Jcink Forum Hosting: Frequently Asked Database Questions (FAQ)

You will receive a database structure based on MySQL/MariaDB, in plain text format (*.sql file).

The short answer at this time is: no. It is not possible at this time for you to migrate your data her from another forum service or provider. You can email us at admin@jcink.com to put in a request for your interest in converting from other software.

The primary reason is that no converter for that host to Jcink Forum Hosting exists. Converters are only created based on demand. A larger part of this is because in some cases, a converter is impossible to create. Access to the database structure is required to make a converter; some providers refuse to give this to their users.

You can get a copy of your database, however you will have to speak to the technical support for the service you desire to transfer to. Jcink does not (and cannot) offer support for those services. Please note this is only regarding the database, you cannot transfer our forum software itself to another provider.

No.

Attempting to import a database made for one forum into another is known to cause issues. Data loss and fragmentation resulting in broken and irreparable links and generally is more trouble than it is worth. It is also policy to only allow a database taken from one board to be used on that same board.

No.

Much like attempting to import a database from one forum to another, modifying a database is known to cause problems if edited improperly. (Wrong values entered, values that exceed limits, etc…) which can compromise the integrity of not only the database of that forum, but of other user's forums too. So to ensure integrity of your data, usersa are not allowed to have any/all modified databases accepted.

Users cannot upload the database by themselves because enabling users to access to run database queries on their own is a security risk. Therefore, for the benefit of everyone using JFH, only we can upload a database.

No.

Attempting to merge databases isn't possible because:

1. the sheer amount of conflict resolution would take a long time and would be extremely difficult. (Since each database would have duplicate post ids. Depending on forum size, upwards of several thousand posts, each with different content and timestamps.)
2. links would be broken due to importing new posts and any conflict resolution.
3. it could cause errors in the database resulting in lost data for that forum (especially if the structures of the two databases are different) and possibly others on the service if this database were uploaded.

So database merges aren't done (even if you want to perform the merger yourself, it still wouldn't be uploaded due to the above listed reasons and these reasons.)