Upgrade from 3.7.1 to 3.8.0 ?

[Suri.CMS]

Hi All,

I currently run my board on vBulletin 3.7.1 Patch Level 2 and want to upgrade to 3.8.0

Questions:

1) Can I directly take the files of 3.8.0 and upgrade from 3.7.1 ?
Or Do I need to do any intermediate upgrades ? (Lets say 3.7.1 to 3.7.5) ?

2) I have made few custom changes. I can REDO the changes after upgrade is done. But in order to do that, I need the template files of 3.7.1, so that I can view the files and perform the same changes to the files of 3.8.0

So how to take backup of template files before upgrade ?

3) I have 2 styles :

Style # 1 (Default one)
Style # 2 (Duplicated from the default style and then few custom changes done)

Now, if I upgrade from 3.7.1 to 3.8.0, will the new template files of 3.8.0 replace both the Style # 1 & Style # 2 ? Or do they replace only the Style # 1 ?

[dismas]

1) You can go directly from your version to the latest version. The upgrade script does the intermediate upgrades for you.

2) After you upgrade, you will get a message saying that your templates are not the same as those for the new version. You will be given the option to compare them and change them as needed. This works for all styles.

3) What's with the funky bolding of text?

[Dismounted]

The upgrade process will not touch any of your modified templates. The Admin CP will alert you of any outdated templates that you need to update.

[Suri.CMS]

Thank You guys.

Can I export the files of my current skin and store it in my hard disk ? (Just to be on safe side)

How can I export a skin ?

[dismas]

Make a backup of your database and then FTP all the files from your server to your local hard drive. That's all that needs backing up. The skin will be backed up then.

[Suri.CMS]

No way to backup only the skins ?

[dismas]

AdminCP > Styles & Templates > Download/Upload Styles

Download the one you want.

But if you have backups of the database and the files, I don't see the point in downloading the styles individually. If they were downloaded from here or some other style/mod site, then you should have the zip files from where you downloaded them.

Am I the only one who's confused?

[Suri.CMS]

Thanks for the procedure.

You are right.

However, my entire site (FTP + Database) backup will be taken by my server guys (who are in US). I don't want to take it because database size is huge.

And I will just take backup of my custom styles.

When upgrading, if there is a problem just with upgrading custom styles, I will just take the backup of style files from my hard disk and use them.

If there is a total upgrade failure, then I will anyway have to ask my server guys to replace my entire website with the complete backup they have taken.

[Dismounted]

1. Keep your current forum running, and create a test board with the same version as your current board (the vBulletin License Agreement allows one production and one test board, but it must be in a folder called "testvb" and must not be accessible by the public, e.g. password protected).

2. On this test board, upload all your custom styles.

3. Run an upgrade on this test board.

4. Update your templates after the upgrade and download them onto your computer.

5. Perform the upgrade on the actual board and upload your custom styles.

[Suri.CMS]

Looks a good idea ! Thanks !