So, my difficulty here is:
1. The table names are all the same. It prevents me from running both versions, as I get a SQL server DB, not DBs with my hosting package (maybe if I beg...)
2. A conversion utility that I develop would have to work off of some sort of backup, or temp tables since I can't just plop the new forum out there.
3. The conversion utility would have to be perfect the first time, or I've hosed all of my data. That, or recovery would be lengthy. Either way, I don't think I know enough about version 7 to know how to develop a conversion program.
Let me ask this: Is the DB STRUCTURE the same as in Access? Like, I could maybe make an Access DB with linked tables to SQL, and run the conversion utility? What does the conversion utility do?
4. While I'm converting, I'd essentially have to turn off some pretty darned active forums.
5. While I'm converting, I'd have to have people register for the forums seperate of the site (hey, that's my problem. I know.)
Now, man - I know that these forums are developed and given away for free - just asking for donations. And asking for something is like begging on the streets. But if you have some suggestions, or can point me in the direction of someone that's upgraded to version 7, SQL successfully... Any help would be good.