Problem importing ning-discussions.JSON

I know your post is a month old but did you have any luck with this? I’m about to embark on the same sort of migration. Thanks in advance!

Hi Brian,
Unfortunately, I am still in the process! A programming friend is helping me with changing some of the code to try and get it to work. I will let you know if we have success. I think I will create a detailed article on the move (on NING) when it is complete as this whole process has been a nightmare and I am sure there are many others who feel ‘stuck’.

Good luck with your migration. It could be the number of discussions I am trying to import that has caused a problem so you may be one of the lucky ones and have a smooth import ??

Thanks for the reply! Very sorry to hear its been such a nightmare. Still haven’t gotten back to the project on my end yet. I did purchase WPMU’s NING import plugin but I think that’s just for members data. Does the free Import from Ning plugin attempt to import discussions? In terms of the number of discussions I think there’s around 4,000 in my project.

You’re welcome.
Yeah, I think that the WPMU’s version is just for member’s data. The Import from Ning plugin has allowed me to import members, groups, and pages (I believe it does import blogs and discussions/comments – I just have hit an issue on this, but I think(hope) it can be fixed to continue the import). It does not import the photos and videos so I am searching for best alternative for that.

The advice that I was given, was to BACKUP EVERYTHING and then give it a go. You may find you are lucky and it imports ok – I have 10,000+ of discussions (I am guessing it includes member’s comments as discussions as well?)

Thanks again! So I have a test install all set up but I can’t for the life of me find where I initiate the import. I’m running WP Multisite—could that be the issue? I seem to be unable to follow the final step (“Visit the plugin panel at Dashboard > BuddyPress > Import From Ning”). Is there a direct URL I can use? Feelin’ dumb like I just can’t find it or something.

Just did a test on a non-multisite install and it looks like maybe multisite isn’t supported?Looks like the URL I was asking about is /wp-admin/tools.php?page=import-from-ning/bp-functions.php and when I tried that on multisite I got the “You do not have sufficient permissions to access this page.” error page.

Ran into a couple of errors. Biggest issue right now is the important one: getting the forum posts imported (~4,000). Right now I just see 320 items in activity and I think that’s members posting updates right? Not forum threads?

It looks like you’ve either disabled group forums, or you haven’t set them up correctly. If you don’t plan to use forums, click Continue. Otherwise, ensure that your forum setup is complete, and then return to this page.

Fatal error: Class ‘TribeEvents’ not found in /Applications/AMPPS/www/test-childbirthcollective/wp-content/plugins/import-from-ning/bp-functions.php on line 1067

Any ideas?

Ugh! Sorry for all the posts in a row! I think I got discussions mixed up with forums. No way to get forums into WordPress or BuddyPress right? RTFM

No worries, I know exactly how you feel! That is the error I received also when importing discussions. I am not a programmer so wouldn’t know where to start but I have seeked more professional help and hopefully they can assist and finish the import. I will then find out what was causing the error.

A couple of tips:
-Multisite is not supported. Do the porting in a fresh installation and later try to use wordpress ex- and import.
-check your json discussion files for braces errors. I found that there is one ]-brace too much in the end of the file when I tried to check it with a JSON editor (it could not read the file either but after deleting one of the braces) It usually should be in file end something like …]]) That double one is too much.

This brought me at least to the point that categories get imported as group forums – as documented on the plugin.
Hope you will get further…
Regards,
Benny

Hey westyalf,

Have you been following this thread? Looks like there’s all kinds of new things to try.

https://www.ads-software.com/support/topic/anyone-supporting-this-plugin-help-w-discussions?replies=8

And meant to say big thanks to bschaich for all the help! Hoping to try the forum importing again today and I’ll report back.

Thank you for the tips bschaich really appreciate it!

Thank you for the link to the new thread Brian! This is very helpful and nice to know that someone has managed to get it working and there is hope for us!!

I hope your new forum import went well? Speak to you soon.

No problem! Any luck on your end? I got to the point where I just tried to get it into phpBB so they can at least still reference all the Ning forum posts but I can’t even get that to frickin’ work either!! I’m about to throw an inanimate object out the window.