Title: Transformation / Importing
Last modified: August 22, 2016

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# Transformation / Importing

 *  [Chad](https://wordpress.org/support/users/chadi/)
 * (@chadi)
 * [11 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/transformation-importing/)
 * Hey folks,
 * Been running a vBulletin 4 forum for 10 years now. Looking to migrate over to
   WP / BBPress. However, my forum is installed in root, ie. [http://www.domain.com](http://www.domain.com)
 * I have to install WP in a sub-directory for now such as [http://www.domain.com/blog](http://www.domain.com/blog)
   just to get it installed, vBulletin content imported and all set up and ready
   to go. My questions are:
 * 1. How do I safely and properly change the WP install location from /blog to 
   root /?
 * 2. Because of the 2 different platforms and obvious massive link changes, how
   do I avoid SEO mishaps and properly set up redirects for all old links at domain.
   com to domain.com (same domain, but after WP replaces the vBulletin)? I’m away
   of a bit of 301 in .htaccess but I’d rather ask here first to get the best answer.
 * We’re talking over 200k posts / 50k threads in the forums to redirect.
 * Side note: has anyone here imported from vBulletin without hiccups? I asked in
   the bbpress forums but it seems like a ghost town there to get an answer. I’m
   a little hesitant about using bbpress, but not fluent with these ‘bridge’ plugins
   available for 3rd party forums to connect with the WP database and vice versa.
   I even thought about using Discuss forum instead with a bridge if available.
 * My main concern though with using other party forum software with bridge is that
   if someone registers either manually or via social media sign-up in the WP side,
   it will automatically connect (or link) to the forum side and vice versa, with
   a bridge plugin installed.

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

 *  [leejosepho](https://wordpress.org/support/users/leejosepho/)
 * (@leejosepho)
 * [11 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/transformation-importing/#post-5603877)
 * > 1. How do I safely and properly change the WP install location from /blog to
   > root /?
 * I would leave things right where they are and instead just use this to simply
   redirect your domain to WP:
 *     ```
       ## source: https://my.bluehost.com/cgi/help/347#redirect
       # .htaccess main domain to subdirectory redirect
       # Do not change this line.
       RewriteEngine on
       # Change example.com to be your main domain.
       RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^(www.)?example.com$
       # Change 'subdirectory' to be the directory you will use for your main domain.
       RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !^/subdirectory/
       # Don't change the following two lines.
       RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
       RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
       # Change 'subdirectory' to be the directory you will use for your main domain.
       RewriteRule ^(.*)$ /subdirectory/$1
       # Change example.com to be your main domain again.
       # Change 'subdirectory' to be the directory you will use for your main domain
       # followed by / then the main file for your site, index.php, index.html, etc.
       RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^(www.)?example.com$
       # RewriteRule ^(/)?$ subdirectory/index.html [L]
       ## Use index.php for WordPress
       RewriteRule ^(/)?$ subdirectory/index.php [L]
       ## Visitors to your Web site will not be able to tell that your main domain is using a subdirectory...
       ```
   
 * Edit: I think you will also need to temporarily use either of these (wp-config.
   php or theme functions.php) to update your WordPress database so it will drop
   the sub-folder from the path:
 *     ```
       <?php
       /**
       * The base configurations of the WordPress.
       *
       * @package WordPress
       */
       /*-either-*/
       /** @ root/wp-config.php: /*toggle on/off*
       define('WP_HOME','http://domain.com');
       define('WP_SITEURL','http://domain.com');
       /*-or-*/
       /** @ root/wp-config.php: /*toggle on/off*
       define('WP_HOME','http://www.domain.com');
       define('WP_SITEURL','http://www.domain.com');
       /*-end-*/
       ```
   
 *     ```
       <?php
       /*-either-*/
       /* @ theme/functions.php /*toggle on/off*
       update_option('siteurl','http://domain.com');
       update_option('home','http://domain.com');
       /*-or-*/
       /* @ theme/functions.php /*toggle on/off*
       update_option('siteurl','http://www.domain.com');
       update_option('home','http://www.domain.com');
       /*-end-*/
       ```
   
 * > 2. Because of the 2 different platforms and obvious massive link changes, how
   > do I avoid SEO mishaps and properly set up redirects for all old links at domain.
   > com to domain.com (same domain, but after WP replaces the vBulletin)?
 * I do not think the above covers that, but I believe you can find that answer 
   here and then just add it to the above .htaccess:
    [http://www.internetmarketingninjas.com/blog/search-engine-optimization/301-redirects/](http://www.internetmarketingninjas.com/blog/search-engine-optimization/301-redirects/)
 *  Thread Starter [Chad](https://wordpress.org/support/users/chadi/)
 * (@chadi)
 * [11 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/transformation-importing/#post-5603926)
 * Thanks but I prefer to move the site to the root folder without the need to have
   a custom htaccess just for redircts, etc. It will cause problems down the road,
   especially various plugins like Yoast SEO, etc. Anyway, I like things kept organized
   and clean.
 *  [leejosepho](https://wordpress.org/support/users/leejosepho/)
 * (@leejosepho)
 * [11 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/transformation-importing/#post-5603939)
 * > custom htaccess just for redirects, etc. It will cause problems down the road,
   > especially various plugins like Yoast SEO, etc.
 * Nope, no trouble down the road at all. What I had mentioned would be something
   much different than a typical redirection. Rather, it simply tells your domain
   to skip to the next folder with nothing being changed anywhere and where WordPress
   is expecting it to arrive without any redirection needed even after it arrives.
   If you were dealing with an Add-On Domain, what I have mentioned is the very 
   same thing that would be done at cPanel to make it go directly to a destination
   folder without that folder ever being part of its path. But where certain hosts
   require that a Primary Domain be assigned to “root”, the above does for it what
   cPanel can do for an Add-On.
 * > Anyway, I like things kept organized and clean.
 * Understood, and I had first employed the above for that very same reason after
   adding an Add-On Domain and not wanting its folder inside “root” alongside all
   the folders and files for my primary installation. In your case, the above would
   make it possible for you to do anything you wish within your “root” folder with
   no possibility of any mixup or confusion with WordPress folders and files being
   there also. However, I am not trying to persuade, just wanting to be sure the
   above does not get misunderstood or mis-represented! 😉
 *  Thread Starter [Chad](https://wordpress.org/support/users/chadi/)
 * (@chadi)
 * [11 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/transformation-importing/#post-5603991)
 * Thanks for the clarification. I’d rather do it as clean and simplified as possible.
   Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure your method is fine but I just like things clean
   and cut.
 * Anyone try the official method, especially on 4.1?
 * [http://codex.wordpress.org/Giving_WordPress_Its_Own_Directory](http://codex.wordpress.org/Giving_WordPress_Its_Own_Directory)

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

The topic ‘Transformation / Importing’ is closed to new replies.

## Tags

 * [Import](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/import/)
 * [installation](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/installation/)
 * [vbulletin](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/vbulletin/)

 * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/)
 * 4 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [Chad](https://wordpress.org/support/users/chadi/)
 * Last activity: [11 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/transformation-importing/#post-5603991)
 * Status: not resolved

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