phpBB Anonymous (Guest) Usernames

[JJLenz]

How can I import from a phbBB forum that allowed anonymous (guest) posts and preserve the user names given by those guests for their posts?

[Steve Machol]

Well Impex will either do this or it won't. If not then your would need to modify the code. The only way to know for sure is to try it.

[JJLenz]

Well Impex will either do this or it won't. If not then your would need to modify the code. The only way to know for sure is to try it.

90,000 posts and that's all you have? You have no idea?

[Zachery]

Being rude to us isn't going to help. I dont see why it wouldn't preserve the usernames.

[Steve Machol]

90,000 posts and that's all you have? You have no idea?

Yes, I have an idea. My idea is that it won't work. Satified now?

[JJLenz]

I dont see why it wouldn't preserve the usernames.

So the names should be in the database somewhere?

Does vBulletin operate similarly - that when guests are permitted to post to a forum, they can enter any name they like? If so, are these name just stored in the 'post' table or are they stored elsewhere?

[Jerry]

ImpEx will attempt to use the username in phpBB2 if they are a guest poster, the userid will be set to 0 and they will be marked as a guest, though yes it is designed to use the guest username.

[JJLenz]

ImpEx will attempt to use the username in phpBB2 if they are a guest poster, the userid will be set to 0 and they will be marked as a guest, though yes it is designed to use the guest username.

Jerry,

Thank you. I think I eventually figured that by examining at the post table. Seems ImpEx imports the phpBB anonymous user, who has a poster_id of -1 and creates a user named 'Anonymous'. Wouldn't it be safe to take any phpBB posts with a poster_id of -1 and just set the userid to 0 upon importing into vBulletin.

What's the best method to make all the posts and threads from userid=2 to userid=0? It's easy enough to update the post table, but it looks like the userid is also recorded elsewhere, such as the thread.

Could I just delete the user with username 'Anonymous'? Looks like the posts retain the username from phpBB, even though it doesn't appear in the forum display.

[Jerry]

I remember switching on the userid when they were imported, though changing back to just importing them as is, I can't remember the exact issue, though I remember finding a reason and reverting to the way it is at the moment.

I'll sift through my notes.

Wouldn't it be safe to take any phpBB posts with a poster_id of -1 and just set the userid to 0 upon importing into vBulletin.

Most likely, though I'll have to double check and run the tests. The post module switches on the name for anon posts coming in.

What's the best method to make all the posts and threads from userid=2 to userid=0? It's easy enough to update the post table, but it looks like the userid is also recorded elsewhere, such as the thread.

That being moving the anon user to the Guest user ? You could delete the user via the admincp and leave the posts behind and they will be set to guest, yes.