Conversion of discus forum to phpbb

[kjm777]

I'm looking to contract someone to convert a large discus 4 based forum to phpbb.

Discus 4 has a complex arrangement in that the search engine index, registered users and similar are in a mysql database but the messages are stored in a flat file form. The forum as it stands contains about 16,000 messages that need to be converted for mysql. Something way beyond my abilities.

I could of course just wipe the current forum and start anew with phpbb, but there is a lot of useful information in the current messages that I would really like to keep and continue to make searchable if possible. The forum is at; http://www.keratin.com/ap/

Anyone think they can handle the job? If so please contact me / ask for info / make a quote etc. Thanks. Email; kevin@keratin.com

[dank]

I actually wrote a convertor for Discus 3.x (pre-MySQL) to phpBB:

http://abledesign.com/programs/#free

I have no idea what would be involved in adapting it to Discus 4, nor do I care to find out. I've long since washed my hands of Discus' ridiculous message storage ("we guarantee corrupted file trees!") system and sleep much better for it. :)

Dan

[kjm777]

I did have a go with your conversion script before I upgraded to discus 4 but I could not get all the message details to transfer into mysql properly. In the end I gave up and upgraded discus hoping that might solve the problems, but while it did help somewhat, it's clear that discus is not going to do the job. Discus is OK for low a low traffic board on a site without mysql, but now mine has more visitors and there is a large message base discus keeps hitting the resource limits (especially with keyword searches) and users get a server error.

I don't have my heart set on phpbb - it just looked good to me and the price was right - but I am looking for something that can handle a highish level of traffic and a large message base without falling over. I found the current thread on message board options and from that it's clear I need some kind of mysql platform. People seem to be recommending one of vbulletin, invision or phpbb. I'll take a look at each, but either way I still need some assistance getting the discus message base into mysql.

[Joe]

You might want to post your request here on the Invision Support Forums (http://forums.invisionboard.com/index.php?) where they have quite a few converters already (though not one for Discus) and I'm sure you would be able to employ someone on a success-only basis.

[dank]

Interesting that even vBulletin does not have a Discus converter available. It appears I'm literally the only person on the planet that bothered to put one together for v3.x!

I did have a go with your conversion script before I upgraded to discus 4 but I could not get all the message details to transfer into mysql properly.
Did you by any chance try it before I added a note to the description page describing the phpBB 1.2/1.4 database field issue? I had set the converter up for a 1.2x installation that had been upgraded to 1.4x, not knowing that the phpBB developers, in their infinite wisdom, had changed the order of the new fields for upgrades vs. new 1.4x installations (did no one tell them you can insert new fields anywhere you want, thus preserving order?), so what was a perfectly working script in my own development and testing prepares columns in the wrong order for straight 1.4x conversions. The fix is to manually change the column output order in the converter.

Dan

[kjm777]

Originally posted by dank:
Did you by any chance try it before I added a note to the description page describing the phpBB 1.2/1.4 database field issue? I had set the converter up for a 1.2x installation that had been upgraded to 1.4x, not knowing that the phpBB developers, in their infinite wisdom, had changed the order of the new fields for upgrades vs. new 1.4x installations

Yes, I must have tried it prior that. It would explain the problems I was having.

[kjm777]

Well, Greg Julius (GregJ on these forums) of OuttaCyTE Web Technologies took up the challenge and all I can say is the guy's a genius!

Not only was he able to convert a very large flat file based discus message forum (with all its idiosyncrasies) into mysql based phpbb, but he had the patience to put up with me throughout - which is quite a feat according to some.

So if anyone out there is looking for some help with a mysql database, converting between different databases, or anything to do with php really, I would recommend without hesitation that you contact Greg. Whatever the problem, he can sort it out for you.

Greg's contact details are on his web site at; http://www.outtacyte.com/ or look for him in these forums.

I know Greg spent a lot of time and effort on this project and worked into the wee early hours to install the database and get it all working - I just wanted to post something here to say "thanks" to Greg and let eveyone know who they should contact if they have any web projects that they need help with.

[Fabien]

Hi, I also use Greg'services to do a conversion of my Discus board to phpBB and I want to say how enthusiastic and grateful I am about his job, his involvement and his competency as a PHP programmer and a specialist in database design.

My board was small, but rather complex because I used almost all the features of Discus and there was a lot of internal links between the forum pages... and the result is awesome! If someone want to know more, he can contact me by email or directly Greg at OuttaCyTE Web (http://www.outtacyte.com/)

Cheers, Fabien