Importing WordPress Files To Another Blog URL
WordPress has an “import” function that you can use to transfer all your blog posts, pages, comments, users and even tags to a new WordPress blog on a different domain. You can find this function under Manage > Import > Import WordPress
You probably won’t need to do this ever, but in my case when I decided to rebrand NetworkRevolution.org to MLMRenegade.net I had to use this function because:
- I’ve done it before and I know it’s easy
- You can choose to automatically import images and other attachments from your old blog to your new one, and the actual path to these files will also be updated
- It maintains every post and comments on the posts exactly as you’d want them to be
This time around however I got this error message:
The uploaded file exceeds the upload_max_filesize directive in php.ini.
It seems there was a limit of 2MB on post attachments in my server, and my import file was 6.7MB so I got stuck.
I searched high and low for the damn php.ini file and could not find it. Finally I found out that this upload limit can be adjusted in the WHM level (dedicated server), and here’s how you do it:
1) Log into your WHM and click on “PHP Configuration” or similar command, this brings you to the php.ini file
2) Then you’ll be able to see where you need to edit the upload size limit:
3) Edit the size limit to whatever you want, but take not this will effect all accounts in your server. Save the file.
4) Now when uploading you should see the new file size limit
You can always revert back to the old file size limit once you’re done with the import function.
5) When importing make sure you check the option “Download and Import File Attachments”
This will sync all your images in your old URL, with the newly uploaded images and attachments in your new URL.
If you’re on shared hosting="http://gobala.linktrackr.com/hostgator-bs:keywords">hosting, I’m not pretty sure how you solve this. According to HostGator you can just download the php.ini file (php.ini), edit the values, and edit it according to the instructions here, but I think it would be better to ask your web host to help you with it.
I think this issue only happens if you’re using the latest version of WordPress with an outdated version of PHP4.X on your web server. In which case, ask your host to upgrade the PHP settings for you.
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10 Responses to “Importing WordPress Files To Another Blog URL”
Got something to say?
Gobala, very important technical information. Such issues, really drive mad when the resolution takes time.
One moment, won’t this activity be punished by Google due to duplicate content on both domains. Ofcourse, it wont be if we delete former domain.
Once you’ve transferred all the files, delete everything but leave the .htaccess files intact.
Actually you can just a regular “301 redirect” which will tell Google your content has “moved” to a new URL, but I did not find a way to match the same URLs to the new domain.
Thanks Gobala,
have bookmarked this for future reference
By default, php.ini files are put together with other Apache/PHP server configuration file. That’s why you can’t find it. If the file location is publicly known, then anyone can manipulate that file == bring down your PHP engine.
So, unless you have full access to the hosting (and by full access, I mean access to touch it like you touch your PC), its highly impossible to edit php.ini file directly.
even in your case, its edited indirectly via the PHP configuration programs, which varies with every hosting="http://gobala.linktrackr.com/sharedhost-bs:keywords">hosting providers.
I guess Wordpress might generated their own php.ini in specific folder, but might be this happened only for specific triggers/events/plugins etc.
Just a clever undetermined guess anyway, since Wordpress htaccess file is generated when permalink feature is used.
Thank you – bookmarked your site. I hate that feeling when things don’t go quite as planned and ya just don’t know where to go for help.
Hello!
Thank you SO much for this post…as it was very hard to find info on how to exceed the file upload size. I was able to change the php.ini file and re-upload it to my public file on my server. BUT the file upload limit in WP is STILL set to 2 MB Max. Why is this? What do i do to change that?
Please help!!
THanks!!
Lisa
Hi-
Thanks for getting back to me. I have done all this –I’ve increased the upload max in the php.ini file, and changed these 2 files:
wp-admin/import.php
wp-admin/import/wordpress.php
I’ve done all this and saved the new docs and the 2MB max value for imports has still not changed.
One final person now says to change the file called .htaccess In my public_html directory.
Do you know anything about this…before I start to try and ’split’ up the XML file?
Thanks so much!!
Hi there-
This seemed so simple but still didnt’ work for me.
Just want to let you know that finally BLue Host (my server) folks helped me. AND i did not have to split my XML file into smaller files. All i can say is this is what the support tech said he did:
I went through and cleared all the php.ini’s. I disabled FastCGI. I then created a brand-new php.ini.default; I fixed the parameters, renamed it, and put it in the proper folders. Logged out and logged back in…
Set php5 again to take effect of the changes
Thanks!!!!!!!