I have gone through 4.7.10 to 5, and 5 to 6, but 6 to 7 is the most challenging so far, largely because of formerly contributed modules now being in core (notably CCK/Fields and ImageCache/Image).
NOTE: when I say "write down," I mean it. Plan on using a lot of notes.
Preparation
- Plan ahead; some changes (fixes) are easier in the Drupal 6 site.
- Create a new D7 region for each migration. Remove (don't uninstall) all contributed modules from sites/all/modules before starting.
- Name your D7 theme the same as your D6 theme. Plan to re-theme pretty much from scratch, but your CSS may copy over (unless you're also going to HTML5).
- Back up your D6 site NOW. You may need this to regress any changes you make as beginning your migration.
- Get rid of any unused D6 modules and themes. This means uninstalling and deleting the module directories.
- Make a list of all modules that are enabled.
- Run Upgrade Status (not Update) and make sure all the modules exist in D7. If not, plan the migration to what ever you will use in D7.
- Make a list of all your ImageCache presets - they don't convert. (http://drupal.org/node/1316472<)
- If you will be using Webform, you need to be using something higher than 7.x-3.13 (even a -dev is higher). Otherwise it won't update properly.
- If you have fields created by CCK, check them for correctness. One in particular is an unlimited length textfield - it should be a textarea; this will bite you.
- As you do the previous, write down all ImageCache presets used ("manage display"); these probably won't convert.
- Disable all contributed modules - ALL.
-
Back up the database. This is your upgrade base database.
Migrating
- Using a clean, fresh install of D7 without any contributed modules, update the database. You may have to increase your PHP maximum execution time because some of the updates run a long time.
- Enable the Image core module if it is not already. Check them all while you're at it. You may still want to install ImageCache Actions (now).
- Install CCK and enable "Content," "Content Migrate" and any optional pieces you will be using. Note that Node/User reference fields are handled by the References module; field groups are handled by the Field Group module, but you may want to switch them to Field Collection.
- Run update.php.
- Check admin/structure/migrate_fields. Some errors are far easier to correct in D6 and re-migrate.
- You may have to deal with image styles now - do so.
- Migrate the fields that are clean.
- Write down what needs to be done with the others.
- Migrate those fields and make them do what you want ("Manage Fields," "Manage Display").
- Now install your "every site" modules (Pathauto, ExtLinks, Token, etc).
- Run update.php.
- Install anything that needs to be done before Views. Run update.php.
- Install Views and any dependent modules (e.g. Views Slideshow).
- Run update.php.
- Review each and every View, checking field names, etc. (Run "analyze.") Check the preview for correctness. The Views Slideshow provider must be changed.
- Install anything remaining. Run update.php.
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