Convert from Postnuke to TP

[IchBin]

This is something that you need to post at SMF for help. I don't know anyone here who is well versed in board conversions.

[TwinsX2Dad]

Well versed or not - the converters generally run on base code - in this case, it'd be phpBB to SMF. Add an invasive portal like Nuke or MKPortal and you're bound to have troubles. THe converter chokes on the extra and/or modified tables.

What you must do is first, forget about a converter taking your Nuke data to TP. That you'll have to manually duplicate or beg someone to create a custom converter.

Now, do a database backup and note your Nuke data for later importing.

Then you will go into your phpBB database and dump all of the extra tables.

Now you will convert board to board.

But wait, there is more! You will probably still have some errors. If you're particularly blessed, you won't have any, but be prepared for them. Each error will indicate something which the converter doesn't recognize. You will need to modify your base DB to eliminate this error, then restart your conversion. Repeat for each error.

For any portion of your DB that errors on conversion, you learn which information will not transfer directly over and will need to be recreated.

This is one of the dangers of modifying code. To convert a message board I was running from SMF to vB recently, I had to first get rid of a few mods (not all) and remove TP, then repair/optimize. Then the conversion went smoothly.

If the converter was designed to handle portal/CMS data, or mod data, it might stumble if run on a site which didn't have this data. There are too many variations to write a converter which would handle everything. Converting accounts, posts, avatars, smilies & numbers is relatively easy. Converting those things PLUS galleries, arcades, signature mods, profile enhancements and more would be too problematic.

[Thox]

Thanks TwÃÆ'Ã,­nsX2DÃÆ'Ã,Â¥Ã,,‘ÂÃ,³,

I have managed to convert existing PNphpBB2 forum across to SMF, but not without problems.

First I had to install a fresh copy of phpBB2, export a number of PNphpBB2 tables and import them into the fresh phpbb2 database, which took awhile.  The new phpbb2 board contined all the data I had on the PNphpBB2 board.  The only problem was, when I didn't have admin access to the board, so I logged out and tried to login again, thinking it would resolve itself.  However, it did not recognise my password, I tried the forgotten password route, were it would send me a new password, but that didn't work either. Bugger. 

Undeterred, I tried the phpbb2 to smf converter anyway, which came up with a few errors.  There was an option at the bottom to try again, so I clicked that, and it ran through the conversion process again and only came up with one error this time, which had something to do with poll voters table, which I wasn't too bothered about.

I went to my new SMF forum, which contained all the users and forum data.  HURRAY.  The only downside is that it doesn't recognise your password.  You have to click on forgotten password and the user has to enter a new password, which isn't too bad.

So success, even with a couple of errors.

Thox

[mnichols7]

WOW!! Glad you manage it, gave me a headache just to read it.

[Thox]

hehe, Thanks.  Looks like the user passwords are working as well though.  So a complete success. Yay.

Thox

[TwinsX2Dad]

Good to hear you made it. I can't tell you how many times I've had to install/reinstall/setup a board half a dozen times just to convert.

In the end, it is a fun challenge.