How to Open JPA Files
By Erica Kasper
If you work with the open source content management system Joomla, you’ve probably encountered the file extension JPA. This extension is used by JoomlaPack, the Joomla Installation Backup component by frozenFX. JoomlaPack is an open-source add-on for Joomla that lets you create full backups of a site, including all files and databases. The resulting JPA backup file is zipped, so opening it can appear difficult at first, but you can open a JPA file with a few tools.
Open JPA Files on Your Local Computer
Step 1
Download Akeeba eXtract Wizard (formerly JoomlaPack eXtract), a JPA and ZIP extraction wizard from Akeeba Backup (full link in resources). The program is free to download and use. It is available in Windows, Mac OS X and Linux formats.
Step 2
Save Akeeba eXtract Wizard to your local computer.
Step 3
Run Akeeba eXtract Wizard setup by double-clicking the program icon and selecting "Run." Follow the instructions in the setup process to install the program on your computer. Launch Akeeba eXtract Wizard when the setup is complete.
Step 4
Select the JPA archive file to extract by either entering the filename or clicking the "browse" icon.
Step 5
Select the destination folder for the extracted file, and enter a password if you are using JPS archives with password protection. You may also opt to click the "ignore most errors" checkbox, which is checked by default, or click the "dry run" checkbox to test the extraction process before running it.
Step 6
Click the "Extract!" button to unzip and extract your JPA archive to the destination folder you defined. You'll have access to the files within the archive.
Use Akeeba Kickstart to Extract JPA Files Directly to a Web Server
Step 1
Download Akeeba Kickstart by Akeeba Backup if you prefer to extract your JPA archive to a web server instead of your local computer (full link in resources). Kickstart is a useful, free extraction option when you have your Web server ready to go, since opening a JPA or ZIP file directly on the server eliminates the need to upload hundreds or thousands of files via FTP.
Step 2
Extract the kickstart.php file to your local computer (it will be zipped when you download it). Do not install it to Joomla. Some additional INI files will extract along with the kickstart.php file; these are translation files, and you don't need them if you don't recognize or understand the languages they use.
Step 3
Upload kickstart.php (and any INI files you need for translation) to your server. When you upload, choose the server path where you want the JPA backup files to be installed.
Step 4
Upload the JPA file to extract to your server manually via FTP. Place the JPA file in the same directory as kickstart.php.
Step 5
Launch Kickstart by visiting the URL that references its location on your server. Typically this is the URL of your normal site with /kickstart.php at the end. You will see a dialog box of information and warnings regarding Kickstart. When you've read the information and decide to continue, press the "ESC" button to go to the Kickstart interface.
Step 6
Select your archive and extraction method from the options available. Fine tune your extraction by minimizing or maximizing extraction time. Press "Start" when you're ready, and your JPA archive will extract all files to the server.
References
Writer Bio
Erica Kasper has been a professional writer and editor since 1999. Based in Jacksonville, Fla., she has written and edited educational, marketing and web copy for nonprofit organizations, technology companies and online marketing firms. She has a Bachelor's degree in journalism (honors) and psychology from Washington and Lee University.