when upgrading from SMF 1.13 to 2.0RC5

[Martine M]

Link to my site: http://united-tutorials-registration.com/
SMF version: SMF 1.13
TP version: TP ver. 1.103
Default Forum Language: English
Theme name and version: Default theme
Browser Name and Version: Mozilla Firefox
Mods installed:
Related Error messages: No error messages

I'm thinking of upgrading from SMF 1.13 tot 2.0RC5
When I do, do I have to set up Tiny portal again from scatch, can it be upgraded without loss of settings and all?

[ZarPrime]

enitram,

Overall, it should be a fairly easy upgrade, especially if you do the large upgrade, though you will have to reinstall any Mods you are using, including TinyPortal.  The latest TP is 1.0 RC1.1 and your current settings should be maintained though you may have to do some tweaking.  Also, some of your blocks that were designed to work with SMF 1.1.13, like the mini-calendar, may not work with the latest SMF so you may have to do those again using updated code.  We can help you with this.  As always, when doing an upgrade like this, be sure to first backup your Forum and your database in case something goes wrong and you have to revert.


ZarPrime

[Martine M]

Thank you Zarprime.

I really would love some help with it indeed, bit scared of the whole upgrade.
Backups I will do of coarse.

I was toled just now on SMF that I better wait a few more weeks before upgrading cause then SMF 2.0 turns Gold so that would save me to do another upgrade.

So I don't have to delete the mods before upgrading to SMF 2.0.
If installation is done I have to upgrade all mods including Tiny Portal?

When I start can I aks for help in this topic?

[ZarPrime]

SMF upgrades to your Forum are really not that difficult and everybody who runs a Forum needs to learn how to do it.  Reading through the Online User Manual at SMF, specifically wrt Upgrades, would be a good thing for you to do --> http://docs.simplemachines.org/

Well, yes, the final version of SMF 2.0 should be out in the next couple of weeks (knock on wood) so it might not be a bad idea to wait.  What you could do though, in the meantime, if you have time that is, is to clone your live site to a test Forum.  With that test Forum, you could go ahead and upgrade it to SMF 2.0 RC5 and install the latest TP, followed by any other Mods that you might have currently installed that have been updated for SMF 2.0 RC5.  You didn't mention in your first post what other Mods, if any, that you are using but certainly not all of them have been updated for use with SMF 2.0.  This test Forum will give you an opportunity to find out which Mods have indeed been updated and let you decide which ones you want to keep or not.  When you clone your live site to a test site in another folder, you will indeed have to install your Mods again, after you upgrade the test site.  This will give you some practice on doing stuff like updating and will give you a test Forum that you can play with without affecting your live Forum until you are ready to finally do the upgrade to the live Forum.

Here is a brief topic on SMF that talks a little bit about cloning your live site --> http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=366951.0

It's not a bad idea to do this as it will give you some experience with working on a Forum and will give you a test bed to try new things out that you might want to do.  Everybody should know how to do this and should indeed do it at least once. If you need further help with cloning your site, feel free to start another topic over at SMF.

When you are ready to ask for further help with TinyPortal, please feel free to start a new topic here in the Support Board with your question and we will be glad to help you.

ZarPrime

[Martine M]

Ah Zarprime that is a really good idea to make a clone of my live site.
It would help me a lot, to test things without being scared of messing op.

I know I should learn, it is my first forum I ever set op and did it all by myself,
I found the results very good if I may say so myself
Then learning how to adjust files to let mods work in other theme then default and in other languages.
I had to let go of the beautiful mesh team eventually cause Bloc took it of the theme site and no more upgrades or support and it needed an upgrade.
All the other themes I liked where gone to so then I coloured the default theme myself
I did an upgrade from 1.12 to 1.13 but 2.0 this is a a whole other forum has I understand.
But you are right I have to learn it, I'm always a bit scared the first time.

The clone will help me a lot, I am going to read all you gave me tonight or this weekend and try to set it up.

Dont have much mods installed, I checked for updates yesterday but for 2.0 RC5, if the final version is out then I have to wait and see again I think.
peoplesign: there is no update for 2.0 that's pitty cause I had much spammers signing in before I installed that.
Googlebot & Spiders Mod 2.0.4 has no udates for 2.0 but there are other mods like that.
Disable Template eval which is standard in 2.0 so I'm told.

Stop spammer 2.3.9 has an update for 2.0
Simply Audio and video embedder 1.1.4 has an update for 2.0
Users online today 1.4.0 mod has update for 2.0

Regards Martine

[lurkalot]

Something else I find very handy for trying mods, playing with themes etc,

is to run a local install on your PC, using Xampp or similar.  You can learn a lot from playing around with this kind of setup, and without the worry of messing anything up on your server.

You can also clone your site like this, and play without having to upload files.  And you can practise upgrading too.

That said, because a mod etc will work on your local install, doesn't always mean it'll work on your live server, so that's where the test site that ZarPrime recommended comes in handy again.

[Martine M]

Thank you very much lurkalot an Zarprime I am really great full with your helpful tips.
Going to try it all out, still have a few weeks to play with it all before the final SMF 2.0 is out .

[Martine M]

Just cloned my forum
http://testforum.united-tutorials-registration.com/

So I'm ready to play with it.

Thanks again.

[ZarPrime]

Martine,

Excellent job. I wish support was this easy with everyone.

Now that you have your backup you can play with your test site to your hearts content without having to worry about messing up anything on your live site since they each have their own databases and installs.  They are using separate databases, right?  If you do something wrong you can always start over with your backup.

One thing I did notice is that some of your members are using Dutch but your Forum seems to be using English.  You should be aware that If you ever want to switch your default Forum language to Dutch, at this time we don't have Dutch translations for the latest TinyPortal install.  At that time, you will need to create your own translations of the appropriate files.  However, this is not too difficult and I think you would be fine in doing that, should you choose to do so.

I will go ahead and mark this topic solved at this time, and if and when you need further help with TP, please feel free to start another topic.

ZarPrime

Edit:  Hmmm, I just noticed that everyone who is logged into your live site is also logged into your test site as well.  This might indicate that your test site is still using the same database as your live site.  Did you clone the database for your live site to the test site database?  This means creating a new empty database and then importing the backup of your database into the newly created database.  After that, you can run repair_settings.php on the test site so that your test site will be using the test database instead of the live database.  It is important to do this so that you won't mess up your live database.  The support people over at SMF can help you with issues like this if you need help with it.

[Martine M]

Zarprime indeed they are still using the same database, I made a new data bas with "my SQL databases" but I can't seem to get the backup uploaded to that new database.
SMF people refer to tutorials for new installations of SMF that doesn't help me with that. I've been struggling with it the whole day.
I renamed the backup to the new database but still it uploads to the original.

Are you the same Zarprime that came in that topic on SMF?

I contacted my web host support to help me out here.
Once that is done, I can play with it.

About the languages, yes forum default will stay always English.
We are a multi language forum just open 3 months and still growing I hope, Most are Dutch members, some English, and French maybe German in the future.
I know I have to create my own translations, That's more work but I know how to do that, thanks.