Converting from Gossamer Threads Links 2.0?

[spidersilk]

Does anyone know if there's an easy way to import data from Gossamer Threads Links 2.0? I was using that script for several years, but it eventually crashed on me and doesn't seem to be recoverable. The data files still appear to be intact, though. Is there any way to import them into PHP Link Directory?

[ibold]

I don't think there is an easy way to do it right now.
You would have to edit much of the SQL I'm guessing, or do (lots) of submissions by hand..if your directory is a few years old this might not be so fun.

[VSDan]

You cannot import the data directly. You just need to write a script to import the data. You may have to run the script from the command line if the database is large to avoid timing out from browser. I can write a import script, for a small fee. Get back to me if you are interested. BTW, are the categories synchronized? For example, same categories and subcategories in phpLD and Links databases?

[spidersilk]

Well, since finding out there wasn't a quick and easy way, I've been muddling through it on my own. I have the categories about ready to import now, so that should set up the structure; then I just need to to the links.

What I've done so far was to open the data files up in a text editor, turn the pipes (|) into tabs with global find-and-replace, and then open them up in Excel so that I can get the data sorted out and make all the fields match up with what PHPLD's database structure uses. It was pretty straightforward with the categories, but the links will probably take a little longer. Once I've got it all sorted in Excel, I can export it back to a tab-delimited file and import it into MySQL, or so goes my theory.

I am also writing up all the steps involved so that assuming I complete this successfully, I can post it in the Wiki for anyone else who may need to know how.

[Bob]

hehe, that sounds like fun :)

Hope it works though ;)

[spidersilk]

Just finished the categories, and that part worked like a charm, and wasn't too much of a headache to do. They're all showing up nicely in my directory now.

Tomorrow, the links. That will take longer, because all the category names Links uses have to be replaced with their ID numbers instead. I have over 150 categories. Must find a way to automate that part...

[Bob]

If your going to use Find and Replace for that then be careful.

ex. If you have a catgory name called "forum" and you need to change it to say id number "43" then don't do it automatically as you'll replace any link names that contain "forum" as well ;)

You should still be able to use find and replace but do it manually instead of automatically ;)

[spidersilk]

Yes -- one of the reasons why I decided to do the editing and cleanup in Excel is that you can select a specific column and do a find and replace within that selection, so as not to hit anything you don't want.

[wehost4u]

We too, need to convert/import links from linksSQL to phpld - how much would you charge to do ours? (There's just over 900 links/many categories in LinksSQL)

:)
Thanks!

[spidersilk]

My usual hourly rate is $60, and converting my own directory took me somewhere between 4 and 6 hours. Mine was the standard Links, not SQL, but having the links in an SQL database to start with might make it easier.

Basically you'd probably be looking at somewhere between $200 and $300 - possibly a bit less if it goes really smoothly. Let me know if you're interested.


Lynna

[wehost4u]

Hi, thanks for the quick answer. I think we'd better start from scratch!

Thanks anyway :)

[spidersilk]

Well, that's up to you - but if you want to have a go at doing it yourself, I didn't actually find it all that hard, just a bit tedious. It's really just a matter of looking at the database structgure for each of them and figuring out which fields in Links correspond with which in PHPLD. The main part that was tedious was converting the category names in Links to the category numbers in PHPLD. But even that might be different in the SQL version of Links...

[wehost4u]

I'm just now looking at both db's - looks like a daunting chore...but hopefully, with Excel, it should be ok - just alot of time.

We acquired the other directory - and we use strictly phplinksdirectory on our sites - but the info in the other directory is good - SO...

Here goes... :-D

[spidersilk]

Good luck. Let me know if you have any questions.

I should really finish writing up the little tutorial on it that I was working on a while back...