Upgrading from 3.6.11 to 3.8.7 PL3

[vithorius]

Hi! I run a portuguese forum with a lots of addons with 3.6.11 on it, and I'm planning on the upgrade to the latest 3.x version (wich would be 3.8.7 PL3) so I went to the vb.com customers area (https://members.vbulletin.com/patches.php) to try to download but I see a warning there that states:

(note: you must import the included vbulletin-language.xml file in addition to uploading the included files for your site to be secure. Please see announcement.)

So, the first problem is that the link to the announcement does not exists...

(http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showt...ease-3.8.6-PL1)

[Trevor Hannant]

Here's the correct link:

http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/forum/vbulletin-announcements/vbulletin-announcements_aa/366538-security-patch-release-3-8-6-pl1

However, if you're upgrading then you should not download the patch - the full download for upgrades includes the patch and will import the vbulletin-language.xml file as part of the upgrade process.

[vithorius]

Thank you so very much Trevor!

I would like to go ahead with the upgrade soon, so I would like to know if there is any kind of advice that I should follow?

I mean, my board has some mods and template changes, so what should I check out before the upgrade?

Thank you so very much!

[Zachery]

Make a backup before you begin.

[vithorius]

Wise advice, indeed! (although my database is 500MB big...)

But as far as the template mods, what should I be aware of?

[BirdOPrey5]

You will lose a lot of template changes when you need to revert modified templates to their non-modified state. Have a list of all your mods and be prepared to redo all the template changes.

[vithorius]

Thank you so very much Joe.

Is there any kind of tool that will let me compare files before and after I do the upgrade?

I made template modifications some three / four years ago, and I really remember a bit of the pain it was then...

Once again, thank you so very much!

[BirdOPrey5]

I assume you mean compare templates, comparing files wouldn't be of much use.

In the Template Editor (Admin CP -> Styles & templates -> Style Manager -> (choose style) -> Edit Templates from the drop down menu) there is a link "Template History" under the Title, you can see old versions.

[snakes1100]

I use Beyond Compare to eval templates, much nicer tool to use than what Joe recommends, not that it doesnt work mind you, just a better tool when comparing. The free trial works fine for what you want to do, but i use it for many things, even folder compares, which still works, but when your doing complex tasks with it, i would suggest buying it.

[vithorius]

Dudes, THANK you so very MUCH!

I will take a look at both suggestions!

[BirdOPrey5]

I use Beyond Compare to eval templates, much nicer tool to use than what Joe recommends, not that it doesnt work mind you, just a better tool when comparing. The free trial works fine for what you want to do, but i use it for many things, even folder compares, which still works, but when your doing complex tasks with it, i would suggest buying it.

How do you get the templates as files to use a file comparison tool?

[snakes1100]

I dont get them as files lol

I simply copy the text for each to BC, then compare.

BC, can compare basically anything you want, folders, files, text, data, hex, mp3, pictures etc

One of the nice features of BC is the "show difference" feature, which shows only the dif's, not the entire text/folder contents your comparing.

[BirdOPrey5]

Oh... that is a lot of copy & pasting.

[snakes1100]

Not at all....

[vithorius]

Snakes1100, although it might be a bit too much of Copy-Paste, I really want to THANK YOU for the clever idea!!!