Miscellaneous Hacks - Convert phpBB3 passwords to vBulletin 3.8

Please note: This requires file edits. It is not possible to do this without file edits, so if you are not comfortable doing this, please don't use this and instead follow the standard ImpEx passwords procedure of telling your users to reset their passwords.

Now that I have warned you about that, time to tell you what this actually does (sorry if I ramble a bit, just realized its literally years since I last released any code - which has shocked me slightly).

Here's the situation:

You have a phpBB3 forum.
You want to import the data to vBulletin 3.8
You are reluctant to do so due to requiring all imported users to reset their passwords before logging in and have heard many reports of huge user loss because of this.

Worry no more! With this converter, your users retain their phpBB3 passwords. When they first log into your newly converted vBulletin site, their password is checked against the phpBB3 database. If it matches, then the password is updated in the vBulletin database so that it remains the same password and they are logged in. If they enter an incorrect password, then they receive the standard password incorrect error and are prompted to try again or reset their password.

Please be aware that this does not update any users without them logging in successfully using phpBB3 authentication and removal of this modification will then prevent any users who have not had their passwords converted from retaining their phpBB3 password without going through the standard password resetting procedure.

In the ZIP file there are 3 files, instructions.txt phpBB3Auth/controller.php and phpBB3Auth/phpbb3_functions.php

It is fairly simple. Open instructions.txt and this tells you exactly what to do. Then, upload the files as indicated in the instructions.

There are file edits required to login.php and includes/config.php

If your phpBB3 database has a table prefix other than phpbb_ then you will also need to edit phpBB3Auth/controller.php

The main other requirement is that the phpBB3 users table is in the same database as your vBulletin tables. This does not mean that you need to have the entire phpBB3 database in the same one as vBulletin, but purely just the users table. This is for two reasons:
1. It is easier to code when it is all in the same database
2. It is better for management as depending on the size or activity of your site it may take a while for most members to visit and successfully log in and so you are less likely to accidently delete the table if it is in the same database as your vBulletin forum.

Any problems, let me know and I will try to help. This works successfully for a conversion I am in the process of doing, and if it helps anyone else then that is a bonus.

I will not be updating this for vB4 or later.
It is not tested for use on vB3.7 or earlier.
This is tested on vB3.8.3 and 3.8.7 and so should work on all versions current and future in the 3.8.x series.

[Gizmo99]

Works like a charm

BUT

Instructions wrong and missing a step

In Instructions for login.php edits

Find
if ($getimporteduserid['PWD_Synced'] == '0')

Replace with
if ($checkforimportedpw['PWD_Synced'] == '0')

Now we need to add a new column to your phpbb users table
ALTER TABLE phpbb_users MODIFY PWD_Synced varchar(1) COLLATE utf8_bin NOT NULL DEFAULT '0'

Remember it won't work for Admin accounts just change them to none admin get them to loggin THEN make them admin !

Sorted !!

Giz

[deverill2010]

Originally Posted by Gizmo99

Works like a charm

BUT

Instructions wrong and missing a step

In Instructions for login.php edits

Find
if ($getimporteduserid['PWD_Synced'] == '0')

Replace with
if ($checkforimportedpw['PWD_Synced'] == '0')

Now we need to add a new column to your phpbb users table
ALTER TABLE phpbb_users MODIFY PWD_Synced varchar(1) COLLATE utf8_bin NOT NULL DEFAULT '0'

Remember it won't work for Admin accounts just change them to none admin get them to loggin THEN make them admin !

Sorted !!

Giz

I've done as the instructions in the zip have said, and also made your change.

Yet I still can't log in (non admin account). Not sure what else to do?

[deverill2010]

Anyone able to go through this with me?

[superj707]

would you be able to make one for SMF to VB4?