Re-Import attachments into media library after migrating

  • I am in the process of moving a site from WordPress.com to a self hosted WordPress site. But I’m having trouble exporting from WordPress.com and then importing the posts and image attachments afterwards.

    My problem is that even if I check the box to Download and Import Attachments, I get a lot of media already exists or failed error messages, and not every image makes it over. I have about 1000 images, and only get about half of them after importing.

    So I’ve given up on using the importer to download and import attachments. Instead I’ve used DownThemAll to download all of the images, then uploaded them to the new server, maintaining the correct directory structure. I also made sure to update the exported XML file to the new URL paths. And now my dilemma is how do I get all of these images back into the Media library.

    Essentially I’ve already done the job of downloading the image attachments that the importer would do. Now I just want them to show up in the media library, and if possible, attached to the correct posts.

    Is there any way to do this? Or is there a way to have the importer skip downloading the images, and simply attach them, or something like that?

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 48 total)

  • Same problem here for me… Exact same…
    Did you find a fix or a work around ?

    Uggh, me too. I’d either like to find a way to fix the various errors on importing the WordPress.com file, or as you say, relink the separately uploaded files.

    On various forums I’ve been told that “your problem is not possible” because it’s all the exact same WP 3.4.2 on WP.com and everywhere else. Obviously it’s not true that it’s not possible! ??

    One strange wrinkle, the same export .xml that has these issues on various hosts like Media Temple or BlueHost… that file Imports flawlessly to WP Engine, or back into WP.com. In theory it’s all the same v0.6 WP importer, but it sure seems like something about the WP.com / WP Engine flavors is a little different.

    I’ve been working with people at www.ads-software.com to help them built a better posterous importer into a wordpress hosted site.
    On my side of things, I’d say we are done.
    All pictures, videos and audio and pdf files I had, (over 1500) all import full res into my new wordpress site.

    My new site is up and running just about the way I want it.
    There’s just a hickup with pictures which got rotated in posterous during the original posting so you have to go in wordpress and rotate over 50% of your pictures. I’ve realized that it depends on which camera was used to take the pictures. With an iphone, you have to rotate, with my canon, I don’t have to.
    But the dev told me there’s no way around this. It’s posterous’s fault.

    I hope they will release it soon. It works great and it works every time.
    I must have reset and re imported my site at least 50 times.
    I’m also finishing to put a tutorial on what to do to have your new wordpress site look like your posterous one.

    Keep the faith… ??

    haha… then again maybe this won’t help you if you are importing from wordpress.com. sorry…

    haha, thanks Chezpaul… sadly… probably not.

    Any idea if the coming WP 3.5 will change anything on the Import experience?

    Or will it be the same v0.6 importer that functions the same?

    Other problems I’ve encountered: the “import media checkbox” doesn’t, as far as I can tell, do anything. If it’s a FULL Export > Import, then it will try to import media whether you check the box or not… and if it’s a partial: like posts or authors or dates, then it will not try to import media, whether you check the box or not.

    Anyway, like you I’ve exported / imported 50 times now. Yes it’s frustrating, demoralizing and all that, but the worst is that it’s killed my confidence to set a site up for anyone or even to recommend that they use WordPress at all.

    For sure I’m just a “fake webmaster” and I imagine a “real webmaster” would have a lot more knowledge and tools to “make it work one way or another.”

    At this point it’s taken so long it’s beginning to seem like just manually fixing 700 posts might actually be “easier.”

    I still have really no idea what the “bug” or “glitch” or “grain of sand” that’s nicked our database and generated so much trouble doing a “simple” WP.com to WP.org export / import.

    Anyway, it IS awesome that you’ve gotten Posterous to import better! ??

    Oh and by the way… Once imported, wordpress is soooooo slooooooow.
    If I could import into Joomla, I would but there isn’t even an option for that.
    I wish posterous people would have created an export function for the millions of people who MADE THEM.

    Anyway. Stuck with worpress now. Better than posterous at this point.
    I hope the .org people talk to the .com people at wordpress and get the importer together.

    Good luck

    I thought the .org peeps WERE the .com peeps!? Isn’t AutoMATTic, like, the lead developer on most stuff?

    That’s very possible. But it seems like the code is different wether for .com or for .org. What do I know ? ??

    But I was dealing with someone from AutoMattic.

    Chezpaul,

    Did you write your tutorial for importing Posterous to self-hosted www.ads-software.com? I also have a Posterous blog, but after reading about issues with the www.ads-software.com plugin, I took the steps of importing my Posterous posts to WordPress.com, then exporting to self-hosted WordPress.

    Only one blog post, out of almost 300, included images. None of the other images were imported for my posts. I received numerous fail error messages on the import of the media.

    I do have a tutorial ready to go more or less but it won’t do any good unless you guys have the correct new import plugins. I have no clue when those are coming out.

    @chezpaul: Thanks for the info. Do you know who’s working on the new import plugins? Is there any info you can share on ETA on when the new import plugins will be released? Any advice you can share would be great. Thanks again!

    I was working with Daryl from Automattic.
    As for the release of the plugin, that’s out of my control of course.
    I thought it would be right away but he said it would take several months.
    But I’ve been done with helping test it for a while now and my site is up and running with a full import from posterous. (over 4000 images and films.)

    @chezpaul: What do you recommend as the best way to reach Daryl? Does he have a beta version available for testing?

    Well, a little googling (very little) and I found his site @ wordpress
    https://profiles.www.ads-software.com/koopersmith

    I’m guessing that is him.

    But on the other hand, it seems like he just left Worpress 2 days ago of all things!
    Ha !

    https://shoptalkshow.com/episodes/050-with-daryl-koopersmith/

    @chezpaul – Thanks for the update. I sent a tweet to Daryl, asking if he knew who will be continuing the work on the plugin. #fingerscrossed

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 48 total)
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