Magic Fields migration

[Zack Lewis]

I am attempting to migrate from an old version of Magic Fields (Version 1.5.8.1) to the newest version. Every time I attempt to migrate, I receive errors (such as http://pastebin.com/LNjV8GZR when I attempt to import) and similar. Is there anything special that I should do? I even tried just updating to the newest Magic Fields v1 plugin, but that threw errors as well and I lost the ability to view a lot of information. I am getting desperate because I need to update these plugins. 

[Hunk]

how you try to migrate? MF 1.x can not migrate to 2.x easily. If you want to migrate to 2.x from 1.x you need to create an SQL for migrating ( from write panels to post types, all fields related to the write panel, etc). the versions use a different structure for store the information. you can update version from 1.5.8.1 to 1.6.3.2 with only update files. 

[Terry Anglin]

You mentioned creating and SQL for migrating from 1.x to 2.x . Can you provide any documentation of all the changes that would be needed? Is the 2.x version much better than the 1.x ?

[Hunk]

Yes, MF2.x is better, MF2.x uses native custom types and custom taxonomies (no fake post type/write panels). the structure of files. MF uses wp_enqueue_script, wp_enqueue_style, add_actions, add_fielter no more harcore code. 

I recommend a backup of your DB before, import the DB backup in another DB (if you can work local better), create a PHP script and migrate step by step. 

Yes, it is a large process, I know. I never had to do a migration, so I do not have much information. but if you check the tables and references in the code I think it will not be so complicated

MF1.x

wp_mf_custom_field_options

this table store the options of fields (Checkbox List, Radiobutton List, Dropdown List, Listbox) also store the default options for this fields

wp_mf_custom_field_properties

store the properties of fields like css,size,width, height, etc

check mf_field_types line 90 in MF_Constant.php for know which field has options and/or properties

wp_mf_module_groups

store the groups of write panels, the coloum at_right is no longer used

wp_mf_panel_category

store the default categories for some write panel (write panel type page)

wp_mf_panel_custom_field

store the custom field (display_name and display_description are no longer used). type is the number of element in mf_field_types

wp_mf_panel_standard_field

this table store the relation field-group

wp_mf_post_meta

this store the fields in a post/page, group_count and field_count are indeces for know the place of field when the group/field is duplicate.

the id value is the same as in wp_postmeta (meta_id)

Note: order_id and group_count are the same value.

Note: in wp_postmeta store the value of field

wp_mf_posttypes_taxonomies

this table is no used

wp_mf_write_panels

store the write panels

Note: in wp_postmeta MF store a row for know which write panel it is, check the coloum meta_key with value mf_write_panel_id, the mate_value is the id of write panel. 

MF2.x

wp_mf_custom_fields

store all fields created, in this table store the opstions/properties of field and the relation with the group.

Note: options is an array serialized

wp_mf_custom_groups

groups of post types

wp_mf_custom_taxonomy

custom taxonomies created, arguments is array serialized with all information, if you want to know all the fields of custom taxonomy check the array $fields in admin/mf_custom_taxonomy.php line 254.

wp_mf_post_meta

as in MF1.x, remember the relation wp_mf_post_meta and wp_post_meta.

wp_mf_posttypes

custom post types created, arguments is array serialized with all information, if you want to know all the fields of custom taxonomy check the array $data in admin/mf_posttype.php line 33.

If you want migrate MF1.x to MF2.x:

- you need read all write panels create post types. remember you need to change the value post_type in mf_post.

- you need migrate all groups

- you need migrate all fields, include the relation between field and group

- migrate relations in postmeta (MF)

[Tom McGee]

I recently finished migrating two sites from Magic Fields 1.x to Advanced Custom Fields. It was a major undertaking, with lots of false leads and dead ends, but I finally got it figured out and working. I wrote a series of blog posts on the process (https://tom-mcgee.com/2020/06/from-magic-fields-1x-to-acf-part-1/, maybe there's something there that will be helpful. 

But to make a long story short, you have to re-create your custom fields, then do some scripting to get your old values and insert them in a different way. Some knowledge of PHP/Perl/Bash is vital; and having access to WP-CLI is really helpful. 

One was a stand-alone site, the other was part of a multisite installation.