Importing users to Buddypress with custom fields

by

Here’s the setup:

  • The client uses a proprietary
    custom-coded PHP CMS and is wanting
    to move to WordPress with BuddyPress.

  • The old, custom CMS has a roster
    functionality, which I’m using
    BuddyPress custom fields to replace.

  • The custom fields are basic contact
    info (Phone, Fax) and company info
    (Text field).

What is the best way to import these? It seems my two options are:

  1. Create a pretty large SQL query that
    reformats this data between
    databases (I’m about 3 hours into
    doing it this way so far)

  2. Export it into some sort of JSON
    format and use the Ning importer.

If the best option is using the Ning importer, know where I can get an example Ning user list CSV so I may format the user data accordingly? If the best option is using a big MySQL query, what are some things I should look at in terms of row values WordPress expects?

Many thanks!

1 Answer
1

I ended up writing a bunch of MySQL statements. My process went:

  1. Add users into wp_users.
  2. Add first name into wp_usermeta.
  3. Add last name into wp_usermeta.
  4. Add nickname into wp_usermeta.
  5. Add last activity into wp_usermeta. (This is important for BuddyPress; otherwise, users won’t show up in the members-loop)
  6. Add name to BuddyPress.
  7. Add custom “phone” field to BP.
  8. Add custom “fax” field to BP.
  9. Add custom “company” field to BP.

If anybody doing something similar comes across this question and would like the SQL I used, feel free to message me. After half a dozen people requested the SQL code I have, I’ve written a blog post that includes the full SQL I used, plus a basic importer script. See: http://aendrew.com/content/importing-proprietary-user-database-buddypress-boss

Leave a Comment