Migrating from civiCRM Drupal to civiCRM WordPress

[fltch75]

We have a client currently using civiCRM 3.4.7 on a Drupal 6 platform. We will be redesigning their web site, and are recommending a move to WordPress for the CMS instead of Drupal (they just don't need a CMS that complex). My question: can all their CRM data migrate from civiCRM drupal to civiCRM WP, and if so, are there any links to best practices or guidance?

[Dave Greenberg]

Pretty sure some folks have done this, although there's a need for good documentation on the best steps. Some relevant links:
http://forum.civicrm.org/index.php?topic=23577.0
http://forum.civicrm.org/index.php?topic=22945.0
http://wiki.civicrm.org/confluence/display/CRMDOC41/Moving+an+Existing+Installation+to+a+New+Server+or+Location
http://wiki.civicrm.org/confluence/display/CRMDOC41/Moving+the+database+using+phpMyAdmin

Would be great if you could take notes while you're working on this and write-up steps for others to use on the Wiki. You can create a new page in the Installation and Upgrade section: http://wiki.civicrm.org/confluence/display/CRMDOC41/Installation+and+Upgrades

[fltch75]

Many thanks! I will post findings if helpful to the forum.

[michaelhayes]

Heya,

this is almost exactly our own situation. Did this project every go through? If so what were your experiences with it?

[Dave Greenberg]

Michael - We still need good doc for this on the CiviCRM wiki, but I did a quick Google search for "civicrm migrate drupal to wordpress" and found this quite recent blog post which looks pretty helpful and complete:

http://www.reidmiller.name/content/migration-drupal-626-civicrm-416-wordpress-351-civicrm-433

I would use it along with general doc on the wiki which covers general site move instructions and issues (since you will be changing site files location and possibly URL etc.), and another page which gives steps for Joomla to Drupal migration.

http://wiki.civicrm.org/confluence/display/CRMDOC43/Moving+an+Existing+Installation+to+a+New+Server+or+Location
http://wiki.civicrm.org/confluence/display/CRMDOC43/Migrating+from+Joomla+to+Drupal

Again, if you can take notes during your process and then post steps on the wiki in this section, that will help others in the future!

[michaelhayes]

Dave,
What you really need is some serious testimonials! I've been trawling these forums for six days trying to find someone, ANYone, who can just give a thumbs up of their Wordpress/CiviCRM experience and can not shake out a single response, testimonial, or reference site.

And with this simple request unable to answered I have to fend off the bosses who think that as a result the solution is not ready for prime time. Now I'm having to research Salesforce, ugh.

So, if anyone out there has any info please feel free to share it, it'll help me keep us using Civi!

[zorgalina]

Realizing that this is a year later - I would like to offer a testimonial here for using WP as a 'frontend' w/CiviCRM, not necessarily migrating from Drupal. I have set up Drupal w/Civi, but realize a client doesn't necessarily need the power (and memory usage) of Drupal.  One of the best features of Drupal is the Views component (and Entitities to support that); if what your client needs are 'views' (of data) rather than other data manipulation or integration features, WP can work, there are plugins (they need to be tested out first!) and WP can be easier for a client to administer.
In light of the fact that (Nicolas Ganivet) presented a standalone version of CiviCRM (see his powerpoint in CiviCON Lightning Talks, http://sf2014.civicrm.org/sessions/lightning-talks), it seems like there can be more confidence in declaring 'independence' from Drupal (not dissing Drupal itself here).

[petednz]

zorgalina - i don't follow your point - civicrm has never been touted as a Drupal dependent CRM

but always good to hear how people are getting on with it and WP - perhaps you could add some documentation in the wiki about what WP plugins you refer to - it would really help if the WP community could share their discoveries re civicrm

[zorgalina]

Sorry I didn't reply earlier Pete - much of setup documentation and extensions for Civi relate to Drupal, as opposed to Joomla, WP or nothing, that is my point. 
As to useful WP plugins, etc. I will post on wiki, thx for suggestion