New forum owner advice required

Started by sakm, August 09, 2022, 02:46:35 PM

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sakm

Hi all

I have just acquired a forum that is running on 2.0.15

I have run many forums and have two currently with 1 running on Invision and 1 on phpBB

I have always been a user of phpBB and recently Invision so I am new to SMF

I was initially thinking of converting the forum to phpBB but looking at it I can see it causing a few issues and breaking a lot of images so on that basis I think I am going to stick with SMF
Invision is out of the question due to cost

I was wondering what peoples thoughts are on the best route to take to upgrade the forum and to bring it up to date

I also believe there is some plugins/mods whatever you call them over here so I suspect they will need updating or removing if they aren't compatible with a newer version.

The first thing I need to do is to get it all moved over to my server!

Thanks in advance 

Doug Heffernan

Quote from: sakm on August 09, 2022, 02:46:35 PMThe first thing I need to do is to get it all moved over to my server!

Hello and welcome to Smf. Please see this link on how to move a smf forum from one host to another.

https://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Hosting_-_How_do_I_move_my_SMF_forum_to_a_different_host

Quote from: sakm on August 09, 2022, 02:46:35 PMI was wondering what peoples thoughts are on the best route to take to upgrade the forum and to bring it up to date


There are no database changes between your forum version and the latest, 2.0.19. So the best way to go about this imo is to simply overwrite your forum files from those from the large 2.0.19 package, minus the upgrade.php and .sql files. Running the upgrader will no tbe necessary for the reason mentioned above. i.e. the lack of the database changes.

A word of advice, if I may, while you are at it, you can upgrade to the 2.1.2. The only thing is that all 2.0.x mods and themes are not compatible with the 2.1.x versions.

Quote from: sakm on August 09, 2022, 02:46:35 PMI also believe there is some plugins/mods whatever you call them over here so I suspect they will need updating or removing if they aren't compatible with a newer version.

What mods are we talking about? Can you please post the links to them?

Hope it helps. Please let us know if if you will have any additional questions.

sakm

Thanks for the reply and the link to moving servers although its straight forward I wasn't aware of the repair settings file which is useful

As for mods here is a list if it helps

GDPR Helper   1.0.9
SMF 2.0.15 Update   1.0
SMF 2.0.14 Update   1.0
Tapatalk SMF 2.0 Plugin   4.4.1
SMF 2.0.13 Update   1.0
SMF 2.0.12 Update   1.0
Automatic Attachment Rotation   1.2
reCAPTCHA for SMF   1.0.0
Bookmarks   2.5
Better SMF Parser   2.0
SMF 2.0.11 Update   1.0
Responsive Curve   1.0 Beta 5
Highslide Image Viewer   1.7
SMF 1.1.21 / 2.0.10 Update   1.0
Color Emoticon Avatars   1.0
Login Security   1.0.3
SMF 1.1.20 / 2.0.9 Update   1.0
SimplePortal   2.3.6
SEO - Rich Snippets   1.0
MultiLanguage Registration Agreement   1.0
SMF Gallery Pro - Video AddOn   4.0.1
SMF Gallery Pro   5.0.10a
Recount Member Posts   1.1
Google Member Map   2.6
SMF 2.0.8 Update   1.0
SMF 2.0.7 Update   1.0
Stop Spammer   2.3.9
SMF 1.1.19 / 2.0.6 Update   1.0
SMF Secure Login   1.0.4b
SMF 2.0.4 Update   1.0
JW Player   1.1
SMF 2.0.3 Update   1.0
SMF Classifieds   2.0.11
SMF 2.0.2 Update   1.0
PNG Message Icons   1.3.1
SMF Links Directory Lite   1.0
InLine Attachments   1.11
Downloads System   1.4.1
Sitemap   2.2.0
Enhanced PM Popup   1.0.1
httpBL   2.5.1
Country Flags   1.1.2
Google Member Map   2.0.8
Resize Attached Images   2.4.1
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Kindred

yeah ---    so, overwriting files as Doug suggests would remove all of your mods.  Probably not what you want.

I'd recommend using the package manager to install the PATCH updates one at a time (2.0.15-> 2.0.16 -> 2.0.17 -> 2.0.18 -> 2.0.19)
that way your mods stay installed - and most of those mods have not been updated to 2.1.x

You can delete (don't uninstall, just delete) the SMF X.X.XX update packages...    you won't be uninstalling those and it will clean up your list.
Слaва
Украинi

Please do not PM, IM or Email me with support questions.  You will get better and faster responses in the support boards.  Thank you.

"Loki is not evil, although he is certainly not a force for good. Loki is... complicated."

Doug Heffernan

Quote from: sakm on August 09, 2022, 04:43:31 PMThanks for the reply and the link to moving servers although its straight forward I wasn't aware of the repair settings file which is useful

You are welcome :)

Quote from: sakm on August 09, 2022, 04:43:31 PMAs for mods here is a list if it helps

You can skip all the SMF (version) Update mods. They are the update patches.

Regarding the rest, I think that most of them are compatible with the 2.1.x versions as well. You can check the compatibility of a mod by going to its download page where you will see the Compatibility field. As a rule of thumb almost always, if a mod is coded for a lower version, it is compatible with all the newer versions of that same serie.

For example, if the compatibility field for a mod lists only smf 2.0.14, it should work with all the subsequent versions, right up to the latest, 2.0.19.

The same goes for the 2.1.x mods. However, as I mentioned in my previous post, all 2.0.x mods/themes are not compatible with the 2.1.x version.

Doug Heffernan

Quote from: Kindred on August 09, 2022, 04:51:11 PMyeah ---    so, overwriting files as Doug suggests would remove all of your mods.  Probably not what you want.

Thanks for mentioning that as I forgot about it.

@sakm, overwriting your forum files, not only it will uninstall all your mods automatically, but it will undo any manual edits done to the files too.

sakm

Quote from: Doug Heffernan on August 09, 2022, 04:55:15 PM
Quote from: Kindred on August 09, 2022, 04:51:11 PMyeah ---    so, overwriting files as Doug suggests would remove all of your mods.  Probably not what you want.

Thanks for mentioning that as I forgot about it.

@sakm, overwriting your forum files, not only it will uninstall all your mods automatically, but it will undo any manual edits done to the files too.

Thats just how older versions of phpBB worked so I had figured that out already but thanks for the heads up

I need to move everything first then see what is actually worth keeping mods wise and see whether its worth just going straight to the latest version

The forum needs bringing back to life which sometimes a big change can do that


Doug Heffernan

Quote from: sakm on August 09, 2022, 05:03:49 PMThe forum needs bringing back to life which sometimes a big change can do that

Indeed, sometimes radical changes are needed to bring back activity to forums/sites.

Good luck and let us know anytime that you will have questions, and/or require assistance.

sakm

So things are starting to move forward with this and I have done some testing but keep getting some errors relating to country flags and simply cannot access the site

These tests where run on my server without the domain names pointing to it so it was a bit of a pain to be honest

Anyway I would rather just upgrade the forum straight away with the move whats the best way to do this?

can I just down load a few files like the images and settings files then use the newest files from a full package download and just update the database?

If so which of the old files do I need and which new files would I need to update the database? are they included in the full package?

Or do I have to go with the large upgrade files?

Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen

Basically, if you have a 1.0.x you can update to a 1.0.x with patch updates through the package manager one .x version at a time. The same goes for 1.1.x and 2.0.x and 2.1.x. This is covered in https://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Patching
Mods may interfere with updates, but the package manager will let you know if there are apparent issues codewise.

Updating from any branch like 2.0.x to a later branch like 2.1.x will require the use of the large upgrade package, and means losing mods and theme compatibility. This is covered in https://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Upgrading
Mods should not pose issues in any way, but removing custom themes in advance may be a good idea.
Slava
Ukraini!
"Before you allow people access to your forum, especially in an administrative position, you must be aware that that person can seriously damage your forum. Therefore, you should only allow people that you trust, implicitly, to have such access." -Douglas

How you can help SMF

Doug Heffernan

#11
Quote from: sakm on August 13, 2022, 08:59:37 AMSo things are starting to move forward with this and I have done some testing but keep getting some errors relating to country flags and simply cannot access the site

They are related to a third party mod. The Country Flags mod.

Quote from: sakm on August 13, 2022, 08:59:37 AMAnyway I would rather just upgrade the forum straight away with the move whats the best way to do this?

can I just down load a few files like the images and settings files then use the newest files from a full package download and just update the database?

If so which of the old files do I need and which new files would I need to update the database? are they included in the full package?

Or do I have to go with the large upgrade files?

The best way would be to upgrade to 2.1.2  imo.  You can first do the move and then the upgrade. Or if you want to do both things at the same time, install smf 2.1.2. at the new server, restore the forum backup and then run the upgrader.


For more info on how to upgrade your forum please see this link:

Upgrading SMF

Just as a F.Y.I, large upgrades, from one serie to another, should done manually. Whereas small updates, from one version to the next within the same series, can be done through the Package Manager.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

sakm

Thanks guys

I think the way I am going to go is to upload the database to the new server then the files

The overwrite the files with the large package upgrade

Run the repair_settings.php then run the upgrade.php

Would that work fine?

Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen

#13
You should either first upgrade before moving to another server, or migrate to another server and make sure everything works and got transferred correctly and intact before upgrading. Which way, it's up to you really. Just don't try to do both at once, that will cause issues that are completely avoidable.

How do I move my SMF forum to a different host?
Slava
Ukraini!
"Before you allow people access to your forum, especially in an administrative position, you must be aware that that person can seriously damage your forum. Therefore, you should only allow people that you trust, implicitly, to have such access." -Douglas

How you can help SMF

sakm

This is turning out to be a nightmare! probably because I don't really know the workings of this software yet!

anyway I have removed all files which was 2.0.15 and used 2.0.19 files and I am getting this error when trying to post

Field 'spam' doesn't have a default value
File: /home/rtstu/public_html/Sources/Subs-Post.php
Line: 1878

Note: It appears that your database may require an upgrade. Your forum's files are currently at version SMF 2.0.19, while your database is at version 2.0.5. The above error might possibly go away if you execute the latest version of upgrade.php.

obviously there is two errors here one relating to missing file. Is this from a mod and I need to run the fix hooks.php?

and the other is because the database isn't upto date can I just run the update files from 2.0.19? or do I have to go through them from 2.0.5?

Doug Heffernan

Quote from: sakm on August 14, 2022, 05:06:23 PMThis is turning out to be a nightmare! probably because I don't really know the workings of this software yet!

Like with all new things, it takes a while to get used to. You will get the hang of it before you know it.

Quote from: sakm on August 14, 2022, 05:06:23 PManyway I have removed all files which was 2.0.15 and used 2.0.19 files and I am getting this error when trying to post

You should not remove files, especially if you have mods installed that have added their files inside the sources/themes folders. Or if they contain manual edits. You should overwrite them instead.

Quote from: sakm on August 14, 2022, 05:06:23 PMField 'spam' doesn't have a default value
File: /home/rtstu/public_html/Sources/Subs-Post.php
Line: 1878

This comes from a antispam mod most likely. You should give said field a default NULL value. That should fix the error.

Quote from: sakm on August 14, 2022, 05:06:23 PMNote: It appears that your database may require an upgrade. Your forum's files are currently at version SMF 2.0.19, while your database is at version 2.0.5. The above error might possibly go away if you execute the latest version of upgrade.php.

There are no database changes between the version mentioned in the error and the latest a.f.a.i.k. so it can be safely ignored. But you can run the upgrader anyway if it makes you feel better.

Hope it helps.

sakm

#16
Thanks for the reply

I ran the updater and it removed one error

Yes I think an anti spam mod was installed and thats causing me an issue! I have all the old files but there is another mod within that what causes the website not to load on my server  ???


Steve

Personally, I think this is in order ... How to upload a fresh set of files

Then reinstall your mods one at a time, checking for errors, and your themes.
DO NOT pm me for support!

sakm

Quote from: Steve on August 14, 2022, 07:35:04 PMPersonally, I think this is in order ... How to upload a fresh set of files

Then reinstall your mods one at a time, checking for errors, and your themes.

That's essentially what I did but usithe 2.0.19 files as I was led to believe there was no database changes

Yet somehow a mod had stopped anyone from posting on the forum.

I have since reverted back to the old server where everything seems to be working fine

If I just transfer everything to my server I have an issue with geoip which I thought was for the national flags but I believe its the members maps

Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen

#19
Quote from: sakm on August 14, 2022, 05:06:23 PMField 'spam' doesn't have a default value
File: /home/rtstu/public_html/Sources/Subs-Post.php
Line: 1878

Note: It appears that your database may require an upgrade. Your forum's files are currently at version SMF 2.0.19, while your database is at version 2.0.5. The above error might possibly go away if you execute the latest version of upgrade.php.
This has almost nothing to do with the version of SMF, or the update you are doing.
This is why you should have either moved first and only updated after, or update first and move after.

This is happening because the field in question does not have a default value defined, and your database engine expects one or alternatively some data from the code to fill it always. Your easiest fix to this is to go in to your database, and assign this field a default value of NULL. This may have come up because you had mod code that used this field, but is now removed from the code by you overwriting files, and the field remains without data going in to it anymore.
Slava
Ukraini!
"Before you allow people access to your forum, especially in an administrative position, you must be aware that that person can seriously damage your forum. Therefore, you should only allow people that you trust, implicitly, to have such access." -Douglas

How you can help SMF

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