[Split] Upgrading/Updating and extensions

[Cubguy501]

I have done both methods for upgrading/updating. The Upgrade method seems so much simpler to me. Yes if you made changes to the core files they need to re redone. Make notes and keep a file on your computer with changed files and what you did to them. Thats gonna be my motto from here on out.

With the Extension system they have now Core changes should really be minimal. NOTHING like the 3.0.x days!

[WWu777]

Ok so if I do the recommended option and replace all the files, can't I use the files I download during the auto update process which merged the changes, to replace the edited files after the installation? I mean the download package from auto update where you download the merged files that were edited (like the ones that contained ad codes and other html codes) and then upload those so that I don't have to re-edit the files? You know what I mean? Like the overall_header file and the viewtopic_body file and the index_body file? Those are the files that you edit to put ad codes in the sidebars.

Also, what about the colors I changed in the prosilver theme? How do I change them again in 3.3 in the colours.css file under the theme folder? That was another edit I had too.

[WWu777]

Correction: Yes the auto update package I used SAID that the install is now complete, however the forum comes up as a blank screen with an 500 http error. So obviously something's wrong, even though the update package says it is complete. Let me see if my host can fix that first before I resort to replacing all the files like you said.

[WWu777]

Update:

I just got an email from Bluehost support because we were disconnected in chat. They gave me these error logs. Can anyone here figure out what it means or what to do to fix it?

Hello,

Thank you for contacting chat support.

Your last session got disconnected from your end might be due to network issue, but I have got few information from the cPanel error_log file.

[02-Apr-2020 20:21:03 UTC] PHP Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Call to undefined function ereg_replace() in /home/happier2/public_html/forum/random.php:20
Stack trace:
#0 /home/happier2/public_html/forum/cache/production/twig/4e/4eff52d52bb25e386ac9b470f173d5c15e536da1310cc69d5d48c4cee73a4647.php(525): require()
#1 /home/happier2/public_html/forum/vendor/twig/twig/src/Template.php(407): __TwigTemplate_7e61a50875c0c36c1670bbd2c479d921c2b669d9d9cfd3e4f335745b96d23261->doDisplay(Array, Array)
#2 /home/happier2/public_html/forum/vendor/twig/twig/src/Template.php(380): Twig\Template->displayWithErrorHandling(Array, Array)
#3 /home/happier2/public_html/forum/cache/production/twig/b2/b20a7e6bd1b56d287fc5cd15ba9964d98c6025f515fd111ee616b6701be6a69f.php(61): Twig\Template->display(Array)
#4 /home/happier2/public_html/forum/vendor/twig/twig/src/Template.php(407): __TwigTemplate_fcabc1057fb148b95a73539b95157d2c9a2c80c1ea6c6eae774add770a1b3f90->doDisplay(Array, Array)
#5 /home/happier2/public_html/forum/vendor/twig/twig/src/Template.php(380): Twig\Template->displayWi in /home/happier2/public_html/forum/random.php on line 20

These the error, this might help you,

As usual, If you have any issue please feel free to contact us, we are available 24x7.

Thank you,
Technical Support Team,
Bluehost.

[WWu777]

I have done both methods for upgrading/updating. The Upgrade method seems so much simpler to me. Yes if you made changes to the core files they need to re redone. Make notes and keep a file on your computer with changed files and what you did to them. Thats gonna be my motto from here on out.

With the Extension system they have now Core changes should really be minimal. NOTHING like the 3.0.x days!

What happened when you tried the auto update package for 3.3? Did it work? Did the update complete the process? If so, why did you have to resort to the replacement method? If not, then what went wrong?

[warmweer]

WWu777,

Notwithstanding (since the start of this topic: 20 January) the remarks made by HiFiKabin, Mick, david63, people with proven records (and although I don't have their resume, I do have experience with fixing borked updates and upgrades and I look at this objectively), you either don't read the advice or just don't want to follow it.

All the answers have been given, and your major concern was the time it would take you to redo and test the custom edits. Had you upgraded according to instructions, by now your custom edits could have been incorporated into your 3.3 version.
You actually started this topic more than 2 months ago, more than time enough to have done a mock upgrade or 2 on localhost with different php versions and tested every single custom edit and extension you want.

Seeing you've been a member here since 2007, may I ask who's been maintaining your board all these years? (BTW random.php in /forum isn't a default phpBB file )

Anyway, good luck with your board - I am not returning to this topic.

[david63]

[02-Apr-2020 20:21:03 UTC] PHP Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Call to undefined function ereg_replace() in /home/happier2/public_html/forum/random.php:20

There is no such file as random.php in a vanilla install of phpBB therefore I am guessing that this is something to do with your "edits" and that is the file that is causing you all the problems.

Had you done a test upgrade first you would have found this problem yourself.

[WWu777]

I have been maintaining it of course. But the forum is usually automated and runs on its own, that's the beauty of it, a self automated software program. Isn't that the dream and goal of these platforms? The thing is, I am hesitant to do these upgrades because so many things go wrong like this. It's tedious and stressful and delicate. One little thing messes up everything. It's kind of like chess, one wrong move messes up the whole game. Now I have a little extra time so I'm trying to do the upgrade now since I won't have time later.

Yes I know about the random.php file. I already deleted it but it still didn't fix the problem. It also has error messages about something in the vendor file under the twig folder too. There are multiple error messages. That file is a file that rotates ads in the forum.

Sigh. I guess I will have no choice but to do that file replacement method as you suggested. There seems to be no other choice now. So I'll have to get to it. Even though it will take a long time. But as the ancient Chinese proverb goes: "The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step". I hope that method will be trouble free.

[Lumpy Burgertushie]

why is it going to take a long time?
it is very simple and quick if you follow the instructions exactly.
the first one being, making a backup of the database and the files.

then use a ftp program and not your host control panel file manager.
with ftp you can upload or download all the files at one time with a select and drag and drop.
it may take a few minutes or more depending on your interent speed for the files to tranfer.

as for edits to style files, you will have the backup you made so you can redo them.
you really should create a child style that inherits from prosilver. that way when it is time to update/upgrade you only have to edit those few files you created for your style (maybe).


robert

[WWu777]

Good news folks!

I did the upgrade the way you all suggested and now it works finally! Whew. So relieved. You can see the all new version of my forum here:

http://www.happierabroad.com/forum/index.php

Now I just have to redo all the edits and color changes to the theme that I had before.

So 3.3 allows you to add html code for ads right? It's just a matter of knowing where to put them. Can I just put them in the same place as before? Most of the code in the templates are the same right?

Also, what's the easiest way to change the colors of the prosilver theme?

Try to understand folks, I wasn't trying to be stubborn or not listening before. I just wanted a good reason why the auto update package wouldn't work this time, especially since it's listed on the official download page as one method of upgrading the forum. I am a skeptic and I tend not to believe stuff without evidence, especially if it contradicts my experience. Hope you understand. I'm sure you all are the same way too.

Btw one more thing though. After the update was done, I still could not access the forum unless I went to my PHP manager and enabled this function:

System PHP-FPM Status: On

I thought PHP-FPM was optional. It should not be required to run phpbb 3.3 right? How come in my case, I cannot access the forum without turning it on? Any idea?

Thanks a lot for all your help.

[AlfredoRamos]

I thought PHP-FPM was optional. It should not be required to run phpbb 3.3 right? How come in my case, I cannot access the forum without turning it on? Any idea?

You need a PHP interpreter, and that's what PHP-FPM does

That's a server configuration, you could use libphp instead of PHP-FPM

[WWu777]

When I was on Filezilla, a common FTP client, the problem with it is that when I tried to delete even one folder, like the vendor folder for instance, it would take hours because there were thousands of files in there from many upgrades in the past being overwritten to it. So FTP clients seem to take forever to delete just one folder, when if I did it from File Manager in Cpanel, it would only take one second. Why the huge difference? Obviously the FTP clients are only good at uploading files, not deleting them. I thought using Filezilla to delete all the files in the forum would take many hours. Because it did with that one vendor folder. That's why I thought it would take forever. Plus the file edits being redone would take a long time too, and I'd have to remember everything I did, which would be a pain.

I hope these upgrades get easier in the future, and not this tedious. On the next upgrade I can use the auto update method right?

Thanks everyone.

Btw, how do I change the site logo in this new version? I can't just replace the site_logo.gif image like I did before it seems. Any idea?

[stevemaury]

Your File Manager has a Trashcan. It didn't delete the folder; it moved it. That is just a matter of one click disk write to tell the OS where the folder now resides.

[WWu777]

Your File Manager has a Trashcan. It didn't delete the folder; it moved it. That is just a matter of one click disk write to tell the OS where the folder now resides.

True but emptying the trashcan only took one second too.

Also, instead of moving the folder to the trashcan in File Manager, you can also click the box "Forget trashcan. Remove permanently." which will just delete it without moving to the trashcan, which also takes one second too.

In contrast File Zilla deletes each file one by one, so if it is deleting thousands of them, one at a time, it could take a very long time. Try it and you will see. The vendor folder alone takes hours to delete, especially if it's been overwritten with many upgrades.

[WWu777]

Update:

It looks like some of my extensions are not phpbb 3.3 compatible, and no updates are available. Does that mean I will have to jettison it or look for a new extension that does the same thing? Like this Ajax Shoutbox for instance.

https://www.phpbb.com/customise/db/exte ... x_shoutbox

It does not appear to be compatible with 3.3.

I also found this extension by David63 that checks whether extensions are 3.3 compatible and tries to fix them if not.

viewtopic.php?t=2528456

Will that fix all the extensions that aren't compatible? If so how do I run it?