UTF8 to UTF8MB4

[AlexJ]

While upgrading my 3.4.x site, I noticed my other forums are on UTF8. Doing some research it seems UTF8MB4 is required for Emoji's. I didn't knew that while back. 

How can I convert my IPS 4.7.6 site DB which is using UTF8 to UTF8MB4? I tried to search in market place and nothing comes up under IPS Community Extras. 

Thanks.

[Jim M]

ACP > Support, under database there should be an option to convert to UTF8mb4 

[AlexJ]

This seems odd:

 

 

Does this means only few tables where converted in past? I see mix and match - especially more on custom application tables but i do see few IPS Core tables on utf8 as well.

 

 

 

[teraßyte]

The database checker checks only tables in the applications schema.json files. Any extra tables not in there are skipped. And all the utf8_unicode_ci tables in your screenshots are old/unused tables the upgrade process failed to drop. Or probably tables from old modifications that weren't removed properly (like the ipb_jlogica_XXX tables).

 

The 2 tables marked in your second screenshot by that red rectangle are 3.x tables that are not present in 4.x, you can safely delete them.

Edited January 15, 2023 by teraßyte

[Marc]

Do you already have it set as using mb4 in your conf_global.php file? If so, thats likely why you are not seeing the option to convert to mb4

[AlexJ]

On 1/16/2023 at 6:33 AM, Marc Stridgen said:

Do you already have it set as using mb4 in your conf_global.php file? If so, thats likely why you are not seeing the option to convert to mb4

Sorry, I don't have that set in conf_global.php. Interesting updating is when I updated another forum from 3.4.x to latest version, i see different behavior. 

The one in problem seems to be regularly updated. 

On 1/15/2023 at 5:36 PM, teraßyte said:

And all the utf8_unicode_ci tables in your screenshots are old/unused tables the upgrade process failed to drop. Or probably tables from old modifications that weren't removed properly (like the ipb_jlogica_XXX tables).

Is their anyway for me to figure out which tables are not used, so i can drop them permanently?

Thank you both.

[Marc]

4 hours ago, AlexJ said:

Sorry, I don't have that set in conf_global.php.

This is the issue. Click to convert it again. When it gets to the end, it gives you a line you have to add to your conf_global file

[teraßyte]

13 hours ago, AlexJ said:

Is their anyway for me to figure out which tables are not used, so i can drop them permanently?

Thank you both.

The only way would be to compare the list of tables to a fresh install and account for the additional tables added by installed modifications. That's how I usually do it, especially after a legacy upgrade.