[Nick Ottens]

Is there any simple way yet to convert an existing punBB forum (I’m running version 1.2.16) into bbPress yet? I tried the bbConverter plugin which says their punBB converter is “not complete”. I tried it anyway, but it simply didn’t do anything.

Also found this topic: http://bbpress.org/forums/topic/punbb-bbpress/

But I don’t know how to “run” the script. If it would work at all, it’s five years old.

Your advice?

[knsheely]

There is a converter that now comes packaged with bbPress. You can run the converter by visiting Tools->Forums. There is no punBB converter included, but you can modify the Example.php converter based on punBB’s database structure. The converters are located in includes/admin/converter. The converter basically is a way to specify how the fields need to be mapped.

Unfortunately the Example.php seems to be missing a few key fields, so it would be good to look at the bbPress1.php converter for an idea of all of the necessary fields (ie. the topic post_content field has no field mapped to it in Example.php).

[Nick Ottens]

Thanks for your reply, knsheely. Problem is, I don’t know what changes I’d have to make to the example file to make it work with punBB. (If I did, I’d have done that, of course.)

[Stephen Edgar]

I’m actually half way through making an importer for PunBB.

I’ll post a link to it here in the next few days, I have forums and topics importing fine but getting the SQL right for the replies has been killing me.

[Stephen Edgar]

All the details for the PunBB Importer are in the following thread:

PunBB Import to bbPress

[roblunte]

I guess this is where I need to be… the PunBB misfits…

Hello,

I am pleased to be here. I am the owner of about 16 WP web sites, that support three different businesses. One of the businesses is a network for singers, that I am preparing to refurbish into a proper membership / paid access service. Here is the link:

http://www.TheModernVocalistWorld.com

In this large network for singers, there currently is a very successful message board / forum that is hosted with PunBB. Here is the link:

http://www.TheModernVocalistForum.com

This is my hottest asset and the first to become monetized. I have learned that PunBB migrates successfully to bbpress. Can you please confirm this is still the case?

If, can you help me with the following questions:

– What are the best links or information I can pass onto my WP consultant to make this migration from PunBB to bbpress successful? Any additional tips or things to look out for?

– What plug-ins would you then recommend to make the the forum and other pieces of content on my network paid access? I was considering S2Membership… is that recommended or do you have other solutions?

– My other option is to possibly migrate everything over to the new cool, http://www.newrainmaker.com platform. The affiliate program, one point of registration, alleged claim to be less IT hassles, and other features seem very appealing! Do you bbpress experts agree that a migration to http://www.newrainmaker.com is a good idea? Any concerns or things to know before doing so?

– Is there a difference between migrating my PunBB forum to bbpress if I use it in an existing WP site or if I were to continue my migration to http://www.newrainmaker.com? (FYI… the rain maker guys advised that I move PunBB to bbpress).

– Does anyone here at bbpress specialize or have experience in this migration from PunBB to bbpress and if so, what would your fee be?