While working on the Axosoft Community Site, one of my tasks was to convert the existing Instant Forum Users and Posts to Community Server.  I was lucky enough to have been able to use the DotText-CS-Converter by Kevin Harder to convert the .Text V0.95 Blog site, but was lacking a tool to do the same for our Instant Forum V3.04 database.

With the lack of a tool, I took a few days and wrote one. I learned quite a bit about the Community Server SDK while working on this tool, and I felt that it would only be fair to provide the tool back to the CS community. I also wanted to take the chance to thank Keyvan Nayyeri, for his CS Dev Guide Series, which proved to be an absolutely invaluable resource to me while developing the Axosoft Community Site, as well as Kevin Harder for his work on the DotText-CS-Converter which inspired this tool.

SO .... without further delays ...

The Instant Forum V3.04 to Community Server 2.1 Converter

 The tool is fairly simple, you launch it, fill in the required Database Connection Information, allow the application to Save the settings to the App.config and restart itself, and then just goto the "Convert" tab and click "Start". The entire process is automated, however, it is highly recommended that you test this functionality prior to attempting a Production Server Conversion -- this tool was only tested using the Axosoft Forum Backup (Instant Forum V3.04) against a fresh copy of Community Server V2.1.

 And, for some screenshots, cause we all love screenshots ...

 Here is the Startup screen, along with the Readme.txt in the background ...

 

Here is the second config screen, where you enter your Community Server database information:  

The "Saving your Config" popup, after you click OK, the Application writes to App.config and Restarts itself ...

After the application restarts, you should be brought back to the second config tab, and your CString field should
be a properly formed ADO.NET Connection String pointing to your Community Server and Instant Forum databases.
 

 Here's the Convert! tab, where all the fun begins ... just Click Start and turn on your favorite
movie or something (conversion time is dependent on User/Post count)
 

To download the tool, along with source, Click Here!

This is an unsupported tool and by downloading and using this tool you accept all responsibilities and risks involved in using this tool.  It is highly recommended that you perform database backups and 'test runs' prior to attempting to run this tool in a production environment. Although Axosoft has given me the opportunity to spend the time to clean this tool up for general usage, Axosoft is not responsible for its contents nor has it been reviewed by anyone at Axosoft in any official capacity.