SocialForums to 'vB 3.8 Social Group Discussions' Converter

[flOid]

Description
This converter tool migrates forums created with the vB 3.7 social forums mod (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=174878) to the new vB 3.8 social group discussion feature. What it does is basically to copy the posts from one database table to another.

Installation
1 - de-activate the social forums mod (do not uninstall it!)

2 - upload the directory in the attached zip file to your vbulletin installation

3 - edit your database details in includes/database.php

4 - call migrate_main.php in your browser, start migration

5 - if you have previously disabled social group messages, enable it in the admin CP. You might have to manually enable group messages for each group individually.

Notes
- Use at your own risk, don't forget to backup your forum's database before running the converter.

- The social forums won't be deleted with this script, you will have to do this manually, or just hide them after migration.

- Neither stickies or polls can be converted as social group discussions.

- If this tool was useful for you, it would be nice if you could donate by paypal. I actually have hired a freelancer and paid $150 to get this coded, so it would be nice to get a bit of the expenses back.


History
1.0.1 BETA, 11th December 2008
- now working with database prefixes

1.0.0 BETA, 27th November 2008
- Initial release

To-Do (all developers feel free to do this, i'm finished with this on my side)
- automatically enable group messages generally and for each group
- better layout
- admin CP, full vbulletin intergration

[punchbowl]

I haven't had a good look at the social group discussion features in 3.8, would you say they completely make the socialforums mod obsolete?

Thanks for releasing this btw.

[flOid]

I haven't had a good look at the social group discussion features in 3.8, would you say they completely make the socialforums mod obsolete?

Well, I guess not, the SocialForums mod is better than the vB group discussion feature in some ways. A fully functional forums still has more possibilities than the group discussion feature, like stickies, polls, integreation in 'new posts' function etc.

But it is not certain yet if the SocialForums mod does actually work with vB3.8, and a few weeks ago it seemed that it would be completely incompatible. Also, the developer of SocialForums also imply that he won't develop his mod any further back than. That has changed now though.

But I guess it's not a bad idea to switch to the official vB solution anyway, since you won't have to worry about compatibility with future vB versions. Also, the SocialForums mod has one major flaw IMO, and that is that it's not possible to create forums where the "users must join to view content" group option applies.

[hollosch]

There is a problem using db_prefixes - flOid will fix these problems by next release.

thanks

[sross]

so need this. thanks!!

[rob01]

copy the posts from one database table to another. this could increase the server loading?


anyway how is going with the new update using vb databese prefixes?
:D

[waza]

Well, I guess not, the SocialForums mod is better than the vB group discussion feature in some ways. A fully functional forums still has more possibilities than the group discussion feature, like stickies, polls, integreation in 'new posts' function etc.

But it is not certain yet if the SocialForums mod does actually work with vB3.8, and a few weeks ago it seemed that it would be completely incompatible. Also, the developer of SocialForums also imply that he won't develop his mod any further back than. That has changed now though.

But I guess it's not a bad idea to switch to the official vB solution anyway, since you won't have to worry about compatibility with future vB versions. Also, the SocialForums mod has one major flaw IMO, and that is that it's not possible to create forums where the "users must join to view content" group option applies.

However, SocialForums is just a bad mod. It might be usefull, but it totally ++++s up the forum cache, and puts way too much load on the server.

I think that is more important than sticky threads.

[Baldilocks]

SocialForums a bad thing?? I don't think so. :)

[rob01]

so is this a great idea or what you think so?

[hollosch]

There is a problem using db_prefixes - flOid will fix these problems by next release.

thanks

I works perfect. thanks !!!

[vitoreis]

Works!

Thank You!

[WreckRman2]

Worked great for me... thanks!

[Reeve of shinra]

Can this convert a regular forum to Social Group?

Prior to social groups, I had forums set up for various "groups" and now I would like to move them over.

[flOid]

Can this convert a regular forum to Social Group?

Prior to social groups, I had forums set up for various "groups" and now I would like to move them over.

This only can convert forums created with the SocialForums mod.

[drsli]

Thank you very much for this useful tool! Otherwise I had the need to wait with the 3.8-installation... :)

[Merriweather]

I have Social Groups with forums using stickies, attachments, etc, so I'm not ready to migrate them yet. Does this mod ask you which ones to convert, or does it just convert them all?

Edit - It just converts them all, I see. And it takes forever; I've been running it for well over 2 hours on a closed forum with just 39 Social Forums.

[WebmasterSimds]

what woud be needed is a functional mod to make the social area run just like the forums area, where you can stick a post if one wishes, or do other things. i dont know if that is possable to do. but that would be worth it.

[phunksta]

Hmm I liked the social forums mod - it took a lot of load off and left the users in familiar territory.
vBulletin coders note! Why did you put in some arcane new 'social networking' features when somethign like this mod would have been much better? If I wanted my site like facebook I wouldn't have purchased vB!

Please! do a 3.8 version - your mod should live on!

[MarkFoster]

Would you please make something similar but instead have the images of the groups shown?