2 Questions that I have about 2.x and 3.5
 

1. I have a 2.x install and I need to convert it to the latest install. I downlaoded that Impex but the instructions were over my head. Are there easier instructions? Also, is converting a forum versions something that the official VB coders do? I don't know that I would trust joe smoe with my database.

2. I don't upgrade every single time a new version of VB comes out and so I didn't want to install 3.0.7 only to have a few weeks later for 3.5 to be released. Is there any timeline on when 3.5 will be released? All I really need to know is if a none RC version will be released with the next week or 2. If it's farther than that, than I can safely install 3.0.7 without worrying about upgrading again in a few years.

Please let me know as I kinda need to know the answer to these things ASAP. Thanks!

1. You can't use impex to inmport to vB 3.5
2. Wait for a few days, upgrade to the 2.3.7, backup, and run the vB 3.5 upgrader, it should work correctly now.

2.3.7? Well, will impex work to "upgrade" / import to 3.0.7?

Do official VB people (Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.) offer an importing service or more in-depth / noobie instructions for doing so?

You don't need to run Impex to upgrade to 3.5, infact this is a great way to possibly screw up an installation and requires alot of work that can be avoided.

As 3.5 is not stable yet I'm not even sure if there is a upgrade path from vB 2.x, I would check but I don't have a 2.x database to test it on and can't be bothered to create one. Asuming you can't go directly to 3.5 from 2.x with the included upgrade script then you would need to do the following:

1. Download the latest copy of 3.0.x and 3.5.x beta from the members area
2. Close vB 2.x forum
3. Delete vB 2.x files from server
4. Upload 3.0.x files
5. Run upgrade script from 3.0.x
6. Delete 3.0.x files
7. Upload 3.5.x beta files
8. Run upgrade script
9. Verify forum is working correctly and open board

Not sure, but i think you must first upgrade the database to the latest vB2.0.x version before upgrading to vB3.x

Can I get an official answer on upgrading from 2.x to a 3.x forum? Like I said, I am not interesting in upgrading to the beta and if it's not going to be out of beta this week or next then I was going to go with the latest 3.x version that was stable.

Brad, will your instructions there work with a heavily modified forum? I wasn't sure if any script would do the job seeing as how a bunch of my files are changed. For instance, I have a journal hack, but I don't mind if it's lost or any of the other hacks are lost. Will the script you are talking about (impex?) just grab the usernames, posts and all main stuff? I don't care about transfering the hacks as that I assume would be impossible, nor do I really want to transfer any of them.

I think the main question I have right now is can I upgrade in one move from my 2.x install to 3.0.7 without having to upgrade to a middle version inbetween before upgrading to 3.0.7?

If I want to upgrade to 3.0.7 would the instructions be as simple as:

1. Close vB 2.x forum
2. Delete vB 2.x files from server
3. Upload 3.0.x files
4. Run upgrade script from 3.0.x
5. Verify forum is working correctly and open board

That sounds simple enough, but can a hacked forum cause problems with the script? I didn't want to close my forum, delete the files from the server and get to the point of running the upgrade script and it has a problem converting my forum info to 3.0.7

If you are upgrading you will loose all your file edits, and you can't be sure that all your hacks exist for 3.0.7.

To start clean, it is the best to use ImpEx, since it will import all standard vB data, dropping all hack information. Be sure to read the stickied notes in the Import System forum at vb.com before you start, and do some test runs.

If your hacks didn't modify standard vb columns, the upgrade should be functioning normal, but again i suggest you test.

vBulletin.com is still teh place where you can get an official answer to these questions.

As of beta 4 you should be able to directly upgrade from 2.3.x or 3.x

What do you mean by "file edits", just the added code in the actual php files? Yeah I don't care about saving any of that. I just want it to work like a fresh 3.0.7 but with my members and their forum posts intact running on the new version. So Impex is smart enough to not screw up as long as it was only the php code that was changed? What about queries that changed mysql info? I am positive that I have ran queries before for VB hacks.

bump.