I am interested in rapidly importing large numbers of sections and categories to a new joomla site. I have not been able to find any way to do this in searching the joomla forums. I thought perhaps your component could be adapted to doing this, so I installed it into a small test site. I exported the content. My idea was to open the xml file in Excel to figure out the data structure. Modify it with my new sections and categories and import it into a new joomla install with your component. However, Excel 2002 cannot open the xml file and says it contains an error. Not sure what the problem is.

If you know of any way to use your component to do what I would like, I would be interested. I realize the best solution would be an application that would auto increment the IDs for the sections and categories, but I haven't been able to find one.

Hi Pastor Dan

What you have described is what the component does.
You need to install it on both the source and destination sites.
Compile the data you want to move by sections and static items.
Download the data and install it at the destination site via the site installer (as you would any other component).

You will then have the option of transferring the imported data into the destination site database by:

+ Single or multiple sections and all the content contained in it.

+Single or multiple categories and all the content contained in them.

+Single or multiple content items.

+Single or multiple static items.

You are also able to edit any imported content before transferring it into the destination site.

QUOTE:
If you know of any way to use your component to do what I would like, I would be interested. I realize the best solution would be an application that would auto increment the IDs for the sections and categories, but I haven't been able to find one.

As you transfer the new compiled content Export Content resets the item ID, Section ID's and category ID's fields.

QUOTE:
However, Excel 2002 cannot open the xml file and says it contains an error. Not sure what the problem is.

I might be missing what your trying to do if so please give me more details.

Steve,

As I understand it, your component is great at transferring content between two Joomla sites. What I want to do is to input data to set up new sections, categories and content from basically a static website. Now, I don't think that is what your component does. After posting on the Joomla forum, I have learned how to import spreadsheet data directly into the Joomla section, category and content tables, which has basically solved my problem. My topic on the Joomla forum is at http://forum.joomla.org/index.php/topic,134453.0.html. I will keep your component in mind for the times I need to transfer content between sites.

If I have read you correctly, the site you are exporting content from is not a Joomla site, meaning it is a static HTML site, correct?

If so, I believe there are programs on the Joomla Extensions site that may assist you in your efforts. Otherwise, if that does not help, I would suggest you begin by going to your new site and creating a basic content item with the basic "parameters" and "meta data" you wish to have for the content you will be importing. You may also want to have some sample text in such fields as the "Intro Text" and "Main Text." This would be a few descriptive words that will later assist you to identify the fields. Once you do that, assuming you have the Export Component, export the content item.

Then, open that file up in either Macromedia Dreamweaver or Notepad. Copy and past the amount of content items you wish to work with at a time. I'd go with an even number of 10, keeping note on a totally different file which URL pages I have imported with each import file so that I do not loose track of any content. Check your work. Once you are done with 10, perform a test import. You should be good to go.

Performing a MySQL import is much more difficult due to the difficulty PHPmyAdmin has with some characters. Furthermore, much more damage could be caused from a simple error.