Question

Hello, I try to update from 01-Dec-2001 to 01-Sep-2004. I have read TWikiUpgradeTo01Dec2001 and TWikiDocumentation#TWiki_Upgrade_Guide but there doesn't seem a manual to update to more than one version higher. Is there some documentation, or better, a script to update automatic from this very old version? Or how can I "convert"(?) the old content to a new TWiki? I really would aprecate it if it isn't much work to update (the standard/manual upgrade procedure seems to be a lot of work).

Environment

-- TWikiGuest - 29 Nov 2004

Answer

You could probably just do the upgrade in steps - from 01 Dec 2001 to 01 Feb 2003, and then the next one. The main hassle in upgrades is making sure that TWiki.cfg changes and any patches are merged in, and then in merging any TWikiPreferences changes, skins, plugins, and so on.

Since this is a big jump I would advise setting up a completely fresh installation alongside your current one (e.g. test/bin next to bin) and run everything in there, gradually porting your config and skins, and test-porting your .txt and RCS files. Once you are happy, you can then rename the test* hierarchy to the main hierarchy (keep the old one perhaps in the old/* hierarchy, read only or offline), and off you go.

TWiki code does take care to dynamically upgrade topics using old formats the first time you touch them so you should be OK. Some plugins may break with new versions but you don't seem to have many.

The auto upgrade should work better from a recent version e.g. Feb 2003, though I haven't tried it - do ask in UpgradeTWiki - Codev gets more traffic from developers.

Also, you must use the 02-Sep-2004 version to avoid the recent security hole - see TWikiSecurityAlerts.

-- RichardDonkin - 30 Nov 2004

You should be able to upgrade directly to the latest version. Familiarize yourself with the upgrade docs of the in-between versions, then interpolate / "read between the lines" to upgrade directly to the 02-Sep-2004 release. Pay attention to manual topic updates and new topics to copy to each web.

If needed you can download older versions from http://TWiki.org/release/ (login with your TWiki.org account)

-- PeterThoeny - 01 Dec 2004