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How to convert to UTF-8

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Dzonny:
That is right, although i never had some huge problems with mods after converting to utf-8 though. Maybe it would be good to note such thing in first post, and also note that upgrade will "remove" all their installed mods.
For example, if forum is "new" and don't have many mods (or have few small mods) user can skip some steps (1, 4 and 5). If forum is just installed for example user should just do 8 step IMO (there's no need to upgrade or empty any tables in this case).

agridoc:
emanuele you are right in your comments about log_search_subjects and a board repair must be recommended. Thank you, it's something I had forgotten. Database conversions are not done very often.

About worrying for PhpMyAdmin. I had written in [3.0] Full UTF8 support

--- Quote ---
--- Quote from: agridoc on March 30, 2012, 07:24:11 AM ---No problem for a new installation. A difficult task would be database conversion in upgrades, it's a procedure that must be done with care, prone to problems and possible data loss. Unless convinced otherwise in the future,  I believe that it should be a separate process.
--- End quote ---

--- End quote ---

A user friendly, trouble free, click and go conversion to UTF-8 would be ideal but is it possible?

I am afraid that, before starting a conversion to UTF-8. an admin must be sure of his abilities to backup and restore safely database and site, in large sites more than PhpMyAdmin may be needed. Otherwise he should obtain assistance.

The safest way is to backup, restore locally in a PC with XAMPP or similar and make tests. It might be useful to add this in guide. This way, an admin can have a safe training and test to see the problems that might occur in particular conversion.

agridoc:
From guide

--- Quote ---Some mods may conflict so it's better to do it without them. To use clean files, a Large Upgrade will be done first.
--- End quote ---
One can add that mods must be installed again, although I believe that this should be understood.

I have seen mods hiding the database conversion option, as well as interfering in conversion process. I don't remember which mods did what and we can't check all mods for such behavior. So the safe way it to do without mods.

In small forums restore doesn't take much time so an unsuccessful attempt is no big deal. Not so with a medium or big forum.

There are other things that I may not remember now or I don't know and can be added in the guide. With cooperation it can be made as full as possible.

agridoc:
I did some changes based on suggestions by Dzonny and emanuele quite a few days ago.

Dzonny:
Thanks agridoc for your help :)

I would suggest to make wiki page about this rather then editing UTF-8 Readme page (as it's kinda out of date), and it would be easier for all us to keep track of it on new page regard just converting to utf. Would you like to create it agridoc, so we can all later help with rephrasing that?

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