WebBBS to vBulletin 2.2.x Conversion Script

Hello all!

After much painstaking oogling at php code, I've created a conversion script to convert WebBBS messages to vBulletin. I created this a bit ago, but feel that it might be of use to someone out there so I thought I'd share it.

This was written to convert from a very old version of WebBBS (circa 1998), but has since been modified to work with 5.0. It should be a good start for anyone out there wanting to do this.

All of the instructions are included in the file as comments. Read them carefully! When finished, don't forget to update counters and the search table.

Anticipating vB3 like you wouldn't believe,
Paul

Update:

• Now corrects for GMT offset for older WebBBS versions (the newest versions use unix timestamps, so this isn't needed)
• Situation where extra carriage returns were being added should now be resolved.
• Link URLs and Images are now processed. URLs/Images in the actual message body (assuming you had HTML enabled on WebBBS) are not processed. Anyone willing to add this functionality, let me know.
• Situation where certain date strings would offset the timestamp incorrectly has now been corrected.
• Connection to the database is now handled much more efficiently.

NOTE: By downloading this, you agree that you will not send me countless PMs/e-mails asking for help with it. If you have a question, post it on this thread. I am by no means an expert. This is my first script in php. It was written to fill my need and may or may not fill yours. I do not have the time nor resources to provide support for it.

Also, as with all hacks on this site, this script is for registered vBulletin users ONLY. You are not permitted to distribute this script to anyone, under any circumstances.

[Paul]

Originally posted by voclain
HOWEVER, when I click on the board, NOTHING is there except the test message that I put there previously.

Can you post the temporary address to your new forum? If you'd rather, PM me the IP address and I'll take a look at it. Try converting 40 or so messages and then look at the forum home and see what you get.

Paul

[voclain]

IT'S A GIRL!!! WELL SORTA!!

See your PM.

Yours,

Kirk

[voclain]

I'M AN IDOT!!!
I'M AN IDOT!!!
I'M AN IDOT!!!

All I had to do (esp. since the test was old) was to change the "last 30 days" to "BEGINNING" and there it was!!

OH MY GOODNESS!!

YOU ARE WONDERFUL!!

OK, I'm naming my next child PAUL!!!

Thank you!! Thank you!! Thank you!! Thank you!! Thank you!! Thank you!! Thank you!! Thank you!! Thank you!! Thank you!! Thank you!! Thank you!! Thank you!! Thank you!! Thank you!! Thank you!! Thank you!! Thank you!! Thank you!! Thank you!! Thank you!! Thank you!! Thank you!! Thank you!! Thank you!!

OK, now PM me and tell me where you are!! I travel all over the country and teach Professional Photography!! IF you are in a city that I go to, I want to photograph your family, or take them to dinner, or do something for you!!

YOU HAVE NO IDEA how thankful I AM!!

A little girl!! So cute and sweet!!

Thanks again my friend!!

Yours,

Kirk Voclain

[Paul]

Heh. Not so fast. Note the date it claims all those posts were made. Something tells me you didn't have a really popular site in 1970... I'm off to examine the date function Be back with some updated code in a few...

[Paul]

do you have $useunixtime="1" set in the options?

[voclain]

Do you want me to go in and delete everything to retry the test???

Kirk

[voclain]

YES!!

$useunixtime="1"

That is how I have it.

Kirk

[Paul]

Just check for me and let me know if you have $useunixtime="1" in the settings at the top of the file before I go crazy trying to figure out what went wrong ;D

You *SHOULD* have $useunixtime="1" since you're using WebBBS 5.0

[Paul]

Ok. Yet another mistake on my part. Download the attached file, delete all of the posts you've already converted, and try again.

This time the dates should be correct.

Paul

Edit: The updated file can be found in the first post in this thread.

[voclain]

Here is and exact copy of what is in the script!! NOTICE that I have the offset to -0 could that have caused the problem???

HERE YOU GO:

// Earlier versions of WebBBS used local server time values for your messages. Enter in
// the offset from GMT to insert the correct timestamp into the database. For example, if
// the server where WebBBS files were saved was EST (GMT -5), you'd set the following value
// to "-5". You only need to change this if you've set $useunixdate = "0" (below):
$gmtoffset = "-0";

// Are you using an older version of WebBBS that does not use unix time? If so, set the
// following to "0". If you are using 5.x, leave the value below to "1":
$useunixdate = "1";

Yours,

Kirk