I'm thinking of moving my forum to another domain - I'm not going to change my host - and wonder how to do this.
In my simple not-being-a-professional-hacker way of thinking it feels like all I have to do is to upload my forum-files to the new directory and domain and then change my settings-file to match the new domain.
Is this correct or incorrect?
Correct, and almost complete :)
So the database remains in place?
Besides the settings.php file, there are though a few more settings that matter, which are stored in the database, like for example the path to your themes directory. That will not match anymore. But it's not a big problem: after the move, you can use the file repair_settings.php (http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=18096.0) (you need to upload it to your forum new directory), to correct the rest of the paths.
How do I move my SMF board to a different host? (http://docs.simplemachines.org/index.php?topic=489)
How do I restore the database data? (http://docs.simplemachines.org/index.php?topic=490)
How do I save my SMF board? (http://docs.simplemachines.org/index.php?topic=491)
How do I save the database data? (http://docs.simplemachines.org/index.php?topic=492)
Aha :D
But the thing about the themes won't it be ok to change this via the theme-settings in the admin-panel?
Quote from: totaltutankoll on June 14, 2009, 05:05:27 PM
Aha :D
But the thing about the themes won't it be ok to change this via the theme-settings in the admin-panel?
It's better to use repair_settings.php to change paths. Does it all in one go :)
What is repair_settings.php? (http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=18096.0)
So, yes, you can use that one too! It's just that if you take a look at repair_settings.php, as JBlaze says you will notice how you just do it all, without you searching through all Admin interface - where is that path, how about the other (attachments path will have the same faith).
Quote from: JBlaze on June 14, 2009, 05:09:41 PM
Quote from: totaltutankoll on June 14, 2009, 05:05:27 PM
Aha :D
But the thing about the themes won't it be ok to change this via the theme-settings in the admin-panel?
It's better to use repair_settings.php to change paths. Does it all in one go :)
What is repair_settings.php? (http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=18096.0)
I have so bad experiences of anything that says "in an instant set up" if you know what I mean. Don't know if my forum members would accept a total failor on my behalf regarding this ;D
Total failures are totally prevented by making backups before making changes :)
Just put your forum into maintenance mods, thus preventing any user-made changes, make a backup, then do what you gotta do. If you make a mistake, simply restore the backup and try again :)
A complete other question, which of the source-files handles the little pop-up stating I've got a new pm?
Quote from: JBlaze on June 14, 2009, 05:17:02 PM
Total failures are totally prevented by making backups before making changes :)
Just put your forum into maintenance mods, thus preventing any user-made changes, make a backup, then do what you gotta do. If you make a mistake, simply restore the backup and try again :)
Back ups in all their glory are only useful if you know how to use them ;) I do make monthly backups and always make one before upgrading but if something god forbid would happen and create a database issue I still would be in trouble. :-[
Quote from: totaltutankoll on June 14, 2009, 05:19:09 PM
Quote from: JBlaze on June 14, 2009, 05:17:02 PM
Total failures are totally prevented by making backups before making changes :)
Just put your forum into maintenance mods, thus preventing any user-made changes, make a backup, then do what you gotta do. If you make a mistake, simply restore the backup and try again :)
Back ups in all their glory are only useful if you know how to use them ;) I do make monthly backups and always make one before upgrading but if something god forbid would happen and create a database issue I still would be in trouble. :-[
I'm sure that as long as you have a good host, and as long as you make the backup, if you ask you host they should be able to restore it for you.
Also, most hosts have tutorials on things like backups and such.
Quote from: totaltutankoll on June 14, 2009, 05:19:09 PM
Quote from: JBlaze on June 14, 2009, 05:17:02 PM
Total failures are totally prevented by making backups before making changes :)
Just put your forum into maintenance mods, thus preventing any user-made changes, make a backup, then do what you gotta do. If you make a mistake, simply restore the backup and try again :)
Back ups in all their glory are only useful if you know how to use them ;) I do make monthly backups and always make one before upgrading but if something god forbid would happen and create a database issue I still would be in trouble. :-[
In the case of issues you're not sure how to handle, you can always come here and ask.
*winks*I'm confident that solutions can always be found, even though some take time.
My host is the worlds worst! LOL they have a standard reply that states "we don't give support on installations of various applications".
I'll take a good nights sleep and think a little more about this move - and see what I'll do tomorrow.
Basically when changing domains within a host, the only real question is are you able to use the same database after the move, or do you need to move the database as well.
If you are able to use the same database, then all you have to do is move all files related to the forum, and maintain the same folder structure on the new domain.
After that running the repair_settings.php should help you fix all path and url related settings to reflect the new location. :)
Quote from: LexArma on June 15, 2009, 03:19:24 AM
Basically when changing domains within a host, the only real question is are you able to use the same database after the move, or do you need to move the database as well.
If you are able to use the same database, then all you have to do is move all files related to the forum, and maintain the same folder structure on the new domain.
After that running the repair_settings.php should help you fix all path and url related settings to reflect the new location. :)
The database remains the same! It's just the forum I'd like to move.
I would never have start to think of moving unless I've realised the fact that if I put my forum directly under the wings of my company website I'll get the attention and marketing value of thousands of Euro without lifting a finger. :D
So everything stays at the same host it's just where to keep my forum files that will change.
Then that should be fairly easy and risk free, as long as you make sure to move everything over to the new location ;) ( And fix the paths and URL's )
Quote from: LexArma on June 15, 2009, 04:55:35 AM
Then that should be fairly easy and risk free, as long as you make sure to move everything over to the new location ;) ( And fix the paths and URL's )
I'll just ftp-everything to the new site and change the settings and try this repair-script and then probably get hysterical if it doesn't work :o
Quote from: totaltutankoll on June 15, 2009, 05:44:59 AM
Quote from: LexArma on June 15, 2009, 04:55:35 AM
Then that should be fairly easy and risk free, as long as you make sure to move everything over to the new location ;) ( And fix the paths and URL's )
I'll just ftp-everything to the new site and change the settings and try this repair-script and then probably get hysterical if it doesn't work :o
Just copy everything over to the new location, and run the repair_settings.php TO fix the settings. It should do everything needed ;) If it doesn't work, come back and tell us what happens. :)
Please remember to make a backup of the database, just so you know it's there.
Quote from: Norv on June 15, 2009, 05:55:27 AM
Please remember to make a backup of the database, just so you know it's there.
Just did one and will soon be trying out that little thing called "optimize your db-tables" and do another back-up.
I'll try move things tonight. First i need to make a flashy frontpage for my company ::) sending visitors to either forum or business. Than I need to sort out how to re-direct from the old index to the new one.
By the way, does anyone know how to get the domain to be top of the page all the time when dealing with a forum i.e www.forum.com instead of www.forum.com/smf/index.php
Option 1: You can copy SMF files in the root directory of your site (probably /public_html), instead of a subfolder /public_html/smf. And run installation from there.
Option 2: (less commonly done), you can put SMF files in a subdirectory, like /public_html/smf, but, in your hosting package, assign the name "domain.com" to point to your subdirectory.
You mean to hide the exact URL location? I would advice against it for multiple reasons.
It is better for your users, for SEO purposes and the functionality of SMF to keep the URL reflecting the actual location on the forum.
I suppose potential problems would be with option 2? I'm not sure I understand what the problem with SEO could be, since the only available URLs for anyone including search engines are simply those of www.domain.com, which is exactly the same with option 1.
As for functionality of SMF, again what would the problem be? It seems to me even easier not to risk any interference, while if it was in the root directory one may need (silly example) an index.php of another software and perhaps overwrite mistakenly, or may need an /images folder for another web application, and so on.
Of course, if you know for sure that it's only SMF that it's going to be installed there, it seems understandable to simply drop it in /public_html: option 1.
Personally, though, I never do that. Though sometimes I wished a direct URL (because it was the only thing installed at that URL for a while, so it seemed useless to have a longer URL, i.e., harder to remember), so I simply assigned the www.domain.com to the smf subfolder. In time, if one adds a few more pages of a website around the forum, it's easy to only change the folder to which www.domain.com points, to the new site now wrapping around the forum. For users, it looks like you added an enhanced homepage, while no address changed for them (www.domain.com).
An update of my forum is this. Nothing works like it should since the move. I've made a fresh installation and some things work and most of them don't. I can not install any mods, some mods are installed and can not be changed, some are installed and unusable. A complete 100% disaster and I received the best of support and yet we're really confused. :(
Can you take time to explain to us, in detail, what isn't working?
-[n3rve]
Quote from: [n3rve] on June 18, 2009, 04:35:31 PM
Can you take time to explain to us, in detail, what isn't working?
-[n3rve]
What's not working;
1. sending news
2. the mods, some seem to be installed and are not working some doesn't seem to be installed but are there. No mods can be installed or removed.
3. I can not manage my boards
QuoteUnknown column 'b.twitter_enable' in 'field list'
Fil: /hsphere/local/home/xx/yy.se/forum/Sources/Subs-Boards.php
Rad: 1032
which seems to be related to one of the mods that seem to be installed but is not being seen anywhere accept in the board management and the bottom of the page.
4. the forum doesn't seem to pick up changes in the language files (and this is the part I'm actually good at..)
There are probably more errors but none I've come to think of right now. :(
Please check your error log and post the errors you find, it sounds like there could be many of them. Also, you might want to consider splitting the problems in more topics, I think actually you already started to do so? It will be more helpful and easier to solve if every issue is treated separately.
Where do I find it? ::)
never mind I found it.
What exactly do you need? ???
Please copy paste here as many errors as it says :)
Though there's no need to list repeated errors (no problem if you do, either).
I don't know if I could a report out of them but:
QuoteDatabase: Unknown column 'b.twitter_enable' in 'field list'
Apply Filter: Only show the errors from this file
File: /hsphere/local/home/xx/y.se/forum/Sources/Subs-Boards.php
Line: 1032
8: Undefined index: twitter_menu_item
Apply Filter: Only show the errors from this file
File: /hsphere/local/home/xx/yy.se/forum/Sources/Admin.php
Line: 279
Critical errors; are the ones of one file not being writable (easy fix) and errors on the open id, which I don't use or intend to use anyway.
Quote8: Undefined index: twitter_menu_item
Apply Filter: Only show the errors from this file
File: /hsphere/local/home/xx/yy.se/forum/Sources/Admin.php
Line: 279
This is a mod that no one should se yet and I don't get it how a member can cause an error on it!
Quote8: Undefined index: smfgallery_menu
Apply Filter: Only show the errors from this file
File: /hsphere/local/home/xx/yy.se/forum/Sources/Subs.php
Line: 3880
Same as above but another line.
Apply Filter: Only show the errors with the same message
8: Undefined index: smflinks_menu
Apply Filter: Only show the errors from this file
File: /hsphere/local/home/xx/yy.se/forum/Sources/Subs.php
Line: 3887
And on and on it goes 4083 of them :-[ to be exact, but these are the ones I've identified as returning errors. :(
1. Do you have Twitter mod installed or did you try uninstalling it? It looks like a piece of its code is causing trouble, and I could try to remove that piece from Subs-Boards.php and Admin.php, if indeed that is the problem, if you uninstalled it (or tried to). You can always install it later.
2. How about SMF Gallery or SMF Media Gallery, do you have one of them installed, or did you try uninstalling it? I could remove the remaining code (causing troubles now), if it's uninstalled now.
I enclose a little dump of my packages and the lovely mess of my forum:
Simple Portale is installed and as far as I know working properly
Ad Management is installed and working
Gallery Lite seems to be installed and working
Links seems alive and kicking
Social bookmarks alive and kicking
Twitter profile alive and kicking
Hide post authors installed and working
Twitter mod installed and not working even though it feels like some smart man from this forum has been there and doing something cause now it actually shows in the admin menu and that's a new experience. ::)
Please post as attachment your /Sources/Subs.php file.
Here it comes!
Please post also /Themes/default/languages/Modifications.english.php and eventually /Themes/default/languages/Modifications.english-utf8.php if you have this one too.
It seems they are missing a few things. Were they copied over from the old location, or reinstalled/copied from the standard installation package? Just wondering, why they are suddenly missing a message or so.
Here's some more but the english utf-8 it actually missing in my backup ::)
here's a new error as well, when clicking on the refound twitter mod admin this it what it says
QuoteFatal error: Call to undefined function ModifyTwitterSettings() in /hsphere/local/home/xx/yy.se/forum/Sources/Admin.php on line 609
So I enclose that one as well O:)
What language does your forum use currently?
Quote from: Norv on June 19, 2009, 12:40:41 PM
What language does your forum use currently?
english and swedish.utf8
SMF Gallery
SMF Gallery misses a message (or more) in a language file.
In Modifications.english.php, it seems to have them: please open the file with a text editor and see that from
//Begin SMF Gallery Text Strings
to
//END SMF Gallery Text Strings
there are its text messages. (or button texts, and so on).
You need them in the corresponding language file of any language you use on the forum.
If you don't have all these lines, you'll get an error (undefined something). That is, it should only give you some of these errors when using a language for which the Modifications.{language}.php does not exist or does not contain the text, that Modifications.english.php has.
Does your Swedish file exist and contain a line with the text "$txt['smfgallery_menu']" ? If not, I'd say you should add it.
Perhaps you did have a Swedish file, before the move, in a backup?
Quote from: Norv on June 19, 2009, 01:32:43 PM
SMF Gallery
SMF Gallery misses a message (or more) in a language file.
In Modifications.english.php, it seems to have them: please open the file with a text editor and see that from
//Begin SMF Gallery Text Strings
to
//END SMF Gallery Text Strings
there are its text messages. (or button texts, and so on).
You need them in the corresponding language file of any language you use on the forum.
If you don't have all these lines, you'll get an error (undefined something). That is, it should only give you some of these errors when using a language for which the Modifications.{language}.php does not exist or does not contain the text, that Modifications.english.php has.
Does your Swedish file exist and contain a line with the text "$txt['smfgallery_menu']" ? If not, I'd say you should add it.
Perhaps you did have a Swedish file, before the move, in a backup?
The Swedish and English file looks "just the same" if you know what I mean.
Hmm. The swedish file is Modifications.Swedish-utf8.php, and the installed language Swedish-utf8, both with utf8 and all?
This is going to sound silly, also, but still: are you sure these errors are new? That is, you still get them now.
The gallery seems to be working properly. Swedish language is utf-8
What will happen if I un-install my whole crappy forum and install a fresh one without the twitter mod and link the database to it. Will it xxxx up as well ::)
I'm very close to pull the plug of everything and leave the country! :'(
Twitter mod is not in the language files, so for that one is expected to give errors and not display its text, for the moment. It should be reinstalled, fixed, or removed. Fixing it means mainly looking at the instructions for manual installation and checking the files for the proper code or text, to add when missing. Removing it means mainly looking at the same instructions, but in order to revert the files.
But the others should work (with no errors like those displayed). I'm not sure why the errors appear otherwise.
As for reinstalling, you could consider downloading the large upgrade package, and uploading the files over yours. (except upgrade.php itself)
They will overwrite the mods, yes, and be like a fresh install, except that the link to the database is preserved.
Quote from: Norv on June 19, 2009, 02:55:59 PM
Twitter mod is not in the language files, so for that one is expected to give errors and not display its text, for the moment. It should be reinstalled, fixed, or removed. Fixing it means mainly looking at the instructions for manual installation and checking the files for the proper code or text, to add when missing. Removing it means mainly looking at the same instructions, but in order to revert the files.
But the others should work (with no errors like those displayed). I'm not sure why the errors appear otherwise.
As for reinstalling, you could consider downloading the large upgrade package, and uploading the files over yours. (except upgrade.php itself)
They will overwrite the mods, yes, and be like a fresh install, except that the link to the database is preserved.
I'll try out that one first and see what happens. :)
If that won't work I can just go either way. This is so how I've planned to celebrate the national holiday of Midsummer, NOT. >:(
I'll get back to you soon and tell you what the large upgrade will do for me ;D
As always, please do remember to make yet one more database backup.
Quote from: Norv on June 19, 2009, 03:12:34 PM
As always, please do remember to make yet one more database backup.
First step is done. I removed all the crappy files and ftp:d over some new fresh ones.
The forum looked ok :D BUT.. >:( >:(
Installing first mod (ad management) went smooth, second mod went smooth according to messages on screen and than
QuoteWarning: require_once(): Unable to access /hsphere/local/home/xx/yy.se/forum/Sources/SPortal2.php in /hsphere/local/home/xx/yy.se/forum/index.php on line 64 Warning: require_once(/hsphere/local/home/xx/yy.se/forum/Sources/SPortal2.php): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /hsphere/local/home/xx/yy.se/forum/index.php on line 64 Fatal error: require_once(): Failed opening required '/hsphere/local/home/xx/yy.se/forum/Sources/SPortal2.php' (include_path='.:/hsphere/shared/apache/libexec/php5ext/php/') in /hsphere/local/home/xx/yy.se/forum/index.php on line 64
I get it's SimplePortal?
Does this file exists?
/hsphere/local/home/xx/yy.se/forum/Sources/SPortal2.php
Quote from: Norv on June 19, 2009, 03:40:18 PM
I get it's SimplePortal?
Does this file exists?
/hsphere/local/home/xx/yy.se/forum/Sources/SPortal2.php
Now it does, am looking for the SP-files here and there. Seems it didn't install the mod as it should have even though it seem to go so smooth...
Kill me, kille me now >:(
Is the /Sources directory writable? Perhaps you could try chmodding it to 777.
And, I get the package manager didn't write any file in /Sources? (surely you can do so yourself, but it should have done it)
Quote from: Norv on June 19, 2009, 03:56:16 PM
Is the /Sources directory writable? Perhaps you could try chmodding it to 777.
And, I get the package manager didn't write any file in /Sources? (surely you can do so yourself, but it should have done it)
Now I'm back to having a forum installed that seems to work. :) No mods installed!
I really need the simple portal to be installed so if I'm giving at another go. Which files/folders should I make writeable. Should I go ahead and upload a temp-file to the packages?
1. Please try assigning the /Sources directory permissions to 777 (though you might keep in mind to reduce it at least at 755 later). You could also make a folder "Temp" in /Packages, yes, chmodded 777.
2. You could make the manual installation, to avoid surprises. You can find the modifications that need to be done to the files on the mod page, and "parse" them. Though for Simple Portal there may be many of them.
But before anything, a question please, did you replace files again, or did you hit "uninstall" for Simple portal?
Quote from: Norv on June 19, 2009, 04:10:52 PM
1. Please try assigning the /Sources directory permissions to 777 (though you might keep in mind to reduce it at least at 755 later). You could also make a folder "Temp" in /Packages, yes, chmodded 777.
2. You could make the manual installation, to avoid surprises. You can find the modifications that need to be done to the files on the mod page, and "parse" them. Though for Simple Portal there may be many of them.
But before anything, a question please, did you replace files again, or did you hit "uninstall" for Simple portal?
i returned to square one! It's just a plain ol forum with a nice smiley pack and the swedish language pack installed to it.
Okay. You can take whichever way you wish now.
I suppose you made sure that it's a compatible version.
If you go for option 1, package manager, I would upload the package in /Packages and install it from the package manager.
I've tried everything. Mods are laying behind and seem to be removable and new ones uninstallable.
Now - I worked on this the last hour or so. :)
It seemed to work fine now, if you can after some testing, just confirm that everything is OK,
we'll mark this solved ;)
Quote from: LexArma on June 20, 2009, 06:30:35 AM
Now - I worked on this the last hour or so. :)
It seemed to work fine now, if you can after some testing, just confirm that everything is OK,
we'll mark this solved ;)
My hero! (http://stallportalen.se/forum/Smileys/default/cheerleader.gif)
and you other guys helping out should also have a BIG thank'you (http://stallportalen.se/forum/Smileys/default/cheerleader.gif)
And you're welcome :)
Glad to have been able to help.
Cheers to both of you! Good to see this problem solved!