Which is the best forum software to use to make the transfer to vBulletin the easiest? I really don't feel like buying a vBulletin license right now for my site, so I'd rather build up a community first using a free script, and then transfer to vB when it takes off. Any recommendations?
The best alternative to vBulletin would be phpBB. MyBB may have more features, but the support for phpBB is unreal. There are always lots of people on the forums that will help you quickly. The modding and skinning community for phpBB is definitely larger than that of SMF and MyBB, and I find SMF downright ugly. Regardless, vBulletin would be the best option, but if you aren't willing to pay yet I would go with phpBB.
Guys the question was asking what software transfers to vBulletin the best. Like starting with phpBB then moving etc. I don't know the answer sorry, however I am hoping its phpBB, as I need to move from that to vBulletin.
If you're planning to transfer, don't implement a bunch of hacks to your forum. vB has a nice importer for the major alternatives. But I doubt it imports custom fields added to the db.
Well the major problem which occurs when transferring from SMF is that SMF uses a great password encryption and it cannot be transferred. So users must reset their password. Apart from this, I find SMF more easy to use and eazy on eyes. You can add some good features too which will attract the people till the time you are comfortable in moving to vBulletin. And oh! customising phpBB was a difficult task for me when I tried it, but it gives good results! ~KMKM
The VB import system is fantastic...so fantastic that any of the major forum systems are very simple to transfer over...i'm not really sure one is better to use than another one just for this purpose... Why don't just just spend the 160 bucks to get an owed license...it will never expire to run your board on...and you won't have to worry about upgrading to something else after you get your community started...which would be even harder if you've modified your current setup....(specially if what you currently have hacked isn't available as a vb hack...which sad to say happens sometimes...)
phpBB transfers pretty good, but most of them do. vBulletin's importer is fantastic, like Stax_Daniel mentioned.
Thats good then. I need to transfer a free hosted phpBB forum to a aid vBulletin forum I am creating. Do people do this for a job, so I could pay someone to transfer for me?
You could post in the B/T/S forum...or you could send me a PM ...i've been running vb forums for over 3 years...and I do this kinda stuff (as well as custom designs)...
What is the logic behind not using vbulletin to start with? I am working on a second vbulletin forum for myself right now. If you *know* you are going to migrate to vbulletin later, why not save yourself some troubles and start with vbulletin to begin with? -Raymond
Because it isn't a necessity right now. I feel that money could be put to better use, such as advertising the forum, getting members, etc. and getting the site active before considering spending on a vBulletin license. But sure, if you have the money and you want to go all out with vBulletin and also have money for advertising and all that jazz, then why not? But personally, I like to start out small and take everything slowly.
Bear in mind that changing later will negate some of your efforts to build and promote. The link structure will change. Your old URLs may no longer be valid. And of course, your members will have to adapt to the nuances of a new forum. Different ways of doing different things, a new layout etc. I bought my first licence leased, and then bought it outright. I would suggest you do the same. The best way to get your board off on the right foot is to buy professional forum software from the get-go.
I'm an SMF user, but for this one I recommend MyBB. The look and feel of MyBB is close to vB. And I also believe it uses the same linking structure as vB does.
MyBB is being developed to become a complelty free version of vBulletin basically, it as a bit to go yet. However if they did get there, would vBulletin go out of business?