Documentation
2.2. Upgrading from any board software to phpBB3
In order to allow administrators of phpBB2 boards to use phpBB3 and all of its features. There is a convertor packed with the default installation. The conversion framework is flexible and allows you to convert other bulletin board systems as well. Read more if you need help with converting your board to phpBB3
Note
The convertor will not harm the database of the board software you are converting from. In case of a problem, your old board software will still be fully operational.
2.2.1. Requirements
In order for the the conversion to be smooth as possible, check and prepare these items. You will need them to perform a succesful conversion.
An installation of phpBB3 has to be present on your server. See Section 1.1, “Requirements” for more information on how to install phpBB3.
Prepare the connection details to the database where the old board was stored. If you are unsure, you can find these details in the config file.
Make sure the old forum is still installed on your server alongside the phpBB3 installations. The files of the old board should be kept as is, some of them will be transferred to phpBB3 (e.g. avatars, attachments, smilies or ranks).
The files and database need to be on the same server as the phpBB3 installation and the files need to be in the same domain. If you are using subdomains, the files need to be in the same subdomain.
2.2.2. Preliminary steps
phpBB3 needs to be installed. Once phpBB3 is installed, do not delete the install directory if you will be converting immediately. If you will be testing and setting up your phpBB3 board prior to the conversion and converting at a later time, rename the install directory to something like _install. This will allow you to use your phpBB3 board. You will be needing the install directory later for the conversion.
You will need specific convertor files for the board software you are converting from. The phpBB2 specific convertor files are included with the phpBB3 installation files. For other board softwares, you will need to get the convertor files from the appropriate phpBB3 convertor topic. These topics can be found in the [3.0.x] Convertors forum on phpBB.com
For converting from phpBB2, you only need to point your browser to {phpBB3_root_directory}/install/index.php, click the Convert tab and follow the instructions. For other board softwares, you will need to upload the convertor files to the appropriate directories. The convertor files you get will consist of two or three files, convert_xxx.php, functions_xxx.php and, optionally, auth_xxx.php. The xxx will generally be the name of the software you are converting from.
2.2.3. Conversion steps
Install phpBB3. The old message board and the phpBB3 board need to be installed on the same server.
f you are converting from a board other than phpBB2, upload the convertor files which you downloaded from the appropriate topic in the [3.0.x] Convertors forum.
Point your browser to {phpbb_root_directory}/install/index.php, click the Convert tab and select the appropriate convertor from the list of available convertors.
Next you will be asked for database information. The database information you are being asked for, is for the database that holds the tables for the board software you are converting from. You will be presented with an option for Refresh page to continue conversion The default is set to Yes. Normally, you will want to leave it at Yes. The No option is mainly for test purposes.
After entering the database information and pressing the Begin conversion button, the convertor will verify that you have entered the correct information. If the information is confirmed, you will have another Begin Conversion button.
After you click the Begin Conversion button, the convertor will check the convertor files. If everything is okay, you will be presented with a Continue Conversion button.
The convertor will now proceed to convert your old board. Pages will be displayed informing you about the progress of the conversion.
When the convertor is finished, you will see a message that the Search Index has not been converted. You must go into the Administration Control Panel and build the Search Index. In the ACP, click the Maintenance tab and select Search Index from the submenu. The default search backend index is Fulltext native and will be marked active. This is normally the index that you want to use to create your search index. For more information about search indexing, see Section 3.9.3, “Search Indexing”
You should now check your phpBB3 board for proper operation, that permissions are set correctly and forums & posts are displaying correctly. Also make sure files got copied from the old location, for example avatars and smilies and attachments (if you have them.)