Where to look for programming help

[cozumel]

Sorry if this is the wrong place to put this. Let me know if I've stepped in the wrong puddle.

I'm trying to figure out where to post -- here or on other forums -- to find an experienced php/MySql programmer to help me migrate my DC Forum message board data to a new vbulletin board. Small gig for someone whose done it before, prolly. But I am willing to pay a fair rate for that experience. Any suggestions on where to look for people who do this type of work?
thanks in advance

[Marco van Herwaarden]

Our licensed customers can post such requests on our forums.

[cozumel]

My decision as to whether to migrate to VBulletin will, in part, be based upon being reassured that I can find someone excellent to help me with my data migration from DC Forum. I look at the various forums and messages and I am not seeing any Available for Work postings there of the type I would need, for example. Hence the question.

The scenario I am trying to avoid is plunking down the moolah for the Vbulletin software -- which looks very good, by the way. Plunking down the money to have it configged and loaded to my server by the VBulletin people. But then I am left holding the bag because VBulletin's staff doesn't offer the migration service at any price. (Leading me perhaps erronously, to believe that it may not be all that simple of a task??)


So here I would sit, having paid out my license fee and my installation fee. Nearly $300 in the hole. But now I can't find someone excellent and reliable who will help me with the most key task of migrating my messages and user info from the older board which goes back 7 years. And without that piece of the job, the entire plan is useless and I've wasted my money.

Can you assure me, since you appear to work for the company, that I will have no problem finding a reliable programmer to do this ImpEx migration job for me once I've ordered your software? I think this is a question that will interest a lot of other potential customers as well and perhaps I need to drill down and look for that answer in back messages??

Or is there another area of the forums, for example, that I don't get to see yet because I'm not a license-holder? A place where all the hot shots who can do something like this while they're watching tv, listening to music and eating spaghetti at the same hang out? I didn't find any php/mysql freelancers looking for work in the first three pages of the Marketplace forum, for example.

To summarize, I'm not trying to actually connect with a freelancer just yet. But I would like to know beyond any shadow of a doubt that some are going to be easily available for this specific job. Because it sounds like there are a lot of glitches and I needs someone who has done it before..

[Marco van Herwaarden]

Moved to Pre-Sales.

The area where our licensed customers can request paid assistence from other members is Requests For Paid Services

vBulletin.org relies on volunteers and Member to Member support.

[cozumel]

Now I understand where I can post for programming assistance once I've bought Vbulletin.

However, what you have not addressed is the vital question of will I be able to find someone to assist with the very specific job of migrating DC Forum files to Vbulletin via your ImpEx program. Since I cannot look into this area to see the types of freelancers available until I pay up, I have no idea if I will, in fact, be sure to find someone qualified therein to assist me with this important and probably somewhat head-ache producing task.

Can you assure me that I will find such a programmer in this area of your forums? Provided I'm willing to pay the going rate for the work, of course -- which I am.

I am not asking nor was I ever asking for specific names or recommendations. Don't need that yet. But before I purchase the package, I DO need assurances that this will be easily contractable when the time comes since the VBulletin staff does not at this time offer that service. And this is definitely not my area of expertise.

[Dismounted]

Using ImpEx is a relatively easy task. The manual even details how to use it. You could do it yourself and save a lot of bucks , plus get some experience. The current supported version of DCForum is 1.27.

As to answer your question, no one can assure you that a coder is readily available. We don't employ or "dispatch" the coders willing to take on jobs, they do of their own free will. Therefore, we cannot guarantee anything, you see.

[cozumel]

Of course programmers sign on to do projects like this of their own free will. Forgive me but, um, duh.

What I am asking is this. DO programmers with php/mysql experience actually post their availability in these hidden forums from time to time? I'm asking how hard will it be for me to locate someone good to assist with this should I choose to go this route.

And, yes, I am using the 1.27 version of DCForum.

Thanks for the prompt responses

[Marco van Herwaarden]

No, nobody will post their availability.

We do not allow any advertising on vB.org and this includes offers by programmers. We only allow requests to be posted, and the requester should be contacted in PM. We can not take any responsibility for a transaction resulting from such a request.

PS I would still advise you to give it a try yourself first. It is not too difficult in most cases and you can always contact support in case of questions.

Is this a company website you are talking about?

[cozumel]

Thanks for the answers. Here's some more questions if you don't mind.

Question 1, Part 1: Your techs have overseen (as in provided phone and web support where needed) numerous successful data migrations from DCF 1.27 to Vbulletin, have they?

Question 1, Part 2: And how many of these migrations, do you ball-park figure, were customers like me who break out in hives at the mention of the word trigynometry. See I can't even spell it.

FYI my forum is located at http://www.cozumelmycozumel.com/dc/dcboard.php.

I'm not a company. Just a writer who taught herself Dreamweaver and FW 15 years ago because I figured out you can make a lot more money writing/publishing on the web than you can in traditional paper publishing.

[Marco van Herwaarden]

Q1P1: Yes we have overseen, and/or gave support to, many imports from a large variety of source systems and versions.

Q1P2: Trigynowhat? (and the lack of this knowledge never stopped me from performing a migration)

Most of your current questions i can not give a good answer to:
- 90% of the customers who use our importer, never contact Support (guestimate). We do not have knowledge on how they are using our import script or from which source systems/version they come from.
- Even for those who do contact support, we do not keep any numbers on the amount of imports performed or for which systems.

I suggest that you read/post on the ImpEx forum at www.vbulletin.com. You will very likely find threads from other customers who performed a DCF import in the past or you can post to ask for experiences with this.