Question Concerning Duplicate Admins

[tr!p]

I've been running a few "test imports" on my local test server. I've surprised myself because they have been successful. However, I have a couple of questions. When I import on my live board I'm concerned about the identity of my admin profile. He imports without issue, but now I have 2 admins. Obviously I want to keep my old profile. I tried to merge the 2 users but I received a message saying it was not allowed. Whats the best way to deal with this? Second, $impexconfig['source']['server'] within ImpExConfig.php How do I know if my webserver is located on the same computer as the data base? Currently I'm using shared hosting. Lastly, when I was selecting which software to import from, the only option was phpBB RC7 (I use phpBB 3.0.0) and the only software to import to was VB 3.6.9 (I use VB 3.6.10). It still imported but just wanted to confirm I am using the latest version. Thanks in advance.

[Jerry]

I tried to merge the 2 users but I received a message saying it was not allowed. Whats the best way to deal with this?

ImpEx will no merge an incoming user with an admin, you have to do it manually with the admincp after the import.

Second, $impexconfig['source']['server'] within ImpExConfig.php How do I know if my webserver is located on the same computer as the data base?

That is up to knowing your site's configuration and layout, a question for your ISP if you don't know. Either that or install vBulletin with a table prefix and have all the source and target tables in the same database.

Lastly, when I was selecting which software to import from, the only option was phpBB RC7 (I use phpBB 3.0.0) and the only software to import to was VB 3.6.9 (I use VB 3.6.10). It still imported but just wanted to confirm I am using the latest version. Thanks in advance.

Yes, select the versions shown in the drop down that you've mentioned and it will be OK for the latest version of vBulletin and phpBB3.

[tr!p]

I've tried to merge them, however I get this message "Sorry, this user is protected from being altered in the config.php file by the $config['SpecialUsers']['undeletableusers'] variable."

[Jerry]

I've tried to merge them, however I get this message "Sorry, this user is protected from being altered in the config.php file by the $config['SpecialUsers']['undeletableusers'] variable."

Then there is your answer.

You're trying to merge the original admin into the imported one, opposed to the other way around.

[tr!p]

Same message either way. I have a couple of generic test users and I can merge them without issue. Giving my original profile admin rights is a work around but I just don't want the number one member named admin with 1 post appearing in the member list. Sounds trivial, but this is the last issue before importing live (unless something else pops up).

[Jerry]

You can edit the includes/config.php tio remove that userid from the protected ones and then merge them.

[tr!p]

Whats the cleanest way to set up my root directory before importing? My current live board is installed within the root directory, "www.example.com" (http://www.example.com) accesses the existing board. My fear is if I create another directory within the root called VB and install VBulletin into that directory, I don't want to have to type "www.example.com/vb" (http://www.example.com/vb) to access the new board.

[Steve Machol]

You will have to upload ot move all the vB files and subdirectories to the 'vb' directory. Then set the correct forum URL here:

Admin CP -> vBulletin Options -> Site Name / URL / Contact Details -> Forum URL

And in the Members Area under 'License Options':

http://www.vbulletin.com/members/

[tr!p]

So, there is no way to install the VBulletin directly in the root? I can't blow away my old board before the import even though the database is still intact?

[Steve Machol]

Sorry, I misunderstood the question. You can install vB in your root. However if you have anything else there you need to make sure that they do not have the same file names as vB.

[tr!p]

That makes sense, I'll have a peek and see if there is no conflicting files between phpBB3 and VBulletin installed in the root directory. I'm trying to avoid a redirect to a VB folder if at all possible. Thanks Steve.

[Jerry]

They both have index.php for starters.

[tr!p]

I just double checked. Yes and a couple others in common as well. So much for the easy way out.

[tr!p]

Yes, that worked like a charm. Just in case somebody else ran into the same problem and wants the specifics. Within config.php the code looks like this $config['SpecialUsers']['undeletableusers'] = '1'; Simply remove the 1. Thanks again.

[Jerry]

If you are closing your source board before the final import, which is the thing to do, you can just rename the phpBB3 files to "index.php.phpbb3.bck" or something like that.

[tr!p]

Is it possible to download all the files from my existing board onto my pc and then delete them from the root directory on my server? If I get into trouble I can simply upload them back? This would allow a clean install of VBulletin into the root without needing a subdirectory and altering the url.

[Jerry]

Is it possible to download all the files from my existing board onto my pc and then delete them from the root directory on my server? If I get into trouble I can simply upload them back? This would allow a clean install of VBulletin into the root without needing a subdirectory and altering the url.

That is one way of doing it, yes. Making a back up of all the phpBB files (and database just to be sure) and then uploading the vBulletin files, there are also these directories that are the same between the systems :

includes/
images/
install/

[tr!p]

So, when you are importing, you are importing strictly from the database? It doesn't matter if the old board isn't on the server? Is there anything I should do to the new VBulletin board before I import? Besides disabling it via ACP.

[Jerry]

So, when you are importing, you are importing strictly from the database? It doesn't matter if the old board isn't on the server?

Yes, just the database; the only files that you'll need are the smilies and the attachments, though you can move them about and give ImpEx the new paths,

Is there anything I should do to the new VBulletin board before I import? Besides disabling it via ACP.

Once you have it set up and installed, back up the database so if anything goes wrong during the import, you can restore it and be back to a known working configuration and set up.

[tr!p]

Yes, just the database; the only files that you'll need are the smilies and the attachments, though you can move them about and give ImpEx the new paths,
The attachments aren't within the old database? ImpEx imports smilies and the attachments directly from the old board?

[tr!p]

How do I point ImpEx to import off my pc so I'll be able to import the attachments?

[Jerry]

How do I point ImpEx to import off my pc so I'll be able to import the attachments?

You can't, then have to be on the server that is running ImpEx.

[tr!p]

On module 010 (import attachments), I'm having issues getting the file path correct. "Full path to uploads/attachments folder where the source attachments are." I'm using a local host, the directory is called phpbb3 and I believe the attachments are within the "files" directory so isn't /localhost/phpbb3/files/ correct? Apparently not. Any suggestions?

[Jerry]

Nope, localhost an address you give to applications to tell them what they are looking for are on the name machine.

It will be something like :

/home/www/phpbb3/files

You'll have to SSH in and run "pwd" or use a FTP client to find out.

[tr!p]

On my phpBB3 forum, which has a portal mod. The portal is index.php. My main forum page is board.php and they are both in the root directory. Does it matter to Impex if my index file has been re-named to board.php? I believe the database has been altered as well to reflect this.

[Jerry]

No, it will look for the standard values in the database.