The Download DB feature is helpful but when i did a test to try and upload the backup DB to test if i could do it (through myphpadmin) i keep getting errors. I went to many how to guides saw a video from hostmonster on how to upload a DB and i still cant get it right. So i ask if the new SMF 2.0 will have an upload a backup DB feature?
Every time I've heard this asked the answer has been no. Why not just backup the forum with phpmyadmin. Then you know it will import. Otherwise what is the error? I know mine gave me an error about a default type being null. I just had to find and change it to 0.
I asked this, they said no too because, well I cant remember. I think it should be added. Would make it a lot easier to use, phpBB (-.-) has it, why not SMF?
I don't see the need for it. If your forum is small your used a shared hosting environment. Phpmyadmin works great for this and the database should be small enough that it won't timeout. Once it grows you'll be on a VPS or dedicated box and can use mysqldump and msql to export and import the database.
If you don't know enough to import / export databases then being the admin of the forum isn't a good idea. What happens when there is an issue. You need to know something about the underlying software.
Quote from: rsw686 on January 17, 2008, 01:17:01 PM
If you don't know enough to import / export databases then being the admin of the forum isn't a good idea. What happens when there is an issue. You need to know something about the underlying software.
Were you born with the technical knowledge needed to run a website or did you pick it along the way at some point during your life?
Plenty people start a website about something that is their hobby and passion. And they learn new stuff along the way but it takes some time cause not many people have so many free time or simply because for one or the other reason they find it difficult to learn ''the technical language''. And by adding an option like restore backup from the admin panel would help those persons a lot in the begin of their forum webmaster life.
php based database upload scripts are fraught with issues - including dependency on how php was setup.
I believe there is one out there that is pretty reliable - however I cannot comment as I havent tried it.
For small databases under 20mb then phpmyadmin is fine - however once you get a large forum like mine (4gb db) then you really need to use decent software like SQLyog (http://www.webyog.com/en/sqlyog_feature_matrix.php). There are free and enterprise versions. I use the enterprise version - but the free one will more than suit your needs.
rsw686 - everyone starts somewhere - please keep comments like that to yourself, they are uncalled for
Quote from: Tony on January 17, 2008, 01:29:48 PM
rsw686 - everyone starts somewhere - please keep comments like that to yourself, they are uncalled for
It's not uncalled for. There are hundreds of how-to's that give step by step instructions for importing / exporting database. All it takes is the willingness to learn and using a search engine.
Forum software has one purpose and that is to create an online community. Having extra bloat like importing / exporting database just isn't needed. Thats why software like phpmyadmin was developed.
Besides SMF's database export doesn't work perfectly and sets the table definition default value for integer fields to '' instead of 0. When you go to import it you have to manually change this.
I'm not going to start a fight over this. I am entitled to my opinion though.
Ok let me ask the question differently.
Is it technically impossible to have a DB import feature on SMF or very unreliable if built or very complicated to use?
Or is it possible but time intensive and requires some extra funding?
Im sure it would be very useful for the people that were born without technical knowledge needed to run a website. Also for people that dont have allot of free time like me.
I see two problems:
1) Because we now support more than just MySQL we'd have to write it for several engines - not a particular issue.
2) The real problem. Uploading a DB import *will* wipe your forum. If anything at all goes wrong during the import users will end up with a broken forum and not know how to fix it as the tool they used to do the upload is now dead.
It's for reason two that I think people should use a standalone tool (Either phpMyAdmin or something like restore_backup.php - see here (http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=18350.20) ). It's extremely dangerous if the tool you are using to restore a database has the potential to be broken by the act of doing the restore. At least if you use something separate if the restore goes badly wrong your tool continues to work. If you used SMF and it got to restoring the members and conked out (For whatever reason, a timeout, connection problem etc etc) you'd be left with a forum which didn't know you were an admin and hence you'd be stuck.