v2.0 Usage

Setting up sample chains

Random text to plain file

We will start simple. We’ll build a chain like this: Random Text Generator —> File Writer. This chain will “import” a message from a random text generator and then “export” the message to a plain text file. These are the steps:

• Click on “Chains” on the m2f Admin CP
• Create new Chain
• Call it random text to file and save
• Add new channel
• m2f_module_channel_randomTextGen and configure channel
• Add new channel
• M2f_module_filewriter and configure channel
• On filepath put any web-writable full path you want to keep your output message. I like to use /tests/files/randomtext.txt
• Run chain link
• Press Run Chain button
• Go check if randomtext.txt was built! It should have some garbage like this:

Subject: "Random Generated Message"
h wlf ovas lo wb df ubzqq fnp pgzs b umrc sh jkqqg yzac jduuq igc uops knwla fick nx

ONLY IF THAT WORKED, go and try the next chain test:

Random text to phpBB2

• Click on “Chains” on the m2f Admin CP
• Create new Chain
• Call it random text to phpbb2 and save
• Add new channel: M2f_Module_Channel_RandomTextGen
• Add new channel: m2f_module_channel_phpBB2_Export and configure channel
• CommunicateConf: Select the phpBB 2 one (Something like http://localhost/phpBB2/m2f.php)
• Forum ID 1 and save channel
• Run chain link
• Press Run Chain button
• Go and check if you have a new post on phpBB2 with some random garbage in it. Post subject should be “Random Generated Message”

ONLY IF THAT WORKED, go and try the next chain test:

phpBB2 post to phpBB3

Ok, now with something more nasty. We want to mirror all phpBB2 posts to phpBB3.

• Click on “Chains” on the m2f Admin CP
• Create new Chain
• Call it phpBB2 to phpBB3 and save
• Add new channel
• m2f_module_channel_phpBB2_Import and configure channel
• CommunicateConf: Select the phpBB 2 one (Something like http://localhost/phpBB2/m2f.php)
• Forum ID 1(one) and save channel
• Add new channel
• m2f_module_channel_phpBB3_Export and configure channel
• CommunicateConf: Select the phpBB 3 one (Something like http://localhost/phpBB3/m2f.php)
• Forum ID 2(two) and save channel (Note that by default phpBB 3 has forum ID 1 as first category and forum ID 2 as first forum)
• Now go to the phpBB2 forum and post a new sample post.
• Go and check phpBB3 now! It should show a the same new post! Amazing isn’t it?

ONLY IF THAT WORKED, go and try the next chain test:

phpBB3 post to phpBB2

To finishing binding phpBB2 and phpBB3, we want to mirror all phpBB3 posts to phpBB2.

• Click on “Chains” on the m2f Admin CP
• Create new Chain
• Call it phpBB3 to phpBB2 and save
• Add new channel
• m2f_module_channel_phpBB3_Import and configure channel
• CommunicateConf: Select the phpBB 3 one (Something like http://localhost/phpBB3/m2f.php)
• Forum ID 2(two) and save channel
• Add new channel
• m2f_module_channel_phpBB2_Export and configure channel
• CommunicateConf: Select the phpBB 2 one (Something like http://localhost/phpBB2/m2f.php)
• Forum ID 1(one) and save channel
• Now go to the phpBB3 forum and post a new sample post.
• Go and check phpBB2 now! It should show a the same new post!

ONLY IF THAT WORKED, go and try the next chain test:

pop3 to phpBB3

Ok, now to the real business. We’ll import messages from a POP account to phpBB3.

• Click on “Chains” on the m2f Admin CP
• Create new Chain
• Call it POP to phpBB3 and save
• Add new channel
• m2f_module_channel_Email_Import_pop3 and configure channel
• Fill out the form, leave maxMsgs and delete msgs as it is (It won’t delete msgs after import)
• m2f will check if the parameters are ok and only will add the channel if the connection worked
• Add new channel
• m2f_module_channel_phpBB3_Export and configure channel
• CommunicateConf: Select the phpBB 3 one (Something like http://localhost/phpBB3/m2f.php)
• Forum ID 2(two) and save channel (Note that by default phpBB 3 has forum ID 1 as first category and forum ID 2 as first forum)
• Send an email to the test email you configured in the pop3 form
• Run chain link
• Press Run Chain button
• Go and check if you have a new post on phpBB3 with your email.

ONLY IF THAT WORKED, go and try the next chain test:

phpBB3 to SMTP

Now we’ll export phpBB3 messages to a SMTP mailbox. First we’ll build a recipient list.

• Click on “Users” on the m2f Admin CP
• List name “phpBB3 userlist” and save
• Add new user
• Fill out the form, and save
• Repeat if you want to add more recipients

Ok, now build up the chain.

• Click on “Chains” on the m2f Admin CP
• Create new Chain
• Call it phpBB3 to SMTP and save
• m2f_module_channel_phpBB3_Import and configure channel
• M2f_Module_Channel_Email_Export_Smtp, and configure: On sendername put something like “phpBB3 mailinglist” and on senderemail put the email of the SMTP account
• Post something in phpBB3
• Check your email!

ONLY IF THAT WORKED, go and try the next chain test:

rss feed to phpBB2

We’ll import some rss feeds to phpBB2 (Note that not all rss feeds may work: See http://tracker.mail2forum.com/issues/show/134)

• Click on “Chains” on the m2f Admin CP
• Create new Chain
• Call it Feed to phpBB3 and save
• Add new channel
• m2f_module_channel_Feed_Import and configure channel
• In feed url place any feed. For example (This has been tested): http://www.n4g.com/rss/news.aspx?Channel=ps3 (Playstation 3 news)
• Add new channel
• m2f_module_channel_phpBB2_Export and configure channel
• CommunicateConf: Select the phpBB 2 one (Something like http://localhost/phpBB2/m2f.php)
• Forum ID 1(one) and save channel
• Run chain link
• Press Run Chain button
• Go and check if you have new posts on phpBB3 with the feed.

You can do the same thing with phpBB3 if you like! Beware that as of now (milestone 1) if you click run chain link repeatedly, you’ll end up with duplicate posts on the forum because msgs are imported blindly.