How import from Simple PHP Blog?

[danne]

I've previously used Simple PHP Blog before http://www.simplephpblog.com/
It doesn't store in a database, but in flat files.
Regretfully, I found that Serendipity doesn't inlcude it in the list of blogs from where I can import posts.

Any tips about how i can solve this dilemma and import?

If this is impossible, I'm prepared to copy all posts and comments from the old blog into my new Serendipity. The questions are: Can I add correct writers and dates in a fairly simple and straight forward way? Tips about that?

Edit: I might add that a regular newsreader picks up the newsfeed just fine when adding the very same URL that fails in Serendipity's import function (from same computer)

Best,
Dan

[garvinhicking]

Hi!

The problem is the flat file format, it's too obfuscated to easily parse.

If this is impossible, I'm prepared to copy all posts and comments from the old blog into my new Serendipity. The questions are: Can I add correct writers and dates in a fairly simple and straight forward way? Tips about that?

Can you explain more in depth what you mean with "correct writers and dates"?

Edit: I might add that a regular newsreader picks up the newsfeed just fine when adding the very same URL that fails in Serendipity's import function (from same computer)

How does it fail? Do you get an error?

Maybe your server is firewalled and cannot access the feed?

Regards,
Garvin

[danne]

Hi Garvin. Thanks for replies!

Hi!
The problem is the flat file format, it's too obfuscated to easily parse.

I suspected as much. But since I had no problems getting the feed into a regular newsreader, I thought it might be OK anyway.

Can you explain more in depth what you mean with "correct writers and dates"?

I just meant that the correct dates the comments and posts were written will be parsed into Serendipity and used there as opposed to the date when I import them or something. Likewise with the names: I don't have any users in the dtabase, but hope it'll be OK to import and have the comments signed with correct names anyway..

How does it (Serendipity) fail? Do you get an error?

I get this error:

Starting import procedure...
Import failed: feed://mysite.com/rss.php
Import failed:

Maybe your server is firewalled and cannot access the feed?

Hmmm....I don't think so. The development server is on the same computer as the newsreader wich imports the feed without problems, and port 80 is wide open all the way through modems, firewalls, etc. But I'm not a network expert and can easily be mistaken.

Best,
Dan

[garvinhicking]

Hi!

I just meant that the correct dates the comments and posts were written will be parsed into Serendipity and used there as opposed to the date when I import them or something. Likewise with the names: I don't have any users in the dtabase, but hope it'll be OK to import and have the comments signed with correct names anyway..

Comments are not part of the RSS feed, so they won'T be imported at atll. You'd need to import them manually, or use a tool like phpMyAdmin to import them to the database?

Import failed: feed://mysite.com/rss.php

That's an invalid protocol, please try http://mysite.com/rss.php -- feed:// is only used on desktop machines, and cannot be used for servers.

HTH,
Garvin

[danne]

Hi!

I just meant that the correct dates the comments and posts were written will be parsed into Serendipity and used there as opposed to the date when I import them or something. Likewise with the names: I don't have any users in the dtabase, but hope it'll be OK to import and have the comments signed with correct names anyway..

Comments are not part of the RSS feed, so they won'T be imported at atll. You'd need to import them manually, or use a tool like phpMyAdmin to import them to the database?

Import failed: feed://mysite.com/rss.php

That's an invalid protocol, please try http://mysite.com/rss.php -- feed:// is only used on desktop machines, and cannot be used for servers.

HTH,
Garvin

Hi again,

Many thanks for quick replies!!!!
OK, I'll copy and paste into the database.

And sorry, I forgot to mention before: I tried using http:// too for the URL due same reasons.

Best,
Dan