Stupid Forum Rebuild Question

[humble pie]

Does anyone know if its possible or the best way to rebuild a forum from nothing with only the (mysql) schema export, that is it, literally just the raw .sql file.

My brains telling me yes just import it in something like phpbb but this can't be right..

ta.

 

[Retired_Member42]

If the sql file contains the actual forum data and not just the structure then it's just a case of importing the .sql file, uploading the forum software files to your FTP space and changing the database config file to point to the database you uploaded the .sql into. Obviously you'll need to work out what forum software the .sql belongs to and you'll lose any customisation etc but it's certainly rebuildable.

 

[humble pie]

thanks for your help but there are no forum software files this is the big problem

All I have is a mysql schema dump. I'm thinking can I reverse engineer a mysql dump into any working forum of some sort.

If the sql file contains the actual forum data and not just the structure then it's just a case of importing the .sql file, uploading the forum software files to your FTP space and changing the database config file to point to the database you uploaded the .sql into. Obviously you'll need to work out what forum software the .sql belongs to and you'll lose any customisation etc but it's certainly rebuildable.

 

[Retired_Member42]

Do you know which software was used to power the forum before?

 

[humble pie]

Was vBulletin almost the very first version.

I know what your thinking get the latest and import the schema..? I thought of that but skeptical about punting 400 bucks to trying something that may not work.

 

[Retired_Member42]

Was vBulletin almost the very first version.

I know what your thinking get the latest and import the schema..? I thought of that but skeptical about punting 400 bucks to trying something that may not work.

Yeah, usually they allow for backwards compatibility and you'll be presented with a database upgrade option when you point the new files to it but going from a very early version to the current version you might run into problems.

Maybe someone here has a forum and they can swap out the config to point to your db to see if it'll upgrade? I know nothing about vBulletin so not sure if there are any trial versions etc

 

[Retired_Member42]

Or perhaps e-mail the schema to VB and ask if it can be upgraded on the promise of you shelling out for a license.

 

[ChrisMM]

AFAIK Vbulletin license permits a private/offline forum setup for dev reasons. If you could cajole someone with an active license.

It's been a few years since i had an active license mind. But i doubt thats changed.

The Pre-sales forum on vbulletin.com might be a good place to try aswell.

Or just google "vbulletin nulled" and have at it.

 

[spiderspider]

Could you not get mybb (free) installed on a server.

Then use the merge system:
http://www.mybb.com/download/merge-system/

to import the contents of the file.

It won't cost you anything, and if it fails, you've only lost an hour or so.

 

[Adam H]

Im assuming you're talking about a full database dump rather than just a schema.

If you've got a full database dump then yes its more than possible to rebuild the forum from it, some issues you may run into is when you upload the vbulletin files again you'll most likely get error city, most likely cause will be because it cant find any of the plugins previously installed.

You can disabled hooks from the config.php file and it should then allow you to sign up for a new account, then add the tools.php to then reset the administration rights. Once you have access the admincp you can find your user id and set it as Super Admin in the config file.

One thing to consider is if attachments, avatars etc were stored in the file system ( which i likely ), if they were then you obviously will not have them and as a result some threads could be disjointed.............but thats a small small issue if the database and userbase potentially willing to come through.

The other option is to buy xenforo, run a vbulletin import from the database and then just not import the attachment or any other physical file load.

 

[humble pie]

Thanks gents will try a few of these ideas today, will let you know how I get on!

 

[Skinner]

Be prepared to bash your head into some plaster walls and keep pushing through, none of these idea's will be easy, and you need to at least try and work through the errors if you give up at the first you'll get no where.

I would have looked at uploading the sql and importing it into an active database which either mysql cli or mysqladmin can access. This will give you information about the software running it, and tell you if you have the users, config, posts, etc tables or "complete database" and not just a "schema", a schema is merely the database structure.

With this, you can then experiment with importing and modifying etc.

 

[humble pie]

Just a quick heads up for anyone doing this.. I tried lots of different forum software and importers but the only solution that seemed to work was using the mybb & merge (thanks spiderspider )

Thanks for help all.

 

[spiderspider]

Just a quick heads up for anyone doing this.. I tried lots of different forum software and importers but the only solution that seemed to work was using the mybb & merge (thanks spiderspider )

Thanks for help all.

Excellent. Pleased to of been of help