Update 2 (need further test to see if solved completely)
10) found a similar issue in wordpress found here https://wordpress.org/support/topic/php-function-is-disabled-abort-expected-gzopen-updraft
11) added this code to the config.php - >function gzopen( string $filename , $mode, $use_include_path = 0 ) { return gzopen64($filename, $mode, $use_include_path); }
12) now can see the list of extensions / themes / COA' (good start
However this error is thrown (with debugging still on) - > Argument 1 passed to gzopen() must be an instance of string, string given, called in /var/www/html/frontaccounting/includes/packages.inc on line 165 and defined in file: /var/www/html/frontaccounting/config.php at line 290
13) further help needed but getting closer.
Can now:
a) see the theme list and download (but can not activate)
b) see the COA list and download (appears to working when creating new company)
c) see list of extensions and download and activate (yet to see how to use the import transactions function, or see where it lives after activation)
If anyone can assist further with the error and theme installation, thank you.
After a day of banging my head against a wall ,im taking a break to watch the footy and have a beer.