Ikonboard to SMF converter upload ????

[ash33]

I'm trying to convert an old Ikonboard to SMF.

I downloaded the converter but the Package manager won't let me upload the file? I get error message -
"The package you tried to upload either is not a valid package or has become corrupted."

Whats going on with this? As I'm n00bier that the run of the mill newb please explain as if explaining to a 3 yr old.

[ThorstenE]

the converters cannot be installed with package manager. extract the zip, it should contain two files: convert.php and ikonboard_to_smf.sql

upload both via FTP to SMF directory, then use convert.php from your browser.

Converting to SMF

[ash33]

Thanks TE, It was actually rather easy.

My NExt issue is  that I have a unsupported version of Ikonboard using a DBM database driver.

How do I get the DBM over to mySQL ?

[ThorstenE]

uhh, don't know that but you can try it with the MySQL migration toolkit:
http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/gui-tools/5.0.html

[ash33]

The database Back-up ZIP file I have isn't mySQL, I've tried importing the file into SMF using XAMPP but I get an error msg 

Error
There is a chance that you may have found a bug in the SQL parser. Please examine your query closely, and check that the quotes are correct and not mis-matched. Other possible failure causes may be that you are uploading a file with binary outside of a quoted text area. You can also try your query on the MySQL command line interface. The MySQL server error output below, if there is any, may also help you in diagnosing the problem. If you still have problems or if the parser fails where the command line interface succeeds, please reduce your SQL query input to the single query that causes problems, and submit a bug report with the data chunk in the CUT section below:

MySQL said:

#1064 - You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near 'neil_nu/cgi-bin/tzrforum/' at line 1

I probably shouldn't post this here but I'm completely lost and think I may have bitten off more than I can chew.

[ThorstenE]

mhh, my Ikonboard knowledge is very limited but maybe this helps:
https://www.forums.powweb.com/showthread.php?p=297382

[c23_Mike]

Hi there !

The answer from TE at last is very correct, ikonboard has in its backend everything to convert its own dbm database to mysql. If there is a problem with this send me a pm, I have done this last week several times.
After that the convert with the ib2smf converter is quite simpel.

At last I am interested if the order of posts in your smf is correct after that. Let us know if everything is ok after that.

[ash33]

After a long weekend of trying everything in my limited skill set and some things that aren't, I still haven't moved from square one?

Not only that but it would seem ikonboards site isn't active at the moment either (must be having trouble migrating their own forum to the new version) 

My last attempt was to install  iB 2, upload the backup file then upgrade to the current iB then convert the DB to SQL, then migrate to SMF............

Short story, I can't upload iB.
I had to modify the CONFIG file, mod several PM files, CHMOD files everywhere and could only get to the perl_test page.

Now it may sound like I know what I'm talking about but I don't, My next option is to cfonvert the DBM to .CSV. The problem is I don't know how to install script, so I need a point and click option.

[ThorstenE]

ash33, any luck with the conversion? Do you still require our assistance?

[TLBSupport]

Yeah!! someone else with Ikonboard, i am not alone.. and feel your pain

I'll be perfectly honest i literaly have spent only a few hours so far and am in love with the forum software, am hoping the convertion process is as good.

I tried to run the converter last night but after entering details it threw up an issue accessing the new SMF db, i possibly entered the name wrong and would like to review its import log, can someone tell me where in the file structure it would have been saved?

Also, updating the import.. can this process be run multiple times to keep the import up to date while i clean up the forums and layout etc..
I tried VBulletin and had a miserable time trying to get it to work, didn't import my Calendar for starters and was too complicated for me, I'm hoping that SMF's simpler setup will be easier to learn.

many thanks in advance

[ThorstenE]

Our guide should help you with the first steps:
Converting to SMF

If you get any errors during conversion please post the exact error message.

[TLBSupport]

Hi, I reset everything but it failed with the following error
Converting members... Unsuccessful!
This query:
ALTER TABLE `removed_smf`.smf_members
DROP COLUMN tempID;
Caused the error:

Can't DROP 'tempID'; check that column/key exists

Any suggestions on why the above happened? cheers in advance

[ThorstenE]

ok,, there is a bug in ikonboard_to_smf.sql..

open that file with a text-editor, find this code (line 19-20):

ALTER TABLE {$to_prefix}members
DROP COLUMN tempID;

and remove it.

then restart the conversion.

[TLBSupport]

done and uploaded, reran and here is next error..
Caused the error:

Duplicate entry '1498' for key 1

can you explain and recommend course of action, btw 1498 was the 1st post so none imported

Cheer
(fyi has imported forum titles, number of posts and views, i think user names but not listing all, fingers crossed)

[ThorstenE]

do you know the step with "duplicate entry"? you can prevent duplicate errors by setting the $ignore variable..

example: the duplicate entry message was during the topics conversion. then edit ikonboard_to_smf.sql and find:

Code Select Expand

---* {$to_prefix}topics

replace it with:

Code Select Expand

---* {$to_prefix}topics
---{
$ignore = true;
---}

convert.php will then use INSERT IGNORE instead of INSERT.

[TLBSupport]

will try that once im home, headin to work right now, your support is very much appreciated

Update - Poo
Next Problem

Converting members... Unsuccessful!
This query:
ALTER TABLE `REMOVED_smf`.smf_members
ADD COLUMN tempID varchar(32),
ADD INDEX tempID (tempID(32));
Caused the error:

Duplicate column name 'tempID'

Have started another thread in ChitChat about my db, am not convinced its 100% correct, IB doesnt have any issues, all features work and have done for a long time, however if there is corruption it may be in an area ib_ ignores and the converter gets knickers in a twist.

[TLBSupport]

Good morning,
In an attempt to validate whether my db has errors i did the following.
I blew away and rebuilt SMF as well as deleting and recreating its db, I created a temp db with a backup copy of my db from a year ago and then reran the convert process.
This time it got a lot further and started importing all my topics (87,000 approx), all went well with the convert until it threw up the following error

INSERT INTO `REMOVED_smf`.smf_log_notify
(ID_MEMBER, ID_TOPIC, sent)

entries... then

Caused the error:

Duplicate entry '298-18-0' for key 1

How can this be progressed?
What I'm attempting to do is prove I have "A" valid db, the idea was that after a success convert i would rerun with a newer version of my db and continue the process, moving ever closer to my current db, or am i recreating the wheel, am trying to work in a logical process or am i not really proving anything

please advise

Update..
Out of interest and while awaiting a response out of curiosity I reran the converter, this time pointing at my production db. This time compared to the initial run I got as far as my test run this morning, with the same error "Duplicate entry", this time with a different reference, was pleasantly surprised. I can feel we are getting close to a success story. I can now see most of my posts, but still no calendar, maybe that happens after the post import , happy days

[TLBSupport]

Learned an important lesson
Dont run the converter on a forum while in "Maintenance Mode" unless you really know your password, the install account gets blown away and the password reset process doesn't work my bad, but I'm learning

[TLBSupport]

I played about with the convert script putting in a few more ignore duplcates and it managed to get to the end of the process however it failed to import the users birthday and all events already in the calendar, any suggestions TE..?
cheers in advance

[TLBSupport]

starting to enjoy this in a perverse sorta way, been learning how to browse sql (remmeber im scared of db's)
So it seems that the users birthday is not stored in "ib_member_profiles" as i originaly thought( well i assumed) but rather stored in the calendar file "ib_calendar" and they appear to be linked using a common "Member_ID", does this info help in any way?

Update
Just had another look at the script, err, no subsection showing the import of the Calendar.... could this be the problem... or is the Calendar another "custom" board, come on, teach a old man new tricks