phpBB 3.3.14 to SMF 2.1.4 - latest of both

[Swiftek]

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

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:

Deprecated
: 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:


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.


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!

[vbgamer45]

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

[Swiftek]

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:


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.

[Swiftek]

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

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.

[Swiftek]

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

Fatal 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:


Progress!   

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?

[vbgamer45]

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

[Swiftek]

My 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:
Which says:

Cleaning 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.

[Swiftek]

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):


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?

[vbgamer45]

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

[Swiftek]

Looks 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.

[vbgamer45]

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

[Swiftek]

Link 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
and convert_phpbb33x_to_smf.php
https://github.com/SimpleMachines/converters/blob/master/SMF2.1/convert_phpbb33x_to_smf.php

[Caine60]

Link 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 [nofollow]
and convert_phpbb33x_to_smf.php
https://github.com/SimpleMachines/converters/blob/master/SMF2.1/convert_phpbb33x_to_smf.php [nofollow]

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?

[vbgamer45]

The convertor is free. Looks like a bug or using wrong SMF files that is a language string in

Code Select Expand

$txt['convert_no_scripts_found'] = 'The converter did not find any conversion data files.  Please check to see if the one you want is available for download at <a href="%1$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

[Caine60]

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

[vbgamer45]

The file path to your phpbb install.

[Swiftek]

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

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.

[Caine60]

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

[vbgamer45]

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

[Swiftek]

now 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.