Import from vB forces me to change email addresses

[raytrails]

I don't understand why I'm getting this error message when doing a test import from a vBulletin 3.8 forum:

Following users conflicted with existing users' names or email addresses

Merging is out of the question, since many users are registered several times with the same email address. I can't just move every single duplicate to another email address.

If XenForo forces everyone to register with unique email addresses, this would be a huge show-stopper for my planned conversion.

What to do?

 

[Paul B]

There is nothing you can do other than to merge or change email addresses.

XenForo does not permit the same name or email address to be used for more than one user, so you will be required to confirm what to do in the case of any affected users. The options available are to merge them or rename and change the email address.

http://xenforo.com/help/importing/

 

[raytrails]

Ouch

 

[raytrails]

There should be an extra box available for cross-checking during the transfer that says "Allow duplicate email addresses".

 

[Paul B]

It's not a bug, it's as designed.
Login via email address is possible in XenForo, so obviously it's not possible to have 2 identical email addresses for different accounts.

http://xenforo.com/community/threads/as-designed-user-import-problem-duplicate-email-addresses.5603/

 

[dutchbb]

If the list is not too big you can contact the affected members and ask them to use a unique address for each of their accounts. But why allow multiple accounts for the same person anyway?

 

[raytrails]

The list is big, at least 100 members long. I have to reconsider this.

 

[Jake Bunce]

What about letting the importer automatically merge the duplicates? The merged users can still use their email to login. They can contact you directly if they wish to change the username they end up with after the merge.

 

[raytrails]

The numbers are even higher, I see now that over 400 members have more than one account at the forum (we opened up for that to get more activity in the beginning). As it is now I just have to merge them and hope it goes well, and as Jake says I'll have to tell them to contact me if they want any changes to their username.

 

[James]

Consider using ragtek's quick account switch add-on: http://ragtek.org/xenforo/threads/ragtek-quick-account-switch.70/

 

[raytrails]

Thanks, James. Found many interesting add-ons there.

 

[lazer]

Silly question but if this is set in vB ACP

...you won't have any problems with duplicate email addresses, right?

 

[Paul B]

Assuming that has been set from the start, then no, you won't have any problems.

 

[Carlos]

There should be an extra box available for cross-checking during the transfer that says "Allow duplicate email addresses".

I agree.

 

[Paul B]

As I posted above, XenForo allows login via user name or email address so it's impossible to have 2 different accounts with the same email address.

 

[raytrails]

As I posted above, XenForo allows login via user name or email address so it's impossible to have 2 different accounts with the same email address.

I'd say reconsider that, and go for username-only login.

 

[Ingenious]

I'd say reconsider that, and go for username-only login.

I think this is a "you can't please everyone" moment There are compelling reasons for both systems and XenForo has gone with unique email addresses.