Upgrading from existing “Ning” Pages and Discussions modules

With the new release today of the new Profile Groups modules, 2 of the modules have changed their directory and datastore names, so after you install the new versions of the modules, you will need to perform the following steps to “move” your existing Ning pages and discussions module data so the new modules will see it:

1) First, make sure all 3 of the new modules are installed or updated from your Marketplace (Group Support, Group Pages and Group Discussions)

2) Go into the ACP and go to the “info” tab for each of these modules make sure the Module URL and Module Category are set to the following:

- for Group Support:
- module url: group
- module category: profile groups

- for Group Pages:
- module url: group_pages
- module category: profile groups

- for Group Discussions:
- module url: group_discuss
- module category: profile groups

Make sure the module is ACTIVE and save.

3) Make sure you have the Developer Tools module installed (it should be in your ACP -> Tools section). If not, install it from the Marketplace and activate it.

4) Go to the ACP -> Tools -> Developer Tools -> “Tools” tab and click on the “Database Admin” tool

5) Click on the “SQL Command” link in the upper left

6) In the SQL Comment text area enter the following entries ONE AT A TIME. After EACH ENTRY press the “Execute” button. After it runs, REPLACE the text in the text area with the next command.

- DROP TABLE jr_jrgroupdiscuss_item;
- DROP TABLE jr_jrgroupdiscuss_item_key;
- RENAME TABLE jr_jrningdiscuss_item TO jr_jrgroupdiscuss_item;
- RENAME TABLE jr_jrningdiscuss_item_key TO jr_jrgroupdiscuss_item_key;

- DROP TABLE jr_jrgrouppage_item;
- DROP TABLE jr_jrgrouppage_item_key;
- RENAME TABLE jr_jrningpage_item TO jr_jrgrouppage_item;
- RENAME TABLE jr_jrningpage_item_key TO jr_jrgrouppage_item_key;

- DELETE FROM jr_jrcore_form WHERE module = 'jrGroup';

Basically what we are doing here is renaming the “old” datastore tables (which are the tables Jamroom uses for each module’s data) to the new ones so your data will show up in the new module. We have to first DELETE the new table though, or we can’t rename the old one to the new one.

Once finished you can close the Database Admin browser window - you’re all done.

If this is too complicated contact me at support [at] jamroom [dot] net and I can take care of this for you.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks!


--
Brian Johnson
Founder and Lead Developer - Jamroom
https://www.jamroom.net
updated by @brian: 07/09/16 09:21:02AM

Hi,
Once we change to his new Groups modules, and after following the instructions above successfully, are we supposed to delete our original Ning Pages and Ning Discussions modules? Right now under my "Ning Support" area, I see that Ning Discussions is still there in the list of what I have, but Ning Pages seems to be now greyed out and missing its icon. Is this as it should be before I get the new Groups modules update?


Will my normal Ning Forums content remained in my Ning Discussions module for now when I do this groups update? -On my Ning network, about half the discussions are in our site Forums section, and the other half of our discussions are within our various Groups.
I read where you say this:
"- There are no Discussions or Pages OUTSIDE of a group. If you need discussions outside a group you want to use the standard Jamroom “page” module or the “profile forum” module."
--- so is the Profile Forum module what's needed for our big Ning Forums section/feature, which has various sub-categories and is a huge and important area in itself? Or is the existing Ning Discussions module I have in my Ning Bundle supposed to handle the main Forums on our network? (not the forums withing groups.

Thanks for any clarification.

P.S. feel free to answer this if you have time tomorrow, no big rush.


--
...just another satisfied Jamroom customer.
Migrated from Ning to Jamroom June 2015
updated by @strumelia: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

Yes - go into "info" and disable them first (if they are active) then check the "delete module" option and save.


No - the Ning Discussions module has been replaced, and the new "Groups Discussion" module only supports discussions INSIDE a profile group. Outside of a profile group you will need to use the Profile Forum instead - it is much more robust and supports actual "forum" features.

I will communicate with Paul as we may need to have you re-run the import for your discussions so it can properly put those discussions that are "outside" of a group into the forum. Hold for now until I conform that with Paul.

Let me know if that helps.

Thanks!


--
Brian Johnson
Founder and Lead Developer - Jamroom
https://www.jamroom.net
updated by @brian: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

OK, thanks, this is important stuff and will apply to just about any ning customer who migrates here I will wait til you discuss it with Paul.

I don't see "Profile Forum" listed amongst my currently installed modules.

I imagine all of us ningers will need that module if we have a Forums feature in our Nings (aside from the discussions we all have inside our various Groups). The vast majority of all ning networks currently DO have a strong working Forum feature containing categories and discussions threads within those categories. Here is mine:
http://mountaindulcimer.ning.com/forum
Note that these are not forums or discussions that are within Groups. Our Group forums are separate. I know it may seem redundant, but it's quite useful- some members hesitate joining any Groups and need to get their feet wet in the general site areas at first. It's also great and useful to have general forums that address issues related to ALL members, as opposed to only those in a particular focused-subject Group. Again it relates to the "we/social community" concept.
I know these seemingly complex structures are not what JR people are used to, and we all SO MUCH appreciate your team working so hard to accommodate us 'needy' Ning people. And I'm thinking the end result is going to be spectacular- far better than Ning.


--
...just another satisfied Jamroom customer.
Migrated from Ning to Jamroom June 2015
updated by @strumelia: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

That's actually how things are already setup:

- The Profile Forum is NOT part of "groups" so that should be identical to your existing forum (it supports forum categories, etc.)

- The "Group Discussions" module is ONLY for groups - it's not going to be a general profile level feature - it's a feature "inside" groups.

So we should be all set - the only thing we need to change is how things are imported.

Hope this helps!


--
Brian Johnson
Founder and Lead Developer - Jamroom
https://www.jamroom.net
updated by @brian: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

It certainly does help! Thank you for explaining. The differences in TERMINOLGY (what things are called) between Ning and JR features and structure has caused much additional confusion for me, and I'm sure will for others as well. I'm trying hard though, and am catching on slooowly.


--
...just another satisfied Jamroom customer.
Migrated from Ning to Jamroom June 2015
updated by @strumelia: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

Hi Brian,

Love the new groups. If I can figure out how to get rid of the left column that would be even better (and also with forums).

I saw something in the last bunch of updates, as if there is a setting now for skins that support it, having to do with removing the left column. Where would that setting be?

=================

You said Nova runs on Ajax and is different from other skins. So now I don't know how much of what is being written in the forums applies only to Ninja.

Also, I'm confused about the custom work Paul has going on with my network. Where does that fit in with these new developments?


--

Ken Rich
indiegospel.net

updated by @ken-rich: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

This requires an update to your skin - it's supported "out of the box" right now on Elastic, NingJa and Lucid. Paul should be able to fix your site for you when he gets a chance, as I am not sure what he has setup on your site.


If Paul has done custom things for your site, then you or him will need to maintain those customizations. The Ningja skin is our "official" skin for Ning migrations, and will receive support, update and customizations suited for Ning sites moving to Jamroom - if you can you might think about basing your design off of it.

Hope this helps!


--
Brian Johnson
Founder and Lead Developer - Jamroom
https://www.jamroom.net
updated by @brian: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

ok i did the upgrade havent delerted the modules yet but im a lil confused
i see the groups
now on the front page i see discussions is no longer empty and i click see all and i get alotta discussions with no categories anymore? no organization/
i know profile forums can have categories
im just confused
the discussions i see on the front page are in a group/ what group/ or is it all of them where the main forums discussions go are they in a profile forms now


--
soaringeagle
head dreadhead at dreadlocks site
glider pilot student and member/volunteer coordinator with freedoms wings international soaring for people with disabilities
updated by @soaringeagle: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

1st group name i clicked said..not found 2nd worked...


--
soaringeagle
head dreadhead at dreadlocks site
glider pilot student and member/volunteer coordinator with freedoms wings international soaring for people with disabilities
updated by @soaringeagle: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

I guess this depends. If you are using the latest NingJa skin, then the discussions on the index are the latest public discussions across all groups on your site. If you're doing something custom however, then I'm not sure. Note that the NEW group discussions and group pages modules, the discussions and pages are ['b] always[/b] part of a group - if you need discussions and pages OUTSIDE a group (on a profile) they need to be part of the profile forum or the Jamroom pages module.

Hope this helps!


--
Brian Johnson
Founder and Lead Developer - Jamroom
https://www.jamroom.net
updated by @brian: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

whered all my main forums go and the categories and i have a ton of broken links and forums with no replies ,,


--
soaringeagle
head dreadhead at dreadlocks site
glider pilot student and member/volunteer coordinator with freedoms wings international soaring for people with disabilities
updated by @soaringeagle: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

I believe I already answered here:

https://www.jamroom.net/ning-to-jamroom/forum/questions-about-jamroom/16957/yikes-multiple-problems#last

Thanks!


--
Brian Johnson
Founder and Lead Developer - Jamroom
https://www.jamroom.net
updated by @brian: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

Not too confident is doing this.
I think I will email you for further help.
updated by @isleander: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

Emailed support for help on this but had no reply. Can you confirm if you have received my request? Thank you.
updated by @isleander: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

I replied to your email, you must have not received it?

We'll need your site URL, admin login and FTP access. If you can email us that info we can get you fixed up.

Thanks!


--

Douglas Hackney
Jamroom Team - Designer/Developer/Support
FAQ-Docs-Help Videos
updated by @douglas: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

OK, I'll send them on... via the same email address.
updated by @isleander: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

We got the URL to your site in the email, but there was no admin login info or FTP info.

Try sending it to douglas[at]jamroom[dot]net.


--

Douglas Hackney
Jamroom Team - Designer/Developer/Support
FAQ-Docs-Help Videos
updated by @douglas: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

OK I did send the login and password.. I assumed you could use the tools to upgrade via Admin account.

I have now sent you my FTP login.

updated by @isleander: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM