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SOBI2 Import and Backup Plugin 
Version
RC 1.2.1 (last update on Nov 23, 2008)
Rating
Compatibility
Votes
16
Favoured
14
License
Other
Commercial
Type
Views
36908
Date Added
15 June 2008
- You always wanted to edit your SOBI2 entries in spreadsheet program like OpenOffice or Excel?
- Do you need to import a large database into to your SOBI2 directory?
- You want to migrate from another directory to SOBI2?
- Or you want to make a backup of your directory including configuration, templates and style files?
Then this add-on is exactly what you’re looking for.
The Import and Backup Plugin for SOBI2 is basically a tool which allows to export and import SOBI2 entries, categories and fields into a CSV file, the most common export/import file format. This kind of file can easily be edited in spreadsheet programs like OpenOffice or Excel or any other program which is able to read CSV files.
CSV Import allows easy data transfer of spreadsheets data in your directory. It is a very time saving tool for each Joomla!/Mambo site using SOBI2 component.
But this plugin isn't only a simple Import/Export script. The Import and Backup plugin for SOBI2 allows you also to create an internal SOBI2 database backup. This backup can be restored every time with one click.
Features:
* Import and export of SOBI2 categories, including all category images, icons and the category relations.
* Import and export of SOBI2 entries, including all basic data, custom defined fields content, category relations and logos and icons.
* Import and export of the SOBI2 fields defined in the Fields Manager, including the basic field definitions and important data.
* Import and export of the SOBI2 configuration settings. This includes all important SOBI2 settings, the SOBI2 CSS file, the Registry Editor settings (config.ini file) and your customized template files.
This function is very useful if you upgrade SOBI2. Save and restore these files with one click.
* Internal backup function to make a copy of your SOBI2 tables within your database. Use this feature for better and simpler backup operations.
No fixed structure must be observed. Select which information of an entry, category or field you want to import or export. Also the ordering of the fields (spreadsheet columns) can be defined freely. Also basic export information like the CSV value separator and multi-value separator can be adjusted individually.
The exported data can be cleaned of HTML tags.
You want to import the same data you have exported? Use the copy settings function to copy export settings to import settings, or vice versa.
Because of implementation of a special algorithm it is no problem to import or export data on servers with low memory limit, limited script execution or limited access to MySQL server. No problems like "allowed memory size exhausted", "MySQL server has gone away" or "maximum execution time of xx seconds exceeded".
Integrated reporting function. Each import or export operation is logged in a separate logfile where you can investigate if there were some problems during the
Editor's Note
- This extension requires registration to download.
bytreebeard on April 5, 2009
Purchased the extension because it says you can use Excel, but after trying several times, and contacting developers, they tell me "you cannot use Excel". Too bad, this would have been a great extension if it worked and was backed up by the developers.
Owner's reply
The Import & Backup Plugin creates and reads CSV files. You can use your Excel program to edit them. If you open the CSV file created by the plugin with Excel, you have to use the Excel data/text import function in order to let Excel know the different separator and text delimiter signs and the encoding of the file. See your Excel manual for this. While saving a CSV file Excel unfortunately uses some standard settings which cannot be changed easily.
We don't say that it is not possible to use Excel, but we do not recommend to use Excel. There are the free Office solutions OpenOffice (Windows and Linux) and NeoOffice (Mac) available which have wider setting possibilities in creating CSV files. You can download them for free at their websites.
byjboulton on November 11, 2008
I imported over 400 businessess from an Excel spreadsheet in minutes. Excellent plugin!! Worked perfect with Joomla 1.5.7
bykai920 on October 24, 2008
For the price, this import/export straight from the sobi2 developers gives excellent value. You can use this plugin to migrate from another directory component (for example, Mosets Tree), or purely for backup purposes. The exported CSV will allow you to manipulate the data in ways only limited by your imagination and knowledge. Detailed configuration options are available, and a full pdf manual is provided to help and guide you along the way. Of course, you could also use this to migrate *away from* SOBI2, but I can't imagine why anyone would do such a thing...
byEasiStudio on October 19, 2008
This plugin comes with a well written 53 page manual pdf manual which is really useful. I would say that if you are running a professional website then this plugin is essential as it makes importing and exporting csv files so easy.
byrigidgraphics on October 17, 2008
The plug-in is very simple to use and allows you to simply define you're listing's fields and you can easily upload differently formatted csv files!
byyellar on October 11, 2008
This plugin is extremely powerful and has dramatically changed what I have been able to do with SOBI2. In addition to being able to import and export csv files into SOBI2, this plugin also allows you to backup your entire SOBI extension and restore it with one click. After a handful of hours learning the quirks of csv files, I was able to successfully import 1700 records into SOBI2 - a task that would have taken me countless hours manually entering into SOBI2. Answers to a few small problems that I ran into with the plugin were readily available in the customer forum.
bygwmbox on October 8, 2008
This little add-on tool for SOBI2 is a really neat and has enabled me to move categories and data from one SOBI2 install to another and back again (I have 9 clones) - has saved my well above the asking price in time - another excellent solution from Neo and Trinity :)