Simple Machines Community Forum

Hello, y'all!

I've got a tiny website to convert and this is a low-key project to expand my knowledge and experience.  I also want to see if there's some FOSS that's better than phpBB, and get to know the SMF community (I joined back in 2008 when I first tried SMF).  I'm here to learn and have fun - I really enjoy this stuff.  Thanks in advance!

Here's what I'm working with:

• I have both a shared public LAMP host and a desktop (WAMP) environment to play with.
• My current development stack (I'm open to change):
  
  • Windows 10
  • Apache 2.4.59
  • MySQL 8.2
  • PHP (Thread Safe) 8.2.18
• I have working installs of both softwares and plenty of backups.

Here's what I've done so far and where I am:
I started with the pinned post in this board called "[SMF Converter] phpBB3" that saw its last reply in 2019.  I'll post a reply there with a link to this new topic.  I ended up at this GitHub page that seems to be the most recent and relevant (official?) info for my task.  https://github.com/SimpleMachines/converters/tree/master/SMF2.1 (https://github.com/SimpleMachines/converters/tree/master/SMF2.1)

I downloaded "convert.php" and "convert_phpbb33x_to_smf.php" and ran them according to the "README.md", but I was unable to find "the *.sql file for that forum software" like I've seen for other converters.  I'm not sure what that's meant to be, but I do have a .sql export file from my existing phpBB forum.

From the start, I get the following at the top of the converter pages:

QuoteDeprecated
: Creation of dynamic property Converter::$smcFunc is deprecated in
D:\MyWAMP\www\8087_Simple_Machines\forum\convert.php
on line
173

Deprecated
: Creation of dynamic property Converter::$context is deprecated in
D:\MyWAMP\www\8087_Simple_Machines\forum\convert.php
on line
173

Deprecated
: Implicit conversion from float 1741392644.674509 to int loses precision in
D:\MyWAMP\www\8087_Simple_Machines\forum\convert.php
on line
184

Here's my config at step 3:
(https://www.swiftek.us/Screenshot%202025-03-08%20at%2012-27-21%20SMF%20Converter.png)

I'm able to continue to step 4, but it then just loops with no further indication.  Hitting the "continue" button from step 4 just results in that same page.
(https://www.swiftek.us/Screenshot%202025-03-08%20at%2012-34-40%20SMF%20Converter.png)

No database conversion appears to happen, as the SMF forum remains at the fresh install state.  So, I'm wondering if those notices/warnings indicate the problem and if I need to downgrade my stack or otherwise change my roll.

I hope this provides needed info and someone might have input.  Please let me know if there's more I can do.  Thanks!

The convertors currently use SMF 2.0.x you have to install the latest SMF 2.0.19 version and use max version PHP 8.0

I went ahead and downgraded my PHP version to 8.1.16, and that changed things... a bit.

Here's the result of step 4 now:
(https://www.simplemachines.org/community/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.swiftek.us%2FScreenshot%25202025-03-08%2520at%252013-20-38%2520SMF%2520Converter.png&hash=338b564e0fe52d9db7bfb6bac53046a72e332a8e)

If I'm on the right track, do I need an earlier version of PHP?  I'm hoping it's just the converter that needs it since the fresh install of SMF seemed perfect.

Quote from: vbgamer45 on March 08, 2025, 01:24:30 PMThe convertors currently use SMF 2.0.x you have to install the latest SMF 2.0.19 version and use max version PHP 8.0

Oh!  The GitHub page describes SMF 2.1, so I was proceeding from that.  Well, I may be on the wrong track then.

EDIT:  Is that GitHub page not official SMF?  It appears to be.

I've since downgraded my PHP version to 8.0.0 which got rid of the "deprecated" notices, but then convert.php threw this:

QuoteFatal error: Uncaught Error: Undefined constant phpbb33x_to_smf::updateSubStepProgress in D:\MyWAMP\www\8087_Simple_Machines\forum\convert.php:1905 Stack trace...

That just refers to a sub-step update indicator so I was able to comment the reference, clearing the error.

The page now looks like this:
(https://www.swiftek.us/Screenshot%202025-03-08%20at%2014-57-30%20SMF%20Converter.png)

Progress!   :o

Usually, I keep banging my head until I can't get any new errors, so I guess I'll proceed with the assumption that the official converter is workable.

I suppose that next I should try an earlier version of MySQL.  Does anyone know which version the SMF 2.1 converter wants?

My mistake forgot there was a 2.1 version on the github as well.

Quote from: vbgamer45 on March 08, 2025, 03:39:48 PMMy mistake forgot there was a 2.1 version on the github as well.

Ah, thanks for that.  No worries.

So now I've switched to MySQL 5.6.10 - the lowest compatible version common to SMF 2.1.4 and phpBB 3.3.14.  My dev stack now looks like this - all still x64.

• Windows 10
• Apache 2.4.59
• MySQL 5.6.10
• PHP (Thread Safe) 8.0.0

Both softwares seem to still run perfectly.

However, the new result at step 4 of the converter stops with:
(https://www.swiftek.us/Screenshot%202025-03-08%20at%2016-39-21%20SMF%20Converter.png) Which says:

QuoteCleaning up your forum
Converting ranks
Note!
Duplicate entry '1' for key 'PRIMARY'
File: D:\MyWAMP\www\8087_Simple_Machines\forum\convert.php
Line: 2175

Clicking continue just reloads that view.

Being that it's an internal message, I can't tell what the note is referring to.  It doesn't seem like a PHP error/warning/notice.  Looking at line 2175 of convert.php itself doesn't help me much.

I guess I'll start trying other versions of MySQL, as my gut says it might be a DB/query thing.  I feel like I'm really close to getting this worked out, which might be useful to others.

All input is appreciated.  This is the way.

Ok, to summarize.  After bouncing around a bit to determine my "best" result, I've arrived at this.  With the following stack,

• Windows 10
• Apache 2.4.59
• MySQL 8.2.0
• PHP (Thread Safe) 8.0.0

I was able to get the farthest along the convert process with the following result (same as previous):
(https://www.swiftek.us/Screenshot%202025-03-08%20at%2014-57-30%20SMF%20Converter.png)

This try got me to "converting messages" before failing and that's the best I've gotten.

I suppose the next step would be to debug the query being constructed to see what's wrong.  Here's where I'm really stuck.

Anyone?

Looks like the Limit Command is applied twice i see LImit 0,200 twice in the above statement

Quote from: vbgamer45 on March 09, 2025, 02:03:30 PMLooks like the Limit Command is applied twice i see LImit 0,200 twice in the above statement

Is that something you know how to fix?  I see you're a contributor to the converter but I don't know how well you know the code for that.

Link me to the one you are using on github the exact file

Quote from: vbgamer45 on March 09, 2025, 04:14:13 PMLink me to the one you are using on github the exact file

Well, there's the two involved.  convert.php:
https://github.com/SimpleMachines/converters/blob/master/SMF2.1/convert.php (https://github.com/SimpleMachines/converters/blob/master/SMF2.1/convert.php)
and convert_phpbb33x_to_smf.php
https://github.com/SimpleMachines/converters/blob/master/SMF2.1/convert_phpbb33x_to_smf.php (https://github.com/SimpleMachines/converters/blob/master/SMF2.1/convert_phpbb33x_to_smf.php)

Quote from: Swiftek on March 09, 2025, 04:17:35 PM

Quote from: vbgamer45 on March 09, 2025, 04:14:13 PMLink me to the one you are using on github the exact file

Well, there's the two involved.  convert.php:
https://github.com/SimpleMachines/converters/blob/master/SMF2.1/convert.php (https://github.com/SimpleMachines/converters/blob/master/SMF2.1/convert.php)
and convert_phpbb33x_to_smf.php
https://github.com/SimpleMachines/converters/blob/master/SMF2.1/convert_phpbb33x_to_smf.php (https://github.com/SimpleMachines/converters/blob/master/SMF2.1/convert_phpbb33x_to_smf.php)

I'm also trying to convert my forum from phpbb 3.3.14, I downloaded the files from the same links but when I start it the first page starts even if with some warnings, then if I click on continue I get this message
"The converter did not find any conversion data files. Please check to see if the one you want is available for download at $2$s. If it isn't, we may be able to write one for you - just ask us!
After you download it, simply upload it into the same folder as this convert.php file. If you're having any other problems with this converter, don't hesitate to look for help on our community forum"

.... but wasn't the converter free?

The convertor is free. Looks like a bug or using wrong SMF files that is a language string in
$txt['convert_no_scripts_found'] = 'The converter did not find any conversion data files.  Please check to see if the one you want is available for download at <a href="%1$s">$2$s</a>.  If it isn\'t, we may be able to write one for you - just ask us!';

Make sure you have SMF 2.1 installed if using the 2.1.x convetors

Sorry for the error I was using sfm 2.0, now I'm on sfm 2.1.4 and I get to it seems to work only that I'm stuck on this page and whatever value I put in the path it always returns me to this page... can you tell me exactly the syntax of what I have to put there? I'm doing the tests locally with xampp so I'm on the localhost server SMF is in the smf folder and phpbb3 in the forum folder, no password for database

The file path to your phpbb install.

Quote from: Caine60 on March 11, 2025, 08:36:58 AMSorry for the error I was using sfm 2.0, now I'm on sfm 2.1.4 and I get to it seems to work only that I'm stuck on this page and whatever value I put in the path it always returns me to this page... can you tell me exactly the syntax of what I have to put there? I'm doing the tests locally with xampp so I'm on the localhost server SMF is in the smf folder and phpbb3 in the forum folder, no password for database

Notice on the left it says "Path to Path to phpBB 3.3: [sic]", but you have the path to your SMF forum in the box on the right.  That needs to be what it's asking for.

Also, be sure to put in the SMF database password in the box below that.

now I should have everything set up correctly but it tells me that it can't access the database because it's busy

That path does not look right...
Normally should be a full path like
/var/home/mysite.com/phpbb/

Quote from: Caine60 on March 11, 2025, 09:16:44 AMnow I should have everything set up correctly but it tells me that it can't access the database because it's busy

One thing that's not normally done when operating software like forums, and therefore isn't intuitive at all, is that the converter requires the user for the SMF database to have privileges on the phpBB database too.  Otherwise, it can't get the data from phpBB to convert.  That can be done in PHPMyAdmin or whatever you're using to manage databases.

EDIT/ADDITIONAL:  I think this may be the issue you're having.  If the converter (the SMF database user) cannot access the phpBB database with privileges, then it will throw that error.

Quote from: vbgamer45 on March 11, 2025, 09:19:06 AMThat path does not look right...
Normally should be a full path like
/var/home/mysite.com/phpbb/

This path would be for a Linux system.

@Caine60 , if you could tell us about your system, we'll know better how to help.

The system is phpbb3 3.3.14 I have installed smf 2.1.4 locally, I access smf with localhost/smf and the forum with localhost/forum both working, I am using xampp as a local server, if you need anything else just ask

nothing to do the answer is always the same ..... "Connection Problems
Sorry, SMF was unable to connect to the database. This may be caused by the server being busy. Please try again later."  :-[  :-[  :-[  :-[  :-[

It should be  filepath like c:\inetpub\wwwroot\
If you are using windows

Quote from: Caine60 on March 11, 2025, 12:10:08 PMnothing to do the answer is always the same ..... "Connection Problems
Sorry, SMF was unable to connect to the database. This may be caused by the server being busy. Please try again later."  :-[  :-[  :-[  :-[  :-[

Did you verify what I mentioned about database access?

yes of course, passwords and users are correct

Quote from: Caine60 on March 11, 2025, 04:20:51 PMyes of course, passwords and users are correct

Well, if both forums are working when you get that error, then the SMF database user doesn't have rights to the phpBB database.  Where/how are you checking those privileges?

Well, to avoid problems, and also because the root user has no password on xampp and from what I understood the converter will not go forward if you do not give it a password for the database, I created a specific user on Phpmyadmin, I assigned it administration permissions (root) and then I assigned it both databases, I don't know what else I have to grant it, I also tried with php7.2 but it generates an error and does not go forward, with php8 nothing to do as above, the only one that seems to work well is php7.4... but with the problem we are talking about...

Quote from: Caine60 on March 12, 2025, 02:44:51 AMWell, to avoid problems, and also because the root user has no password on xampp and from what I understood the converter will not go forward if you do not give it a password for the database, I created a specific user on Phpmyadmin, I assigned it administration permissions (root) and then I assigned it both databases, I don't know what else I have to grant it, I also tried with php7.2 but it generates an error and does not go forward, with php8 nothing to do as above, the only one that seems to work well is php7.4... but with the problem we are talking about...

I'm not understanding exactly what you've done, as you're not speaking very precisely.  Personally I need full sentences and absolutely specific detail to help.  ;)

Generally it's best to always set a password on everything, especially root accounts.  Many systems actually block access when no root/admin password is set.  I think you should fix this.

It sounds like you've set up a 3rd user on your MySQL server and given it access to both databases, but that's not the procedure laid out by the converter's instructions.  I think you should fix this.

@vbgamer45 may know different, but here's my understanding:

The only user that matters is the one set in SMF's "Settings.php" file.  That user must have access to both databases.  If it doesn't, you'll get the "unable to connect" error that you're seeing.  IMO, that's what's going on here.

Either that, or the path to phpBB is incorrect, as @vbgamer45 mentioned.

I'll try to explain myself better but consider that I'm using the translator, I don't speak much English and I have to make do.
So for the user I did this, as I said I created a user on phpmyadmin that has all the root privileges with full access to both databases, this user is also admin on both forums and is also the user that I entered in the phpbb and SMF configuration files (see the quote below), this for the user, for the link to the forum it is definitely localhost/forum, if I put this link in the converter box it responds with the message to try again later, any other value I put in it tells me that it is not exact so the link is the right one.

$dbhost = 'localhost';
$dbport = '';
$dbname = 'XXXXXXXXXXXX';
$dbuser = 'XXXXXXX';
$dbpasswd = 'XXXXXXXXXXXX';
$table_prefix = 'phpbb_';

Quote from: Caine60 on March 12, 2025, 10:55:44 AMI'll try to explain myself better but consider that I'm using the translator, I don't speak much English and I have to make do.

My apologies.  :-[  Thanks for your extra effort.  :)

Quote from: Caine60 on March 12, 2025, 10:55:44 AMis also the user that I entered in the phpbb and SMF configuration files

That's the important bit and that sounds proper.  :)

Quote from: Caine60 on March 12, 2025, 10:55:44 AMthe link to the forum it is definitely localhost/forum

OH!  That may be it!  :o  I missed this before, but you showed your phpBB path as "/forum", and mentioned that your SMF install is at "/smf".  Therefore, the path in the converter needs to be:
../forum
Try that!

Bingo :D :D You were right it was ../forum, I went forward just one page...but here it stops and doesn't go forward :(

Quote from: Caine60 on March 12, 2025, 03:03:51 PMBingo :D :D You were right it was ../forum, I went forward just one page...but here it stops and doesn't go forward :(

Well done!  8)

But that error is different than mine.  I need to know more about your system.

• What Operating System (Windows/Linux/Mac)?
• What version of Apache?
• What version of MySQL?
• What version of PHP?

After trying various versions this is the best solution at the moment...

OS = windows 11 x64

Quote from: Caine60 on March 13, 2025, 03:51:08 AMAfter trying various versions this is the best solution at the moment...

OS = windows 11 x64

To move forward, I recommend you change your stack to MySQL 8.2.0 and PHP 8.0.0.

I think that is all we get for now.  Hopefully @vbgamer45 finds something they can fix.  Thanks, @vbgamer45 for all your efforts!  :)

I think the next step would be to try converting phpBB to SMF 2.0 and then upgrading SMF to 2.1, as that seems to have worked for some people.  :-\  I will try that today to see how it goes and let you know!

Still, it would be great to get the SMF 2.1 converter working reliably.

In the meantime I converted my forum, I installed 2.0.19 and used its converter, the conversion went well for almost everything except the user passwords that were not imported well, some small problems with the quotes but nothing irreparable... after the conversion I updated to 2.1.4 without any problems

Quote from: Caine60 on March 13, 2025, 10:39:52 AMIn the meantime I converted my forum, I installed 2.0.19 and used its converter, the conversion went well for almost everything except the user passwords that were not imported well, some small problems with the quotes but nothing irreparable... after the conversion I updated to 2.1.4 without any problems

That's great!  Well done.

I don't see a converter for phpBB 3.3 in the SMF 2.0 folder.  Am I missing it?
https://github.com/SimpleMachines/converters/tree/master/SMF2.0/phpBB (https://github.com/SimpleMachines/converters/tree/master/SMF2.0/phpBB)

Quote from: Swiftek on March 13, 2025, 12:14:55 PMI don't see a converter for phpBB 3.3 in the SMF 2.0 folder.  Am I missing it?

is the same of 3.2

Quote from: Caine60 on March 13, 2025, 03:51:08 AMAfter trying various versions this is the best solution at the moment...

OS = windows 11 x64

Which version of MySQL did you use for the conversion to SMF 2.0?

https://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?msg=4187453

Quote from: Caine60 on March 13, 2025, 03:08:13 PMhttps://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?msg=4187453

That doesn't show the version of MySQL.  It only shows the "Web server" info relating to Apache and PHP.  The MySQL server info is above that.  Mine looks like this:
(https://www.swiftek.us/Screenshot%202025-03-13%20at%2015-21-30%20127.0.0.1%20_%20localhost%20phpMyAdmin%205.2.1.png)

i'm sorry...

Quote from: Caine60 on March 13, 2025, 04:34:23 PMi'm sorry...

No big deal. :)

I've never used MariaDB, but what I read is good.  However, my hosting service doesn't seem to provide it, so I'm stuck with MySQL.

Quote from: Swiftek on March 13, 2025, 05:11:53 PMI've never used MariaDB, but what I read is good.  However, my hosting service doesn't seem to provide it, so I'm stuck with MySQL.

However, I did try it just for this conversion process and it worked!  So here's a summary of what I just did, with the following stack:

• Windows 10
• Apache 2.2.59
• MariaDB 10.4.34
• PHP 7.4.9

I did a fresh install of SMF 2.0 and ran the converter for phpBB 3.2 (on my 3.3.14 install).  It seems to have brought everything over with a repeated PHP Warning.

QuoteWarning: A non-numeric value encountered in D:\MyWAMP\www\8087_simplemachines\forum\convert.php(1269) : eval()'d code on line 61

@vbgamer45 , you may find that useful.

Now to see if an export of the MariaDB will work on MySQL.

Next Imma poke it with a stick. ;D  I've not done a lot of testing yet.

Did you import the passwords correctly? And the posts with the quote?

Quote from: Caine60 on March 14, 2025, 06:45:40 AMDid you import the passwords correctly? And the posts with the quote?

Sorry, I didn't see this.

No, it didn't bring passwords over, but I expected that.

As for quotes, my small test database didn't actually have any so I can't tell.

And, it appears that attachments and images were also lost.

I'm still hoping that @vbgamer45 can fix the SMF 2.1 converter to account for these problems.  I can't really go live with these issues, unless I take a lot of time manually fixing posts.

Since I'm not able to edit my post above, here's a correction with the full server stack I used to successfully convert from phpBB 3.3 to SMF 2.0 - I had the wrong Apache version.

• Windows 10
• Apache 2.4.59
• MariaDB 10.4.34
• PHP 7.4.9

Surprised passwords not picked up, thought we had that logic in SMF 2.1. My time is very limited unfortunately.

Is enable_password_conversion in the smf_settings table set to 1?

Quote from: vbgamer45 on March 17, 2025, 11:22:35 AMSurprised passwords not picked up, thought we had that logic in SMF 2.1. My time is very limited unfortunately.

Is enable_password_conversion in the smf_settings table set to 1?

Yes, it is, in both my current database which is the final result of the conversion and upgrade, as well as the SMF 2.0 converted database, but not in a fresh SMF 2.0 install (doesn't exist).

Quote from: vbgamer45 on March 09, 2025, 04:14:13 PMLink me to the one you are using on github the exact file

@vbgamer45 , did you ever figure anything out?

I did not.