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How to import just users from Redmine 0.8.3 to 1.1.x?

Added by Anonymous almost 13 years ago

I have an existing installation of Redmine 0.8.3 that has several dozens of users. I recently set up another instance of Redmine, but version 1.1.x. I need to import (copy) the users from 0.8.3 (and their settings and passwords) into the new Redmine.
How do I do it?
I tried the "direct way" - exporting from the DB to a file, then reimporting, and that failed.
I tried the "long way" - generating SQL from the users table and running it on the new Redmine DB, and that failed CATASTROPHICALLY. For some reason, the admin and anonymous logins were wiped out, leaving me no option but to reinstall the entire stack.
Is there an easy and elegant way?


Replies (8)

RE: How to import just users from Redmine 0.8.3 to 1.1.x? - Added by Felix Schäfer almost 13 years ago

This is not really something that's been provisioned for, but I think something like that should work:

  • Upgrade your 0.8.3 installation to the same version you want to copy your users to,
  • Load the default data to your new install and delete entries from the tables you will copy entries to,
  • Copy the groups_users, users and user_preferences tables, you might also need depending on your setup the auth_sources, custom_fields, custom_values, open_id_authentication_associations, open_id_authentication_nonces (not sure about all of those, you might copy over too much information, and so on).

I don't have tested this in any way, so it might break, make your computer explode or cripple your dog, and so on.

RE: How to import just users from Redmine 0.8.3 to 1.1.x? - Added by Anonymous almost 13 years ago

Thanks Felix, but I don't have the option of upgrading 0.8.3 just yet. The 0.8.3 system has been in production for a long, long time, and it would be to risky to upgrade it right now.

I guess I have no option but to force existing users of the old system to re-sign themselves up on the new system. So much for SSO.

RE: How to import just users from Redmine 0.8.3 to 1.1.x? - Added by Anonymous almost 13 years ago

On a related note, I wonder whether the creators of Redmine have considered that it might be used in corporate, production-level, environments. It's no longer a "toy" product, but a serious contender for project management at many organizations. Perhaps it's time to add in some enterprise-quality tools to it.

RE: How to import just users from Redmine 0.8.3 to 1.1.x? - Added by Felix Schäfer almost 13 years ago

Kunal Ashar wrote:

Thanks Felix, but I don't have the option of upgrading 0.8.3 just yet. The 0.8.3 system has been in production for a long, long time, and it would be to risky to upgrade it right now.

Well, you can just make a copy of the DB and of the installed codebase, change the config of the copied code-base to point to the copied DB and make your upgrade there. The important part of the upgrade is to upgrade the DB to the schema the newer versions expect, that's all.

RE: How to import just users from Redmine 0.8.3 to 1.1.x? - Added by Felix Schäfer almost 13 years ago

Kunal Ashar wrote:

On a related note, I wonder whether the creators of Redmine have considered that it might be used in corporate, production-level, environments. It's no longer a "toy" product, but a serious contender for project management at many organizations. Perhaps it's time to add in some enterprise-quality tools to it.

1. The creator, no plural, and our experience with him has led us to fork Redmine,
2. We do use it as a production system and not as a toy and have had great success with Redmine (and now the fork), but as with many open-source software, it comes free, but not without cost (in this case customization and maintenance),
3. "enterprise-quality" is such an overused buzz-word that I won't even get started on that, but if you have concrete ideas, feel free to either open tickets here or on ChiliProject (the fork) (or start a discussion in the forums there).

And last but not least, and this is a shameless plug, I work for the finnlabs, we specialize in ChiliProject customization and maintenance, depending on your requirements we might be able to help you. You could also contact any of the people on CommercialOfferings, the PlanIO guys for example are quite capable too.

RE: How to import just users from Redmine 0.8.3 to 1.1.x? - Added by Anonymous almost 13 years ago

One much needed feature is the ability to upgrade "seamlessly*. Most, if not all enterprise-grade products have that. No need to export databases, install on different machines first, re-import, etc.I know several startups that are using Redmine, but none of them have the bandwidth to go through a time-consuming, complicated and risky upgrade process.

RE: How to import just users from Redmine 0.8.3 to 1.1.x? - Added by Felix Schäfer almost 13 years ago

Kunal Ashar wrote:

No need to export databases, install on different machines first, re-import, etc.

I don't know where you've seen that all that is needed. I have regular backups, and my update strategy is more or less git pull, rake db:migrate, make sure the plugins are compatible with the version and git pull/svn up them as needed, and touch tmp/restart.txt for passenger to restart. I don't recall having had any problems with that on different (private, as in not work-related) installations on trunk as well as on stable.

I know several startups that are using Redmine, but none of them have the bandwidth to go through a time-consuming, complicated and risky upgrade process.

  1. I'll quote myself: "it comes free, but not without cost",
  2. I don't recall much complaining/error reports or whatnot about such things, the dev(s) can't "fix" things they don't know about,
  3. Feel free to submit a patch with a better process.

In the end: seeing what you've payed for Redmine, it seems you've still gotten a lot out of it, if you need "professional" and "enterprise" support, there are options available, if those don't work for you, no one's keeping you here (and I know this sounds harsher than I mean it, but I haven't found an appropriate translation yet, sorry).

RE: How to import just users from Redmine 0.8.3 to 1.1.x? - Added by Anonymous almost 13 years ago

Thanks Felix. I'd been on the fence, debating on whether to continue with Redmine or purchase an enterprise quality product; I've about 300 people dependent on it.

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