Converting from Ikonboard 2 to Ikonboard 3 ------------------------------------------ CONTENTS 1) Overview 2) Preparing for the upgrade 3) Installing Ikonboard 3 4) Using the tools in the tool box 5) Using the Admin CP to convert the data 6) Finishing up 7) Getting Support > OVERVIEW ................................................................. This text will assist you in upgrading from your current Ikonboard to the new Ikonboard 3. Please keep in mind that Ikonboard is still in BETA, this means that there are probably still bugs, and some features are not fully working. We are currently using an Ikonboard 3 BETA as our support board, so we know that there are no major issues. The convertor will NOT remove any of your Ikonboard 2 data - even if you install Ikonboard 3 in the same location. The Ikonboard 2 database is perfectly safe. It only reads from the Ikonboard 2 database, it never writes to it. > PREPARING FOR THE UPGRADE ................................................................. The converter program will only work on Ikonboard v2.1.8 and v2.1.9. If you are using an Ikonboard 'older' than that, please download Ikonboard 2.1.9 and upgrade now. Upgrading instructions are always packaged with the zip files. You'll need to decide where you are going to install your new ikonboard. The 'best' solution would be to install it in the same location as your current board. However, during the installation period, your visitors may experience error screens. We've included some re-direct scripts to direct traffic to a new location, so you may wish to install your Ikonboard 3 in a totally seperate location. > INSTALLING IKONBOARD 3 ................................................................. This zip package contains the needed files and help documents to get your Ikonboard 3 installed. Look in "DOCS\Install_Guide" for the instructions. Only proceed when your Ikonboard 3 is operational and you are logged into the admin center. > USING THE TOOLS IN THE TOOL BOX ................................................................. You'll notice three CGI scripts in the directory called "Tool_Box". These are designed to make it as easy as possible to redirect the traffic to your new location. Even if you have installed over your current installation, some of the Ikonboard 2 scripts are redundant and accessing them may produce errors for your members. With this in mind, you may wish to do the following. If you have installed your Ikonboard 3 in the same location as your Ikonboard 2, then ONLY edit and upload "topic.cgi" and "forums.cgi". If you have installed your Ikonboard 3 in a different location from your Ikonboard 2, then edit and upload all three scripts to your Ikonboard 2 location. Open each of the files up in a text editor and read the header for simple instructions on how to edit to suit your server. When you have completed the edit, simply save, and upload to your Ikonboard 2 location - remembering to CHMOD them to the required value for CGI scripts (usually 0755). > USING THE ADMIN CP TO CONVERT THE DATA ................................................................. When you are logged into your Ikonboard 3 Admin Center, Scroll to the bottom of the menu and click on "IB 2 Import" You'll then be taken to an options screen. "Where is your ikonboard 2?" - You'll need to enter the path to your current Ikonboard 2 installation. "Number of members to convert at a time" - If you have a lot of members, you may want to set this to about "200". This allows the script to take a break between batches and bypasses the server CGI process limit. "Number of topics to convert at a time" - Again, this will save your server from a large process "If an old iB2 member name matches an iB3 membername.." - If you already have an iB3 set up then you may want to keep your iB3 members, adjust accordingly. Adjust the member grouping to suit. We suggest that you put all Ikonboard 2 moderators in the standard members group - there is no need to create a new membergroup for them. Once you are happy that the data is correct, click on the "Proceed to the next step" button. You'll be informed of any errors at this stage. If you get any, use your browsers 'back' button and correct them. Before you can convert your posts, you'll need to convert your members. Click on the "Convert Members" link. Once the conversion is complete, you'll be taken back to that screen, but you'll notice a few more options and you'll be informed that the member conversion was a success. We recommend that you convert the category data next, then the forum data, then the moderators data before converting the posts. You'll be able to pick and choose with categories/forums and moderators to convert. Converting posts is straight forward. Simply choose an Ikonboard 2 source forum and an Ikonboard 3 destination forum. You'll be informed of the post/topic conversion success and you'll be directed back to the links page on completion. > FINISHING UP ................................................................. You'll need to rebuild the board statistics. Do this by clicking on the "Rebuild Board Stats" link (This is under the Maintenance heading). Next, you may want to set up the reading/posting and replying permissions on your forums and categories. By default - they are set to world readable and world writable. Do this by click on "Edit Forum" or "Edit Category". If you had any private forums, you'll need to reset them to. You can either use the member group permission masks, or enter a password to "protect" the forum. Finally, you might want to adjust the moderator permissions. The converter allows them full access to the moderation tools (as they did in Ikonboard 2). > GETTING SUPPORT ................................................................. The first stop for Ikonboard related help is our support board (http://forums.ikonboard.com). We are setting up a help channel on our IRC server. You may want to visit 'irc.ikonboard.com' on port number '6667' and join channel #support. Alternatively, you can email us on "support@ikonboard.com" - please note that it may take up top 48 hours to get a response during busy periods. << END OF FILE>> $ Matt - 30 August 2001, 2:16am