Converting from Snitz Forums

[ukcwm]

Hi

A couple of things:

I note that you have a 'partial coverter' for Snitz forums - please could you let me know what it actually can and can't convert across? The main thing I owuld want to do is retain the posts and the time of posts and the categories etc.

Is the converter already available? When might you complete the converter if it's not already available?

I'd really like to use SMF forums, but I need to be able to convert the forums from an asp to a php system as soon as possible because of server problems. I guess another way could be to go via an other forum - just to get the information converted into a format for which you have a more comprehensive converter like phpBB or something. Does anyone know of another php discussion board system which will convert asp Mysql databases well? Is this a viable idea even?

Many thanks for your help 

[[Unknown]]

Well, phpBB has a converter but it has... problems.

Please try the attached.

-[Unknown]

[ukcwm]

Hi

Thanks for the reply! I will try the attachment - I haven't downloaded it yet- but does it include instructions as to how to export and then import the database?

My snitz forum had a load of plug-ins on it - would this be a problem?

Would it be possible for you to give me an idea of what fileds get imported to the simplemachines forum from the snitz forum?

e.g. does it import posts and times of posts and replies - but not member details and passwords?

Many thanks for your help :-)

[[Unknown]]

Frankly, I know very little about Snitz.  This converter is not well tested, and has only been used by two members to my recollection - one being Radianation.  I know he did something to convert Snitz to use MySQL, and he told me of some of the more common modifications.

It should work with or without these "plug-ins".

As far as what is imported... posts, members, and boards.  I'm pretty sure that is it.  Those are the main things, but if you have attachments, polls, and other things I don't believe they are converted.

It does do passwords, but you'll need to make a small modification to SMF for it to support them.  Search for Snitz.

-[Unknown]

[ukcwm]

Hi

I have downloaded the file included in a previous post for conversion - are the instructions for converting listed here : http://www.simplemachines.org/community/readme_convert.html#convert
in addition I have a couple of extra questions:

Do I need to do a MySql database dump and upload the original Snitz database into the same space as where I am running the php file from?  Will the system update automatically even if the other database is located on another server, and does the conversion save over the old database, or simply copy the information over and leave the old database completely unharmed?

Will this converter (download link above) work on SMF 1.0.3 (the version I currently have - or does it only on version 1.1 Beta?

Many thanks 

[[Unknown]]

The data needs to be on the same server as the SMF installation.

It copies, it doesn't change or overwrite or delete.

Yes, 1.0.3 should be okay.

-[Unknown]

[ukcwm]

Hi

Thanks for the reply. I have installed a version of SMF 1.0.3 to test the converter with - which works fine. I have places the .php snitz-to-smf file in the forum folder, and accessed it - but currently I can't seem to get the database for the snitz forum to be accessed by the script...part of this I think is because, although the database has been installed on the same MySql server, I need to wait until tomorrow to ask my service provider to allow me access to it. Hence the reason why I get this error:

Converting...
Unsuccessful!
This query:
SELECT COUNT(*)
FROM `forumdb1`.FORUM_MEMBERS;
Caused the error:

Access denied for user: '*my info here*' to database 'my database name'

However, on the 'step 1' page  I also noticed under the text entry box for the name of the snitz forum database, the following appears:

Notice: Undefined variable: test_from in *my URL inserted here*/snitz_to_smf.php on line 153
You will need to change the value in this box.

What do I need to change, and what do I need to change it to?

What should I enter for the 'Database used by Snitz:' box? Just the name of the database, or something else?

Thank you for your help.

[Kirby]

Try the attached, and yes, you need to put the name of the Snitz MySQL database. The SMF database user must also have access to it.

[ukcwm]

Hi

Many thanks for the updated file. OK. I have got a little further with that, but the next error I encountered was this:

Converting members... Unsuccessful!
This query:
INSERT INTO `testforum`.testforummembers
(ID_MEMBER, memberName, dateRegistered, posts, ID_GROUP, lastLogin, realName, passwd, emailAddress, personalText, gender, websiteTitle, websiteUrl, location, ICQ, AIM, YIM, MSN, signature)
VALUES ();
Caused the error:

Column count doesn't match value count at row 1

Any ideas what the problem is, and how I can solve it?

Many thanks for your help :-)

[[Unknown]]

Sorry.  That's because you (presumably?) have 500 members or a multiple thereof on the dot, it seems...?

Sorry, like I said this hasn't seen enough testing.

-[Unknown]

[ukcwm]

Hi

Don't worry  Sorry to have to keep asking questions! Shall I try the new attachement - I have 550 or so members?

I hope you don't mind me keep asking questions. I'd really like to get some sort of conversion to work so I can switch to using SMF

Should I check any permissions perhaps?

Cheers

[[Unknown]]

I hope you don't mind me keep asking questions. I'd really like to get some sort of conversion to work so I can switch to using SMF

Of course not - it's fixing the converter!  I just hope you don't mind the bugs too much.

550, huh?  Strange.  Well, it shouldn't happen any more, either way... but I wonder what could have caused it with 550 members....

-[Unknown]

[ukcwm]

Hi

I'll try it now...but the number of members wasn't exactly 550! Can't remember off the top of my head what the number of members is at the mo! Sorry!

[NoRad]

Not sure if you've read it, but I went through this whole process ahwile back when I converted. It was a bit tedious, but we got it to work and I can't begin to tell you how thankful I am that I finally made the switch. I loved snitz when I used it, but then I saw the light. Don't worry about losing your plugins. Most of the main plugins for snitz are built in to SMF, and what you don't have on a factory install can be easily downloaded via the package manager.

I was able to covert all members, categories/forums, posts, replies, and that's about it. I used the SHA256 package to convert the passwords on the fly to the SMF encryption scheme. This is so much better than the crappy PHPBB2 solution where you have to start all over with new passwords. (+1,000 cool points to unknown for this).

It's been awhile since I made the conversion, but if I can offer any assistance I will. Here is what I did:

My Snitz was MSSQL. I used a program from Intelligent Converters called MSSQL -> mySQL.
Then I installed SMF on the same machine and in the same database. So that in database louipimps I had snitz_tables and smf_tables. I told the converter script what I wanted to convert and it worked. Then I had to do some repairing on the SMF side of things using a combination of scripts and the built in repair feature. Eventually I got it working.

I had to reset all of the permissions and re-order the tables a bit, but that was it.

Then install that sha256 package. Good luck.

[ukcwm]

Hi

Radianation - many thanks for your reply  I don't really understand what to do, to be honest - I'm not a programmer, or a mySQL or PHP expert. My database is already in MySQL. I'm not sure about the SHA256 package is....but I will get back to you on that when I have converted the main database over. I hope you don't mind, but I would like to try to continue with the file that I've been working on - as shown in posts above. If we cannot find a solution through this, then I will certainly have more questions for you!  I hope you don't mind, thankyou for your offer of help  Please keep checking back as you may have some valuable imput as I try to go through the process of conversion 

OK. I have now got everything to start processing - so quite a lot of progress has been made. The coverter has started the process ok, and copied over the categories, their descriptions and details about the number of posts - so the main front page displays well - no member details have been copied over, or total number of posts etc. BUT, the process stopped because it said it wanted to avoid the cript from timing out...but it gave me the option to continue...which I did, whereupon I got the following error, and no topics or details were copied over...

Converting...
Converting messages... (this may take some time) successful.
Converting topics... Unsuccessful!
This query:

ALTER TABLE `testforum`.testforumtopics
DROP INDEX firstMessage,
DROP INDEX lastMessage;
Caused the error:

Can't DROP 'firstMessage'. Check that column/key exists

Any ideas?
I think we're getting somewhere 

Thank you for your help 

[NoRad]

Hmmm ...

1. Do you have permission to drop tables in the database?
2. Are those valid fields in your Snitz installation?

You're very close. I think the post counts are calculated again after you run the maintenance tools in SMF.

[ukcwm]

Hi

I'm pritty certain I have permission - how would I check?

Are those valid fields in your Snitz installation?

I have no idea! How do I find out? - or might mine be called something different, or can I change it?!

Cheers

[NoRad]

You'll need to either look at the ASP code for snitz to determine the table names or go into your snitz database and look at the field names. Hmmm I don't know of an easy way to test that... I'm a hands on guy so it's hard for me to give specific instructions like this. =)

[NoRad]

Not sure about unsigned, but after more carefully reading your original problem, it looks like you're not getting the temp. table setup properly using the script provided. This sounds like a question for [unknown] . ; )
All we're trying to do is move data from one database format to the other, but in the process we have to "massage" the data. I'm assuming he's using some type of a temp. table to do this, but I could be wrong.

[ukcwm]

Hi

OK - Cheers! I'll wait for a reply from UNKNOWN. 

Sorry to be a pain, but am a little pushed for time because I need to covert the forum before my current web hosting space runs out!