settings. All extra designs can be configured either at gallery level or in global gallery settings.

4 grids

FW Gallery grids offer many ways for showcasing your galleries. Now grids are independent from designs. Galleries (categories) view can be assigned a Standard grid only while files listing view may be assigned either of 4 grids:

• Standard. Classic gallery grid placing images in a conventional way.

• Justified grid. Automatically balances images of different sizes horizontally to form a seamless and attractive gallery grid.

• Waterfall. A fluid and dynamic grid arranging images of different height vertically. Couples perfectly with infinite scroll via Ajax pagination.

• Custom grid. Allows displaying multiple images of different sizes around enlarged image.


7 gallery/file info display options

There is a choice of 7 gallery/file info display positions coming as a built-in feature within a free package. It is a simple way to add an interesting appeal to your gallery based website. Gallery info and files info options work independently from each other. For example, the top-level gallery may have Top gallery info display position while its images listing may have Over slide up file info display position.

2 on hover effects and video autoplay

Reveal a thumbnail image in creative ways when being hovered. Now Ken Burns and Enlarge image on hover effects are available as separate settings independent from designs settings. This is a built-in feature coming within a free package. The effects can be set at both gallery and global settings levels as well as applied to the gallery and file listing thumbnails. For video files, video autoplay is applied. Thus, a video is automatically played on hover animating your galleries and attracting visitors’ attention.

Each gallery can be styled individually

Since gallery settings moved to the gallery level, you can set a specific configuration for each gallery displayed on the same page. For example, a top-level gallery may have Fancy design, Justified grid, and gallery description placed at the top while its child gallery may be styled with Classic design, Standard grid, and bottom gallery description. At the same time, the other gallery on the same page may have Pinterest design, Custom grid, and left gallery description at the top level and Polaroids design, Waterfall grid, and hidden gallery description at the child level.

Carousel module is back

Carousel module adds an advanced carousel slider on your gallery pages. The module settings let you choose a gallery and number of images to be displayed,  hide scroll buttons, place it horizontally or vertically on your gallery pages, and many more.

FW Gallery module is a new enhanced FW Gallery Content Plugin

Now you can insert galleries and files anywhere on your website via different module positions or within the articles as well as customize them to your taste just as any other gallery. For example, configure the design, grid, file info, on hover effects, and many more. FW Gallery module is an advanced prototype of the former Content plugin.

Instagram photos and videos import

Now your website gallery can be synchronized with your Instagram gallery using Instagram Import. The add-on allows to easily display your Instagram videos, photos, and posts on your gallery website.

Reference materials: 

• Importing Instagram content to Joomla website with FW Gallery article 
• Instagram Import documentation page.

The new FW Gallery is a powerful solution for gallery websites. The previous structure remained unchanged for years, so we made this revolutionary move that had been nursed during all these years. Now it is implemented. If our customers encounter some issues while working with the product, we hope they will raise them in their bug reports via the Client section. Help us to improve by sharing your experience with our new product. Feel free to submit your feedback on our new concept and architecture using Suggest an Idea form in your client section.

Get familiar with FW Gallery documentation to find more information about our product. Please use the comments section at the bottom of each documentation page to comment and suggest improvements that will make the product experience better.