Upgrading or Fresh Install; Migration Problem

[hristov@iocc.com]

I have a PhotoPost 4.5 installation that is stand alone (it does not use any forum). The goal of this project is to have gallery with PhotoPost 4.8c integrated with existing UBB Threads. I have several questions regarding this migration. Just as a notice the server is running RH9 and I have full control over the server, databases, and anything else.

1. Should I upgrade or start with fresh install.
2. If I start with fresh install, can I export the database of the old PP4.5 and import it in PP4.8c. I understand that PP 4.8c will somehow use the UBB Threads user table, but can I copy the rest of the database.
3. I need to somehow merge the current UBB Threads usertable with the PP 4.5 user table. Is there some easy way. Is there a way for users with the same username in both table to retain their pictures. What would be the easiest way to do this. Any tips, ideas ????
4. Is this still valid and safe to use with PP4.8c
UbbThreads and Photopost Total Integration Version 4

Going from a standalone to integrated is a pain.

There are several threads here laying out the details of what all needs to happen.

The simpliest way, is to start fresh. No pictures in the database. Then, as the admin you can reupload your visitors images once they have registered an account on the forums.

[hristov@iocc.com]

Originally Posted by donb

There are several threads here laying out the details of what all needs to happen.

I was looking for such threads. Can you point me to some.

What about this ? UbbThreads and Photopost Total Integration Version 4 Is it still valid with version 4.8c

[hristov@iocc.com]

What I need is a outline of what files needs to be changed. What database tables needs to be changed and how.

users table
photos table

and renaming every single image you have uploaded.

Image names have the user's ID prefixed to them, so if John who was user #34 is now user #66 in the forums, you'll have to find every image of his, and change the name of the photos from 34myImage.jpg to 66myImage.jpg and then update the associated photos table record to reflect the new ID as well.

Hence my suggestion above, "The simpliest way, is to start fresh."

[Chuck S]

That modification is not needed. Photopost 4.8 includes ubbthreads style integration

[hristov@iocc.com]

What I plan to do is to install FRESH INTEGRATED installation of PP in separate directory.
1 .Then I guess I need to populate the ubb threads user table with the entries from the existing PP user table ( I may have to alter user_ids and similar).

1.1 If username from the forum matches a username from PP, the accounts would be merged.
1.2 usernames that do not have a match in the forum table, would have a new forum account created for them. (Q: in UBB.Threads what table get affected when one creates an account? I know the user table gets a new entry, but does any other table? )

2 .Then I can extract the data from the remaining PP tables and import them into the new installation of PP.

2.1 I will have to change the config table and put the appropriate paths
2.2 Change the photos table with the new user_id
2.3 Rename the photos from the `data` directory with the proper new user_ids

Am I missing anything

[hristov@iocc.com]

Originally Posted by omegatron

That modification is not needed. Photopost 4.8 includes ubbthreads style integration

I am not talking about styles. I have an existing forum, and existing PhotoPost installations. I need to integrate them togher and very importantly don't loose any post or any pictures.

[hristov@iocc.com]

Originally Posted by donb

"The simpliest way, is to start fresh."

I don't have the option for fresh start. I can install fresh copy but I need to get the data in there somehow. As I said earlier I must not loose any posts from the forum not any pics from the PhotoPost. On top of that I have to combine the users from both applications, somehow ?!?

[hristov@iocc.com]

Somebody needs to sit down and write a How-To or FAQ or something on what needs to be changed to get an existing installation integrated in a forum. What tables needs to be change and how, what files need to be changed and how?!? What data from PhotoPost needs to be imported into the Forum database? And so on and on. If I every get this working I will be glad to submit my notes for future reference.

[Chuck S]

ACTUALLY my personal opinion is something like this is way beyond the scope of the support of this software. We make no claims to be able to switch integrations.

I think Don has given you a general guideline to follow.

I will add the easiest thing to do is write an import script to import your Photopost user's into UBBThreads. You can electively choose to hand edit your users to the Threads usertable. You would then not need to do anything extra except write the Photopost user data over to Threads. Since the UBBThreads passwords are also md5 and you will be importing members as the same userif/username there is not a conversion other than switching the integration type afterward.

[hristov@iocc.com]

To be able to successfully merge both user tables ( PhotoPost & Ubb.Threads) and need to make sure that I don't have duplicate ids (in my case I have a bunch of them). To fix this problem I wrote this script that should be able to change PhotoPost user's userid. Would somebody on the Support Team read over my script and make sure that I am not forgetting anything. I spend many hours looking through the code. I would appreciate if somebody can give me 10 min of his time and verifies that everything is OK. I want to save me another 10 hours of fixing problems.

Content visible to verified customers only.

[Chuck S]

I personally dont have time to go through you code line by line and check it and as I stated I think this is way beyond the scope of any support issue.

What I would do if I were you is to make a duplicate ubbthreads and photopost internal install with duplicate databases. You can then run your scripts and see what happens. This way you do not effect your normal installs.

[hristov@iocc.com]

If you don't want to go through my code line by line, then don’t. I don't expect you to check the syntax of my code. All I want you to do is go over it and make sure that I am updating all tables that need to be updated to successfully change user’s id. This code is already on your web site. I am not the only one that has it. Many other people -- customers that pay regularly to support this software -- will look at this code and may want to use. Let's make sure that what the get from these forums would be useful, or at least harmless.

I have spent my money for this software and supporting its further development, I have spent many hours reading through the code and figuring everything out on my own. Now I came up with something, and just want to make sure that it is complete. Shouldn't I ask the developers? Yes I should. This is very specific question I have here. I don't want you to write any code. I don't want you to test any code. All I want you is to make sure that it updates all tables necessary, and renames the files as they should be. The code is not that long, and it is relatively easy to read. So please do me the favor and take 5 min and read over it.

It would take you longer to reply with some stupid message as the one above that would aggravate me even more.

Your code "looks" ok, but as Chuck suggested above, mirror your DB and installations, and test it. That way nothing happens to your live installations until it's checked out on the mirrored copies.

[hristov@iocc.com]

Here is the output of the script above

Content visible to verified customers only.

[Chuck S]

This is a support forum for customers who have issues with our software. This being unhacked unaltered software. I have no problem helping someone with an issue that may not necessarily be a support issue as long as they are polite. This is not a place to discuss hacks modifications or other code issues that is not regular photopost code. We always tell customers that if you integrate with a specific forum and switch then here are the steps of what you need to change. No big deal. Don already commented many posts up what needs to change. I have stated twice we do not discuss code modifications on this support forum. There is a reason why support people do not comment on code modifications or post them here and it is simple. Customers would then expect us to support such code.

Now the only thing I will say to you is the same that was said to you by Don in his second reply to you. This is what you need to do if you choose to do things the long way and not start over.

1. You need to update the photos table with the new userid's

2. You need to update the comments table with the new userid's

3. You need to rewrite every single image with the new userid's

[hristov@iocc.com]

@omegatron:
I am sorry if I was a bit rude. I spent many, many, many hours looking through the code and trying to figure out things. At the end of that day, I guess I was exausted and I was expecting something positive out of my work. As soon as I read you reply that looked like templated answer, I was little upset. I was looking for some positive critique, but instead I got a cold shower.

If I am posting to the wrong place, please let me know. I will be more than happy posting my question in the right forum. As far as I know this is the forum for post-install question. I am not aware of custom hacks forum.

omegatron please excuse any rudeness on my part, but I do believe that all this could have been avoided if you would have said:
"You would get better answers on your question in this .... forum!"
"Your code looks ok, it should work, but please make sure you back up your data"
"Make sure you check this ... table. You might of missed something there"

But anyway. I have not had a chance to test the code yet. As soon as I test it, I will post result here.

Originally Posted by omegatron

This is a support forum for customers who have issues with our software. This being unhacked unaltered software. I have no problem helping someone with an issue that may not necessarily be a support issue as long as they are polite. This is not a place to discuss hacks modifications or other code issues that is not regular photopost code. We always tell customers that if you integrate with a specific forum and switch then here are the steps of what you need to change. No big deal. Don already commented many posts up what needs to change. I have stated twice we do not discuss code modifications on this support forum. There is a reason why support people do not comment on code modifications or post them here and it is simple. Customers would then expect us to support such code.

Now the only thing I will say to you is the same that was said to you by Don in his second reply to you. This is what you need to do if you choose to do things the long way and not start over.

1. You need to update the photos table with the new userid's

2. You need to update the comments table with the new userid's

3. You need to rewrite every single image with the new userid's

[hristov@iocc.com]

What is the laston table used for? Does it need to be updated with the new userid? I guess it would not hart to have it updated ? But is it necessary? Would it be recreated?

[hristov@iocc.com]

How current is this.
http://www.threadsdev.com/forum/show.../o/all/fpart/1
He is talking about 4.1-4.5. I noticed quite a few changes in the DB since 4.5. Would this work with 4.8 or do I need to watch for anything?