Imported a test run - now need a clean start

[Joshua]

I'm importing a site from vB4.x and I did one successful test run. I have customized settings, perfected the URL redirects, and tailored the xenForo style to match the old vB site. I had the testbed running on mysite.com/xenforo with the existing forum on mysite.com/forum
I have two questions: 1) should my new xF install be rooted at mysite.com/ OR mysite.com/forum? and 2) how can I cleanly remove all existing posts/threads/users/user data and do a final import that will include all data that was added to the vB site between the testbed import and now?

Thanks in advance! This process has been so much easier than I had ever anticipated. I'm stoked to show off xF to my community!

 

[Jake Bunce]

You should import into a new installation of XF. Use your test forum as a point of reference in manually applying any custom development to the final import, as opposed to building onto your test forum and taking it live. There is no easy way to deal with the duplicate content if you import again into the same forum.

With that said, it has been done:

http://xenforo.com/community/threads/import-question-second-import-over-old-one.16663/#post-311819

But it's a dirty thing to do and may cause problems later.

 

[Joshua]

Thanks for the input Jake. I want to make this as painless as possible so I will be going with a fresh install...

I suppose I will be installing xF to the same /forum/ subdirectory that vB was in...

Any ideas on RewriteRules for vB4 redirects? I posted the following in the discussion thread for the vB4 Redirection Scripts but got no reply...

I followed all directions here and on the import archive page and I am still having trouble with vb4.x redirects. My site was using Basic Rewrites in vB... any tips?

edit: it appears to be the redirects that are causing the problems... The following works for me:

Options +FollowSymlinks
RewriteEngine on
RewriteOptions MaxRedirects=10
 
Redirect 301 /forum/showthread.php http://www.mysite.com/xenforo/showthread.php
Redirect 301 /forum/forumdisplay.php http://www.mysite.com/xenforo/forumdisplay.php

The recommended rules do not work for me:

RewriteRule ^/forum/showthread.php /xenforo/showthread.php
RewriteRule ^/forum/forumdisplay.php /xenforo/forumdisplay.php

Is there any issue with using what I have above?

 

[Jake Bunce]

Any ideas on RewriteRules for vB4 redirects? I posted the following in the discussion thread for the vB4 Redirection Scripts but got no reply...

With the "basic" friendly URLs in vB4 I would upload these scripts (which are included in the vB4 redirect package):

http://xenforo.com/community/threads/redirection-scripts-for-vbulletin-3-x.5030/

These scripts would be uploaded with the XF files, replacing the vB files in the /forum directory. Then you need to add some rewrite rules to the XF .htaccess file to map the old URLs to the redirect scripts. For example, vB threads with basic URLs use this format:

showthread.php?1234-Thread-Title

So you need this rewriterule:

RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (^|\?)([0-9]+)-([a-zA-Z0-9_\-]+)
RewriteRule showthread\.php /forum/showthread.php?t=%2 [R=301,L]

Or even easier than that... if you select the option to preserve the source ids during the import then you don't need the redirect scripts. You can just use straight rewrite rules:

RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (^|\?)([0-9]+)-([a-zA-Z0-9_\-]+)
RewriteRule showthread\.php /forum/threads/%2/? [R=301,L]

That should work for you. Threads are the most important thing to redirect. I can help with this if you have trouble.

 

[Digital Doctor]

My friend's old vB3 was converted to xenforo.
The vB3 links are being forwarded to www.site.com , NOT site.com ... this is causing some issues.
how can the redirect go directly to site.com ?

 

[Jake Bunce]

My friend's old vB3 was converted to xenforo.
The vB3 links are being forwarded to www.site.com , NOT site.com ... this is causing some issues.
how can the redirect go directly to site.com ?

I would do like #2 in this post:

http://xenforo.com/community/threads/keep-logging-out-of-xf-with-chrome.22968/#post-286837

That will force no "www".

Also make sure your board URL has no "www":

Admin CP -> Home -> Options -> Basic Board Information -> Board URL

 

[Digital Doctor]

I would do like #2 in this post:
http://xenforo.com/community/threads/keep-logging-out-of-xf-with-chrome.22968/#post-286837
That will force no "www".

I have that on the plans already.

But, with a board with no www. is there a way to get the redirects to go to no www. ?
Seems like I am redirecting a redirect.

 

[Jake Bunce]

But, with a board with no www. is there a way to get the redirects to go to no www. ?
Seems like I am redirecting a redirect.

If you are using these scripts:

http://xenforo.com/community/threads/redirection-scripts-for-vbulletin-3-x.5030/

Then they should obey the Board URL setting.