Converting PhpBB2.17 to SMF

[CWH]

I have had a previously installed board running with phpbb2.17. I left it in its place and used Fantastico on lunarpages to install the latest version of SMF. I then uploaded the converter for smf to php in the appropriate file. If I open the new SMF forum it shows the bare bones board  is working fine. However, when I try to use the converter I keep getting a message that says I am using the wrong password for the SMF file. I printed everything off when I loaded SMF and I am looking at the password printed on the paper and loading it correctly. Both SMF and my phpbb boards are located within the public_html section of the board but both are on separate databases at the moment so I could avoid corrupting anything in my present board. I have even tried using the password from the phpbb but it didn't work either. Anyone have any suggestions?

[Oldiesmann]

First, you need to make sure that the smf user has access to the phpBB database and that the phpBB user has access to the SMF database:

cPanel -> MySQL Databases

Select the MySQL user that's being used for phpBB from the first list and the smf database from the second list, then click "Add User to Db".
Then select the you_smf user from the first list and the phpBB database from the scond list and click "Add User to Db"

To get the password that you need to use, go into file manager, browse to your SMF directory and click on Settings.php. Click on "Edit file" and look for the database password.

After that you should be able to convert easily.

[CWH]

Michael

Finally got around to trying your fix tonight and in a jiffy it did the trick. I was successful in transferring everything over on the first try. I was amazed that the password I used in Fantastico to install SMF wasn't even close to the password that was in the file you directed me to, even though that other password which I first used is what Fantastico emailed to me.

The only thing I will have to move is an audio mp3 file in my old forum, then I will need to integrate Flashchat again as in my old forum, and then modify the picture at the top.

This really appears to be much easier than phpbb for upgrades and the like, especially with mods so I think I am going to like it. Also, it is really nice to still have my old forum up while I tweak this one.
I am assuming when I get this one up the way I like I can delete the file from the server on my old forum without harming my new SMF database since I did not share the same one?

Anyway, thanks a million for the quick fix, it is much appreciated.

[GaryS]

This might be the problem I'm having in http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=60341.0 because I don't think I've done the database thing properly. I'm not good with SQL so could you explain the access to the alternative databases?

When I install SMF, do I need to name the database that it uses the same as the one phpBB uses but use another login?

Then, where does the 'secondary' login for the SMF database have to go?

Sorry for being thick but I'm not really following this 

[Oldiesmann]

Just install it on the same database as phpBB (same MySQL username and password as well). As long as you don't use phpbb_ for your SMF table prefix (not sure why anyone would do that anyway), you shouldn't have any problems.

[GaryS]

Thanks Fizz. Quick question, can I only change the database details at the time of installing the SMF board?

I'm assuming that if I change it once it's set up the board will fail?

[Oldiesmann]

You can always change the database name, username and password later on, but you'll have to use repair_settings.php or modify Settings.php to reflect these changes.

By the way - I'm Oldiesmann, not Fizzy

[Hawkwind]

I'm currently running phpBB 2.0.18 on my webhost and I'm sick and tired of it.  I want to install SMF but will need to convert the database over.  I've read the above messages, but don't see a link to the *converter script* that was used.  Can someone supply a link for it, and will it work with the latest phpBB-2.0.18 to SMF ?

Thanks in advance!

--
The box said: Requires Windows 98 or better, So I installed Linux!
Registered Linux User #362532
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[Fizzy]

By the way - I'm Oldiesmann, not Fizzy

Nahh, He's the good looking one

Hawkwind,
Install SMF 1.0.5 and run This Convertor

[Hawkwind]

Then select the you_smf user from the first list and the phpBB database from the scond list and click "Add User to Db"

That was stated in an earlier post here and for some reason it's just never an option for me.

I can do the first by selecting the phpbb user on the left, then the smf entry on the right, click on adduser to db and it tells me it was added.  But then the second option never is available so I'm quite stuck since I know *nothing* about MySQL what so ever.

I am trying to install my forum here: http://linuxfordummies.org/smf
My current phpBB is installed and working here: http://linuxfordummies.org

I'm just clueless as to what to do as the convert script isn't going to work yet.  Can anyone give any insight to someone who knows nothing of MySQL ?

[Hawkwind]

UPDATE!!

Well I've managed to get SMF installed.  Now the problem is I can't get this darn convertor script to run.  I simply type:  php phpbb2_to_smf.php  and it spits out all sorts of info as follows:

Code Select Expand

<h2>Before you continue</h2>
                                        <h4>Make sure you have already installed SMF, and gotten it working.  This converter takes posts and other data from phpBB2 into SMF, but it won't work without an installation to put them in.</h4>
                                        <div style="margin-bottom: 2ex;">Also note that the MySQL user you installed SMF with will need access to both the SMF database and the phpBB2 database, unless they are in the same database.  Either way, both have to be installed on the same MySQL server.</div>
                                        <div style="margin-bottom: 2ex;">Another important piece of information is that all the data currently in the SMF install - posts, members, boards, etc. - <b>will be deleted</b> during the conversion process.  Nothing on your phpBB2 forum will be hurt - just SMF.</div>

Do I need to edit this convertor script in some sort of way ?  If so, what lines do I need to edit as I can't make sense of the file what so ever.  I feel I'm so close to leaving phpBB behind in it's own little world, thankfully, yet I'm not quite there. 

Any and all help would and will be greatly appreciated on this issue.

[Hawkwind]

UPDATE AGAIN!!

I was having a serious blonde moment. I opened up the file in my browser, and what do ya know, it worked from there.  Thanks for all the help in the beginning

[GaryS]

By the way - I'm Oldiesmann, not Fizzy

Yeah sorry Oldie, it was the Santa thing that threw me... And it doesn't take much to confuse I can tell you

[Hawkwind]

Well I seem to have a slight problem after the upgrade from phpBB-2.0.18 to SMF-1.0.5.

I have deleted everything within my ~/public_html directory that had to do with phpBB and moved everything from my original install of ~/public_html/smf up one directory to the ~/public_html directory.  Everything works as planned, as my forum can now be seen when you visit: http://linuxfordummies.org  It can also still be seen if you visit: http://linuxfordummies.org/smf since I haven't deleted the ~/public_html/smf directory.  I haven't done this because everything that is a link on the forum to a category or anything, even the admin mode links to http://linuxfordummies.org/smf/some/path.  I have gone into admin mode and tried to change Forum URL, Sources Directory and SMF Directory.  I remove the *smf* from the 3 entries and click save and it reverts back to having the *smf* on the end of the paths.  What can I do to solve this problem since I do *not* want http://linuxfordummies.org/smf to work at all, and for nothing to be a link to it.

I hope I have explained this well enough that everyone understands.  I'm afraid if I delete the ~/public_html/smf directory my forum will fail to work any further and therefore I can't make changes without having to put that directory back in place.

I ask this here since I did happen to run a convertor script to do all of this for me in the beginning.

Any and all help on this issue is greatly appreciated.

[Fizzy]

Hawkwind,

Can you make sure that your Settings.php and Settings.php.bak are CHMOD to 777 please

[Hawkwind]

Is it ok to smack myself ?

That certainly did the trick.  Guess I'm now ok to delete the ~/public_html/smf directory without any fatal errors or anything. 

Thanks for the great help and quick responses.  Makes one definitely want to continue using such an application.

[Fizzy]

You're welcome