UPDATE: Please make sure to read the last posts. The beginning of the thread is kinda old, so please don't think this is how it works. Read the last posts.

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Hello. This is my first time posting here, so I hope I make a good first impression ;)

Anyways...I just finished my phpBB 1.4.0 Convertor Utility, allthough I don't have an actual phpBB 1.4.0 DB to test it on. All I did was use a DB with 2 forums, one topic, and one post ;). Anyways, if you have phpBB 1.4.0, or any other kind of phpBB (Convert it to 1.4.0, of course ;)), please please help me test this.

If you find an error or some way of crashing or messing up the process, please tell me what happened. Also, if you could send me a copy of the database you are using, that would be greatly appreciated. Please don't think I'll steal your PWs, because they are MD5 encoded.

Known Bugs:

• Does not make private forums private while converting

When it is converting, all the user passwords are changed to a different md5-encoded string. I plan to change this later.

I know it isn't very user friendly. Also, please don't take any part of this code without my permission. I worked really hard on it. Thanks a bunch.

Please post anything you have to say about this below.

I've seen a different (older) version of this convertor at work and I was impressed.

Note: You will have to use lost password to get your new pw, I think..

Nice :)

Hey All. I'll be away for the next week. I'll be at NorthWoods (A BoyScout Camp Reservation in Michigan). I'm leaving tomorrow, and I'll be back Saturday. Please don't expect me to respond until then. I'm sorry I will be away...but I wanted to get this released.

Let's have lots of good comments for when I return :D

OOps...sorry about my excessive being away. As soon as I got back, I had to leave again. Well, here's a new version. Kyle has tested this new version, and he said it worked fine. I am almost sure all the bugs were removed. I hope it works for you too. Let me know.

Thanks. Again, sorry for appearing to be dead.

It works for me. :)

Works perfectly without any errors. However, is there a way to import members and messages without deleting the current ones? i.e merging into as opposed to overwriting.

Well...

I've never thought about it, and I think it wouldn't be that easy...because all the userIDs and the forumIDs and threadIDs and postIDs and so on would have to be changed...and that would be VERY server intensive. I guess I could do it...but I don't really think anyone would want to...

The idea of this script is to convert a phpBB Bulletin Board's database into a vBulletin database. It is not supposed to append onto the vBulletin. The idea is that you just bought a new copy of vBulletin, and want to move from phpBB to vB...not to start something on vBulletin for a month, and then append onto it.

If anyone else would like to have merging support, I will do it. Just post here if you'd like this to support merging. Also, please everyone download and test. I got lots of help the first time around, and now it is (99.99%) finished, and barely anyone is helping to test it. Please guys...I'd appreciate it.

Merging posts and members would make it into the perfect converter. I would love this.

The reason is that Ikonboard does not really cut it anymore, there is no converter but you can convert to phpBB. That is what I've done with my IB 2.18, converted it to phpBB and then to vBulletin and it worked without any problems. The only thing, is the 3500 posts and 200 members that I would loose if I just overwrite the board. So at the moment I have the conversion of a different database which I cannot use.

Like me, there are hundreds of Ikonboard users waiting for a solution to move to vBulletin. Even in their forums they are starting to get requests, problem is they get deleted.

Wow...I didn't know merging was that important ;)

I'm gonna go start on it...I'm not so sure how I'm gonna do merging...but I'll find a way. Maybe after I'm done with this...I'll make one that converts IKonBoard directly into vBulletin ;)

Test this script for me...that's really what I need.

Merging is a must. On my forums we're offering sub-hosting of forums for clans, mods, etc...and some of them have existing forums, but have already signed up for ours. I don't want their existing account to be overwritten. I haven't had a chance to test this script yet, but lets say I wanted to import an entire phpBB into a subforum on my vB. Could I do that?

slow down...I've got too much to think about. I'm in the middle of working on merging. Once the merging script is done...then, to put everything into a subforum, you would just merge that BB into yours, and move all the forums into the subforum, therefore creating a subsubforum, and a subsubsubforum ;)

vB can do that...so don't worry about the levels getting too deep.

Merging is coming along nicely...Expect the merging version to be released in 2~3 days.

2-3 days? WOW!!!

The previous script worked 100%. If you need help with testing it before you release the final, please let me know.

This is great news, I can't wait.

If you need help with testing, I'm up to it too.

Thank you:)

So once the merging works, how long do you think it will take for the ikonboard -> vBulletin converter, instead of going through phpBB?

I got the members imported to phpBB ok, but the forum importer was corrupted...does anyone have this?

Here it is:

http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showt...threadid=23014

This one is not corrupted.

IMO, you are better off doing it through phpBB. An Ikonboard converter might take too long. I have requested one over 2 months ago and nothing. There is an official one on the pipeline, but why wait? They have not given a finishing time or posted any progress on it.

My guess is, by the time it is finished no one will need it. I have a few friends that decided to move to a vBulletin lookalike instead of waiting. The ones willing to wait might as well wait for IB3 Gold.

I just realized...

vBulletin has its own BBimport library. It is much easier to use, so I will be using that. From now on, the only file that will need to be downloaded is the convertor file. There will be no conv_global.php or DBwrapper.php (I don't like vBulletin's DBwrapper as much :(). I think I'll still zip it so that it is smaller, but I'm open to suggestions.

Because I'm changing how the whole thing works...it might be another 2~3 days from today. Sorry, but I think after this, it will run much cleaner and faster.

Nebula, you are doing us all a very big favour. Please take your time.

When you are done, If you care to send me your PayPal ID I would be more than happy to pay for some of your time.

Thanks again

I am considering moving from phpbb 1.4 to vBulletin. But I cannot purchase a license if I do not know for sure if the converter does a good job

What will be the impact for my user? Do they need to re-register? Will the converter take care of everything?

How far is the converter at this time?

Thanks!

Christoph

Maybe the vB developers'll even put it in the members area if you use their format :)

It was "done", but Nebula's rewriting it to work better and use vB's built in bbimport system. It imports forums, users, and everything from phpBB.

Great! Thanks! I'll keep an eye on this thread - hoping!! :-)

Well...I...don't really know what to say Juan ;) I never really thought of that. I don't have a PayPalID, but I can get one (assuming it is free (I think it is)). My cousin uses it, so I have heard about it.

Merging is coming along nicely. It will probably be out late Friday or Saturday.

Christoph: The convertor does what it does fine. Many people use/used it, and all said it worked fine (the new version ;)). It currently converts:

• Users
• Forums & Categories
• Moderators
• Threads
• Posts
• PMs
• Styles
• Options

If you would like any more features to be imported, PLEASE, PLEASE tell me. I want this to be a good convertor.

JohnM: It is being made so that it workes with the vBulletin BBimport system. It was not earlier, because I never thought of doing it vB's way. I now realize that if I had used vB's format from the start (I could have, just never thought of ;)), it probably would have been done before now :D. vBulletin's way also makes it 50x easier to do merging.

Hopefully, that answers everyone's questions. It's late, and if I'm gonna get that importer done tomorrow, I gotta get my sleep ;)

Good night :cool:

Nebula,

That sounds already that it converts all the basic things - I do not have a big forum yet and not really many hacks in it. So, I guess that would be just perfect at this point!

I appreciate your work and efforts! I am just starting with php a little bit and would be happy just doing some more stuff like what you do.

I'll make up my mind 'til Monday (do not have time until then) and then probably go for it!! How long takes the whole process to have the board up and running again?

Thanks!

Christoph

I wondered why you didn't use vB's functions ;)

I need an ikonboard converter but i forgot my costomer number/password and lost the data off my computer when i had to reformatt. So if anyone has an ikonboard convertor they can send me PLEASE help.

Crsitoph: The time it should take to complete the importer script should be around 1-10 minutes, depending on the size of your board, and the speedyness of your server ;)

JohnM: I don't know either ;)

Deltawolf: Sorry, but I can't help ya out there. Search this board, or search the web. I'll bet there's one out there somewhere.

Gotta get back to coding. Maybe not yet tho...I just got up ;)
Don't wana put any more bugs in then there has to be :D

Hey. I'd say more, but I have to go real quick. I'll be camping tonight. This version is not quite complete. It does not convert options. It DOES however, use the BBimport system. It does merging.

Again, this is not complete. I just wanted to get it out and let the public see it. There is a ToDo list at the top of the file...that'll let you know what I'm planning...feel free to give me more stuff to do here :)

Installation Instructions:
Put it in your /importers directory in the vBulletin folder. You access it thorugh the control panel.

Again, please don't tell me it has bugs. It probably does...I haven't fully tested it, just wanted you guys to see it. Also, it DOES NOT convert options (BBtitle,hottopics,etc). I didn't have time. But this version is also much more user friendly ;) It actually gathers user input!! :p :D :cool:

Anyways...lemme know what you think. I'll be back tomorrow.

Thanks, I'll try it now on a new database and let you know how it goes.

Just tried it. All members where imported correctly, but no posts.

This is the url: http://www.christopherleeweb.com/forums

I'm having the same problem. Everything is imported correctly but no posts appear in any of the threads. Any ideas?

Yes, on mine you get the correct forum names but no threads in the forums.

I need to convert my Ikonboard to vB real soon, is there someone who can give an advice ??

Thanks in advance !

No posts?? I'll go check it out. Also, please clearly state any problems. Don't just say oh, by the way, blah de dah ;).

Thanks. I'll go work on it.

My current state:
I was able to convert my users already.

Now I have to convert 40.000 posts from my Ikonboard 2.1.8 to vB, I don't know how to do it, because I don't know if there are several tables or only on I have to deal with on the vB side.

Nebula, when I run the convertor all the information is transferred from phpbb to vb apart from the posts themselves. Information is not being copied from the post_text field of phpbb to the pagetext field of vb. I've done a clean install of both boards and it doesn't clear the problem.

greenland: An official ikonboard -> vB converter is in the works, however at this time there is no ETA.
If you want to do the posts yourself you need to look at the post and thread tables.

Hey. Here's a quick status update. The new version is almost complete. It fixes numerous bugs (Including the no-show threads). The visual output of the script has also improved.

You can expect the new version to be released late tonight, or sometime tomorrow. It is looking really good, I must say.

Post any problems or comments you may have here!!

Forget about what I said about being almost complete. Something big just came up. Anyways...here's the current version. Styles don't work, and I am investigating why. If anyone knows why...PLEASE, please tell me. Also, test this and let me know how it all works out...