This is the quick guide to running an import for people who are comfortable with vBulletin and have experience with technical administration of a web site.
This is the procedure for testing and importing, always run tests before doing an import.
Get ImpEx
Down load ImpEx from the Members Area, here.
Config the file
In the downloaded archive there is a file ImpExConfig.php.new. Rename that to ImpExConfig.php and edited it's contents for the target and source details of the database. If the source is a file based system, just edit the target details.
Upload it
Upload the ImpEx folder with the newly edited ImpExConfig.php file to your webserver, into the same directory that the admincp is in, or in the webroot for a stand alone import
If you are running ImpEx installed youl have to put the cpnav_impex.xml file in the includes/xml directory for ImpEx to show in the adminCP. The file is in upload/includes/xml in the download.
Browse to it
Select the Import from the adminCP nav bar, then the system you want to from the drop down list.
Do import
Run the first module to inspect the source and alter the target database. If you are doing a clean import or the users you want to merge will have the same email addresses ignore module 002, which is for manual user id association.
Update counters
In the maintenance section of the adminCP, run the Update counters for the threads, then the forums. Re-order the forums and delete the default Main Forum if need be, then save the display order to rebuild the forum cache.
Clean up usergroups and forums
Setup the permissions for the usergroups, or delete the imported usergroups to move the users in those groups to the default Registered group.
cleaner.php
If you have HTML or unparsed content in your posts, you may need to use cleaner.php.
Review
Check over the board before opening it, get the help of some moderators or admins from the original site, to check users, posts, PM's etc.