Drupal 6 to Drupal 7 Migration step 1 - Collecting data about the site

| | 2 min read

This article describes a checklist on some of the important data to be collected before migration and how to collect the data. This may seem like a trivial task but just like it is important to have a manual for an electronic device before you take it apart and put it back, it is important to have a technical manual of the site. If it is a complex site, with a lot of data, then this is mandatory.

List out all the modules

Make a list of all modules in a spreadsheet with columns :

  • Name
  • Link to download Drupal 7 version if available
  • Alternate link to download if any
  • Drupal 7 version available (7.xx)
  • Whether hacked or not
  • The use of the module in the site
  • .. and anything you can think of that I have missed

Segregate the modules based on custom, contributed and core if hacked

Drush commands that help :

  • To list all modules and themes :
    drush pml
  • To list all enabled or disabled, modules or themes and core or non-core :
    
    drush pml --type=module --status=enabled --no-core 
    drush pml --type=theme --status=disabled 
    drush pml --no-core
    
  • To display the details of one or more extensions :
    
    drush pmi MODULE_NAME 
    drush pmi MODULE_1 MODULE_2 drush pmi THEME
    drush pmi THEME_1 THEME_2
  • To display all modules that can be analysed using hacked (download module hacked) :
    
    drush hlp
    
  • To output hacked report and hacked diff of a module respectively :
    
    drush hd HACKED_MODULE_NAME 
    drush hacked-diff HACKED_MODULE_NAME
    

Once this has been completed, you can go about migrating your website in peace! The next step is to update Drupal 6 core and contrib