I Need help with Latin to UTF conversion

[dared]

Turkish has got some specialchars and after default acp's utf conversion module forum becomes useless (there is no normal char after those specialchars in any text) (Tikitiki said your host is not good enough for conversion module) so i tried something different, i opened db backup with notepad++ and changed latin1 to utf8 than change those specialchars with utf's opposites.

Now forum looks fine but says

Quote:The specified thread does not exist.

for most of threads (for demo: http://www.forumsuzca.com/index.php , http://www.forumsuzca.com/showthread.php?tid=15921 .

So how can i get those threads back (couse they are still in database) or i've still got my latin database, can someone convert it for me?

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i also tried ALTER TABLE `mybb_adminlog` CONVERT TO CHARACTER SET utf8 COLLATE utf8_general_ci; query to conver from phpmyadmin but it gives charset error with special chars.. any idea?

[NoRules]

Just wait few days because I'm working on a PHP conversor from ISO (latin) to UTF8 (and free of course).

I'm testing it on my localhost with a conversión from an ISO (latin) Database of an Spanish forum to an UTF one

If it works fine, you'll have to upload ISO (latin) database and run my script (and it'll work - hope so)

[dared]

(12-05-2008 12:26 PM)NoRules Wrote:  Just wait few days because I'm working on a PHP conversor from ISO (latin) to UTF8 (and free of course).

I'm testing it on my localhost with a conversión from an ISO (latin) Database of an Spanish forum to an UTF one

If it works fine, you'll have to upload ISO (latin) database and run my script (and it'll work - hope so)

really? oh thx. i hope it will work. (i can pay for it. it doesn't matter)

[EviLito]

Hey NoRules, I 'm eager to see you posting your script. I really need it

[dared]

i converted my database to utf finaly. but somebody should write a advanced converter for different regions. for exam: spain, turkey e.t.c

anyway, thx for replies

[EviLito]

(12-15-2008 05:36 PM)dared Wrote:  i converted my database to utf finaly

And how did you do that?

[dared]

manualy with notepad++:
first step: duplicate your curret database backup and ftp files (work with copy of them so you got an latest latin backup for extra secure)

second step: download and install notepad++ (its a free and powerful notepad software)

third step:open your database_backup.sql with notepad++

4th step: press ctrl+H (its shortcut of change) if your database is latin1 write "latin1" and change it with "utf8" (if latin5 you know what you gonna do )

5th step: go to format selection from top of program window (you know its with file, view etc.) and change format as utf without bom

6th step: search mybb_posts table for your special chars, they will look corrupt so press ctrl+h again and select HIGHER lowercase sensitive box than change your corrupt chars to right chars (when you change format to utf your keybord will write utf so you can change those chars)(you will know your corrupt chars are witch ones but i dont have enough knowlage for spanish (i am really sorry) )

7th step: when you finish to changing process to all your special chars you can save it (you can save it erlier too but i just remember to say ) then import your new database to forum (select phpmyadmin's charset collapse to utf8. change charset selection from ../inc/config.php to "utf8". in this step when you look at forum you can see charset problems again but do not worry those charset problems becouse those are from latin based language files, if you got an utf based spanish language pack use it. if you dont you can use also english language pack couse its utf based.

and one more thing, if you have still charset problems in bbname or somewhere like that just use acp to change settings to fix it. (you wrote your bbname with latin remember )

thats all. but i repeat: you dont have to, You must 2 or more backups for this process (ftp+sql database). do not risk it!

and feel free to ask for help anytime =)

regards

[EviLito]

Hey, thank you very much for posting the solution you found.

This will be useful to many (when we have no other choice, or automated scripts ;P). Really appreciated