A while ago my vBulletin 3.8.11 database was imported into a test board, powered by Xenforo 2.3.3.
I am in the process now of starting to test-drive this import and I was wondering which areas are important to test, so that one can be sure the import was successfully done?
I’ve already asked ChatGPT (posting #2) and Gemini (posting #3), but I thought it would be good to ask for advice in this community too, since there must be enough experienced webmasters overhere who have gone through the same proces. (Because, let’s face it, who wouldn’t want to migrate from vBulletin to XenForo? ).
If you have any testplan or tips to share, it would be helpful.
Prompt
“I have imported a vBulletin 3.8.11 database into the latest Xenforo. Now I want to test if the import went well. What areas of the forum can you advice me to test, so I can be sure the import was successfully done?”
ChatGPT
Got it, Grover! When you’re testing a XenForo import from a vBulletin 3.8.11 database, you want to make sure that all core data migrated correctly and the forum functions properly. Here’s a detailed checklist broken down into categories:
1. User Accounts
Usernames & Display Names: Check if usernames appear correctly, including special characters.
Reputation or Likes: Confirm that likes/reputation points from vBulletin posts were imported and appear correctly.
User Totals: Ensure totals per user are accurate.
7. Attachments & Media
Images / Files: Make sure attachments are downloadable or viewable.
Image Thumbnails: Confirm thumbnails work correctly.
8. Forums Functionality
Search: Test forum search for threads, posts, and users.
Profile Pages: Ensure user profiles display all info (bio, signature, etc.).
Notifications / Alerts: Check if alerts and notifications are working.
Forum Breadcrumbs & Links: Confirm navigation works and URLs are correct.
9. Additional Items
Moderation Logs: Check imported logs if applicable.
Custom User Fields: Verify any custom profile fields.
BBCode & Smilies: Make sure BBCode renders correctly and emoticons show.
SEO / URLs: Optional, but check if friendly URLs migrated correctly.
Tip: Start by spot-checking a few users and threads, then test forums with heavy activity (lots of posts, attachments, polls) to catch potential edge cases.
Prompt
“I have imported a vBulletin 3.8.11 database into the latest Xenforo. Now I want to test if the import went well. What areas of the forum can you advice me to test, so I can be sure the import was successfully done?”
Gemini
Migrating a forum is a complex process, and even with a successful import, there are many details to verify. Here's a comprehensive checklist of areas to test to ensure your vBulletin 3.8.11 database was successfully imported into XenForo.
1. User Data and Accounts
User Count: Compare the total number of users in your vBulletin database to the number of users in XenForo. The counts should be very close, if not identical.
User Profiles:
Log in as a few different users (including admins, moderators, and regular users).
Check their display names, avatars, and signatures.
Verify that custom profile fields (if you had any) have been imported correctly.
Ensure their post and thread counts are accurate.
Permissions:
Check that user group permissions have been mapped correctly. An admin in vBulletin should be an admin in XenForo. A moderator should be a moderator.
Test specific permissions for different user groups, such as the ability to post in certain forums, edit their own posts, or start new threads.
Private Messages: Check a few user accounts to ensure their private messages have been imported and are readable.
2. Forum Structure and Content
Forum Hierarchy:
Verify that the forum and sub-forum structure is intact and appears correctly in XenForo.
Check the names and descriptions of your forums.
Thread and Post Count:
Compare the number of threads and posts in your vBulletin database to the number in XenForo.
Do a spot-check on several forums to ensure the thread and post counts on the front end are accurate.
Threads and Posts:
Go to various threads and check that the posts are in the correct order.
Ensure the post content is intact, including text formatting, quotes, and links.
Check that the correct user is associated with each post and that the post times are accurate.
Pay close attention to older posts. Sometimes, very old or obscure formatting can cause issues.
Attachments and Images:
Check posts that contain file attachments (like PDFs, ZIP files, etc.). Try to download them to ensure they are accessible and not corrupted.
Check posts with inline images and user-uploaded attachments to make sure they are displaying correctly.
Smilies/Emoticons: Verify that your vBulletin smilies have been imported and are usable in the XenForo editor. XenForo's importer for vBulletin can generate a smiley XML file that you then import manually. Make sure this step was completed.
Polls: If you had polls in vBulletin, check a few to see if they were successfully migrated. Test to see if you can vote and view the results.
3. Moderation and Administration
Moderation Logs: Check if moderation actions (such as edited posts, deleted threads, etc.) from vBulletin have been imported into the XenForo moderation logs.
Moderator Tools: Log in as a moderator and test the tools they use most often, such as editing posts, deleting threads, or moving threads between forums.
User Ban List: Verify that banned users from vBulletin have been imported and are still unable to access the forum.
Custom BB Codes: Check if any custom BB codes you created in vBulletin have been imported and are functioning as expected. This is a common area for migration issues, so you'll want to test them thoroughly.
4. Search and Redirection
Search Functionality:
Run a few searches for users, threads, and posts.
Test both simple and advanced searches.
Ensure the results are relevant and accurate.
URL Redirections:This is one of the most critical steps, as it prevents loss of SEO and broken links from external sites.
Install the "XenForo redirects for vBulletin" add-on.
Verify that old vBulletin URLs (e.g., showthread.php?t=123) correctly redirect to the corresponding new XenForo URL.
Check for redirects for different content types (threads, posts, user profiles, forums).
5. General Functionality
Email System:
Test user registration and password recovery emails to ensure they are being sent and received correctly.
RSS Feeds:
If you had RSS feeds in vBulletin, check if they have been migrated or if you need to set up new ones in XenForo.
Error Logs:
After your tests, check the XenForo Admin Control Panel's error log for any migration-related errors. This can help you pinpoint issues that may not be immediately obvious on the front end.
By working through this list, you can be confident that the vast majority of your data has made the journey successfully from vBulletin to XenForo.
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Tip: Start by spot-checking a few users and threads, then test forums with heavy activity (lots of posts, attachments, polls) to catch potential edge cases.
