Migration from PHPBB v2.0 to Vbulletin - can I keep same file structure?

[denniss]

Hi folks,

It seems that soon I will be a PHPBB refugee over at the Vbulletin camp.

But before that I would like to know the answer to the following highly important for me question.

As an owner of a PHPBB forum with over 10,000 different threads, that are already cached AND ranked (quite well too) in Google, it is very important for me to keep the same files structure.

For example domain.com/viewforum.php?f=4 HAS to remain at the same location so I do not lose search engine traffic and placement. Likewise for particular posts, say domain.com/viewtopic.php?t=5120 has to have the same URL after migration.

I've read all about Impex, and searched through old threads for hours but could not find an answer to this particular question. Please let me know!

Dennis

[Steve Machol]

Unfortunately all the imported posts, threads and forums will have entirely new URLs and ID numbers.

[denniss]

Ouch, that puts a damper on the whole migration process:(

Steve, are there maybe some scripts out there that could generate the pre / after url's for me? I suppose I could use 301 redirects in .htaccess to redirect visitors to new thread locations but obviously writing that file manually would take ages...

Best,

Dennis

[Steve Machol]

Please read the 404.impex.readme.txt file in the Impex tools folder. I don't know if that will do everything you want but this is the only tool available like this. This is not supported though.

[RadioErewan]

Please read the 404.impex.readme.txt file in the Impex tools folder.

What version of Impex contains this file?

Regards

[TomJames]

Wouldn't vbSEO let you do something like this?

[Jerry]

http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?t=178161

The 301/404.php would of done this, though has been removed now.

[denniss]

Ok, so I've bought a license and I'm in the middle of transfering the forums... and indeed I cannot find the 404 file in tools folder... Is there any way someone could pretty please post a link to it?

Dennis

[Steve Machol]

As Jerry said that file was removed. Sorry.

[unfv]

I think it's a very critical issue to care about, I am almost convinced on migrating my forum from PHPBB to vBulletin but this issue stopped my actions and keep all my attention. There must be a solution...

[TomJames]

I think it's a very critical issue to care about, I am almost convinced on migrating my forum from PHPBB to vBulletin but this issue stopped my actions and keep all my attention. There must be a solution...

I recommend asking the guys over at vbseo.com or perhaps vbulletin.org. Sadly the guys over at vbseo.com will probably only give you a solution that requires their product :P.

[unfv]

Yeah the first thing they will say is "dont worry man, your site will be more indexed with our product than it was before"

The only solution I find is to place a welcome page to the visitor with a message saying that they will need to search again and a Search Form next to this mesage

[Cars2007]

You can try this: http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1422644&postcount=79

It's unsupported and might not work for you.

If you call the file viewtopic.php it may intercept old links and bounce them to the new threads.