Do U Help In Converting Databases's Encoding From Latin to Utf-8

[Purple Haze]

Do U Help In Converting Databases's Encoding From Latin to Utf-8

Actually I was trying to convert my database encoding into utf-8 through the ssh commands, however my hosting technical support, told me that it should be done via BASH commands since the ssh is just a communication software, and they recommended me to be aware that vbulletin database might be at risk of being messed up, and that I should take some script that is compatible with the vbulletin.

however I found some script to do so, and my database seemed to be converted with no problems, but when I go to the forum's index I find the whole arabic letters replaced with strange letters and characters such as question marks, and other strange letters


so do offer any tool to do this, and if I renew my license would you help me working around this, to have my data base in utf-8 and my templates and posts in clear Arabic letters???

[Steve Machol]

Sorry but this is a very difficult process and I do not know of any instructions to do this.

[MattyAsia]

This may work if I'm not wrong:

1) Back up all your data in every way possible (vBulletin internal, phpMyAdmin, ???)
2) Use phpMyAdmin to export the data.
3) Remove the data from the DB, change the DB type to UTF8
4) If the exported files reference any type other than utf-8, remove that reference. (backup the files first)
5) Reimport the data
6) Change the config.php file and tell it to expect utf8.

That I think should cover it.
NOTE: This is untested and can not be guaranteed, if you try, I would but absolute emphasis on backing up the data.