Moving a thousands members CGI Forum to PHP format

DB is my concern

[henry0]

I co own a PC tech site with a forum that in its niche has been/is quite successful (PR 7) and thousands of users

Its script is CGI PERL, I was never involved in the site maintenance and the second owner might vanish in thin air
Without passing server info on admin – bad situation-
I know that I can back up all data
But I do not want to manage a PERL script and the PHP MySQL version is better and well updated

So the question is: Is it possible to transfer CGI PERL data in MySQL format?

Thanks

Regards
Henry

[moltar]

What is "CGI PERL data"?

Data is usually stored in some form on the hard disk. Most common ways are:

• Relay Database (mysql, oracle, etc...)
  
• Berkeley DB
  
• Flat file (plain text files)
  

I am not sure what your problem is?

[henry0]

OK I think I get it
I do not know anything about PERL
so if I read you loud and clear those data are possibly stored in a MySQL format
so if this the case I am in business

Am I correct to assume that Perl uses also MySQL
thanks

[coopster]

Perl in this context is much like PHP, it is the server-side scripting language. MySQL is a database used for creating, storing and manipulating data. Both Perl and PHP can interface with a MySQL (and many other) databases as well as "flat" files.

[henry0]

Thank you
I found that its DB is based on text delimited database

so I will be able to translate it in MYSQL

[coopster]

>>text delimited database

...are often referred to as "flat" files.

Ah! Database conversion, now the fun begins ;)

[DrDoc]

Important: the structure of flatfiles is usually way different than the relational database (say, MySQL and such) you would set up.

[henry0]

Well, sure I can use some guidance
I have done it from XL, CVS or even MS Access but now that I think about
I never did it from flat file

That will require some researches

I know that there are a few good tools on the market
But I am not sure about flat files conversion

It should be possible to write a PHP script that reads and copies each category then feed a var out of that category content and pass it to my MySQL DB

Problem will be the structure equivalency in between flat files and MySQL

You are telling me that the flat files built may be different
That indeed will be problematic

regards

Henry

Why do I ever inherit the easy one? :)

[rocknbil]

Not if you're lucky. :D

[coopster]

henry0, I think DrDoc is speculating on the whole relation/normalization of the data, or actual lack thereof. You will probably have to hit the whiteboard for awhile...

[moltar]

What is the name of your current forum script? What script would you like to use?

Usually it states at the bottom of the forum. Something like "Powered by .....".

Some forums have converters from one forum data to another.

[DrDoc]

coopster is right... I was talking about the difference in data structure.
That's always the biggest problem when switching from one db system to another.

Some serious planning and structuring is what you need first and foremost.
And, depending on the type of data... a flatfile system may very well be much more efficient than a relational database system.

[henry0]

Thank you all,

As per Moltar suggestion I found that if I purchase the correct version it will come with a converter

The reason why I need to change it is that if worst comes as I suspect I will have to jump in and add that forum to my daily "routine"
I am not a PERL person and if I need to maintain another site I rather do it with PHP scripts that I can modif or maintain.

To answer Dr Doc
Yes you are right (at least in many cases) but here it is different it wouldn't be an option for the forum is built upon PHP and MySQL

Again thank you for the info

However even if it comes with a converter
I need to (as per Coopster) review white boards and other means because at least I should know how to manually handle the DB conversion!

Regards

Henry