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]

Updated the original attachment to what I believe is a working version.

[voclain]

.....HERE's WHAT IT Looks like after I activate the script in my browser:

Script Version 1.04r
WebBBS-to-vBulletin 2.2 Message Converter

Connected successfullyQuery failed inserting post

Yours,

Kirk Voclain

[Paul]

Originally posted by voclain
.....HERE's WHAT IT Looks like after I activate the script in my browser:

Script Version 1.04r
WebBBS-to-vBulletin 2.2 Message Converter

Connected successfullyQuery failed inserting post

Did you make sure to edit the following part of the file?:

PHP Code:

// Server: Change this the server your mySQL database is on.
$server = "localhost";

// Sqldatabase: Change this to the name of the database on your server that vBulletin is on
$sqldatabase = "vbulletin";

// Sqluserid: Change this to the username for your mySQL server database
$sqluserid = "username";

// Sqlpassword: Change this to your password for your mySQL server database
$sqlpassword = "password"; 


Make sure your database name, SQL username, and SQL password are all correct. Use the same settings that vBulletin uses.

[voclain]

YEP!!

I did that. INFACT when I go the the MySQL data base and look under Threads, IT posted ONE of the 25 I tryed to import. But that ONE does not show up on the Forum???

I'm sorry to say, I'm confused???

Yours,

Kirk Voclain

[Paul]

Have you specified the correct forumid?

[voclain]

Also:

Does it matter that the files in WebBBS look like this (I mean within the sequencial numbers):

SUBJECT>Re: This board is cool.
POSTER>Kirk Voclain
EMAIL>kirk@internet8.net
DATE>1021396575
IP_ADDRESS>64.165.69.139
PREVIOUS>5999
NEXT> 6008
IMAGE>http://www.pro4um.com/heli/rg.jpg
LINKNAME>The Pro4uM
LINKURL>http://www.pro4um.com
<P>This is a cool shot of my new helicopter.

I'm running version 5.00 of WebBBS. And version 2.2.6 of VB.

YOUR help is GREATLY appreciated!!!

Yours,

Kirk Voclain

[voclain]

YEP!!

And again in the data base, it lists it under the correct forum ID.

Yours,

Kirk

[Paul]

I have checked your web site and see that you are running webbbs 5.0. I did not design this conversion script for that version. Please post an two or three message files as attachments from your forum so we can look at the fields it's using and adjust the script to work for you.

Paul

[voclain]

Here are those file you requested. ALSO, when you go to my web site: http://www.pro4um.com well VB is not running there. I have VB set up and only working on an IP address.

MY HOST who currently has my site refused to upgrade his system to PHP and MySQL so I could use VB, so I'm switching.

IN THE process of swithching, I have not transfered the DNS yet, so VB is working, but only with an IP address.

I'm telling you all of this, to ask IF it matters or not???

LET ME KNOW and here are those files:

Kirk

[Paul]

Hah! While I was posting my response, you posted an example of one of the data files from your forum. It appears that your version of WebBBS uses unix timestamps instead of a string to specify the date, so that would cause my script to break. Try using the attached script and see if you get better results. Let me know how it works.