Tip for merging two WordPress blogs
WordPress’ built-in export/import functionality makes it a snap to merge two blogs into one. You simply export from the blog you’re going to retire, import into the blog you’re going to keep, and then forward the old domain to the new one.
Here’s my tip: do not select an existing blog user to “own” the imported content! Instead, create a new temporary user just for that content. Here is why: the imported posts may need some manual cleanup, like integration into the new blog’s category structure, or adding/removing tags. By importing into a new author, you’re creating a way to view only the posts imported in that batch. Simply go to the Users → Edit screen and then click the number of posts next to the temporary import author. Boom, you’re looking at only the imported posts. Then, as you clean up their categories and tags using 2.7’s bulk edit or quick edit features, you can simultaneously reassign the posts to their proper author. Once there are no more posts for that temporary import author, delete that author, and you’re done!
A very useful tip to import posts into another blog by create a temporary user, thank you very much…
Demifantasy
January 14, 2009 at 1:31 am
Great. I was just thinking about doing this. Thanks.
Chris
January 14, 2009 at 2:24 am
I’ve just moved a big site from one host to an other, which was quite complicated. As for the Export/Import functionality, they don’t include many of your settings, so lots of work under the Manage or Settings menus – or with eg widgets – has to be done all over. Even phpMyAdmin (a very well-considered database tool) made problems because the exported database becomes too big. Actually, the DB Manager plugin was the most helpful too out there.
Kjetil
- Dolcevita.no – finally on new server
Kjetil
January 14, 2009 at 3:11 am
I did that a week ago – it is pretty easy.
banago
January 14, 2009 at 5:38 am
yes to import big data its big problem, only you cay copy data by copying one table’s data in parts….
Free Book Source
January 14, 2009 at 5:52 am
Having merged two blogs let me tell you the best thing you can do is install fresh copy of wordpress away from either install. I did it locally on my desktop. You will be able to check for theme issues and duplicate pages, tags, categories etc and eliminate or merge as needed. Once you have worked out all the kinks export your merged copy and import it into a new DB on on your blogs server leaving both old DB’s intact until you know everytyhing is running smoothly.
Brad Hart
January 14, 2009 at 7:32 am
Is there a way to do this from a MySQL export too?
keith wikle
January 14, 2009 at 8:32 am
[...] Thord Daniel Hedengren The b5media WordPress mastermind, Mark Jaquith, has a great tip on merging multiple WordPress blogs. Here’s my tip: do not select an existing blog user to [...]
Mark Jaquith on Merging WordPress Blogs | The Blog Herald
January 14, 2009 at 8:35 am
As a newbie trying to import a big blog, I’m trying to find tips on editing xml files. I’d like to know how to start and terminate the file properly, and where to break.
Excuse my asking in a comment, but the WordPress fora have been pretty unfriendly in the past and give me the jitters.
magelly73
January 14, 2009 at 9:46 am
@keith if you are on a self hosted blog you should be able to export your whole mysql db from somewhere on your domain control panel
Brad Hart
January 14, 2009 at 9:46 am
[...] Excerpt from: Tip for merging two WordPress blogs « Mark on WordPress [...]
Tip for merging two WordPress blogs « Mark on WordPress | theblogsecrets
January 14, 2009 at 10:52 am
Don’t forget about uploaded images and the like. The export does not export them. You’re going to wind up having to do a search and replace in all your source blogs posts to change the URL’s of the images in the target blog.
It would be really nice if WP did images and other uploads with a variable for the URL such as [blogurl]/wp-content/uploads/ that’s processed on post display rather than having hard links.
I wrote a tutorial a while back on a forum I frequent; I hope you don’t mind the link drop, it’s informational.
http://www.webtalkforums.com/showthread.php?t=8762
Big Dan
January 14, 2009 at 11:54 am
Would this still work if I was merging a WordPress blog into a WordPress MU blog???
richardginn
January 14, 2009 at 12:30 pm
A problem which plagued me when importing was:
words like can’t would be imported as can”t.
Just something more to look out for…
PIF
PIF
January 14, 2009 at 12:34 pm
You can also delete the new user and when doing so, choose to reassign the posts to a different user. Provides a nice way to process the imported posts without having to manually reassign each one to the correct author.
Callum
January 14, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Excellent information! The issue hasn’t come up for us… yet, but having the advice (and all the great comment tips and suggestions) will be very handy!
Diane Scott
January 14, 2009 at 4:52 pm
[...] story is continued here Share and [...]
Wp Scribble > How to merge two WordPress blogs
January 14, 2009 at 6:07 pm
I administrate two blogs: ehinarr.wordpress.com and press.prestashopbr.com. There are how make some simultaneous posts?
ehinarr
January 14, 2009 at 6:19 pm
Great “outside the box” tip with the temp author idea. A very good use of a standard feature of WordPress.
JellyBeen
January 14, 2009 at 8:25 pm
I did this for a website I now administer. Worked flawlessly. I am a frequent WordPress critic but the consolidation was as smooth as can be.
ehinarr — I’ve been trying to get FeedWordPress to go for that, so far no dice.
Jacques Chester
January 15, 2009 at 12:39 am
What constitutes “too big” of a file? I have about 4 years of posts in one blog. I’d like to merge into a clean install of 2.7.
moby
January 15, 2009 at 12:58 am
Exporting data larger than 2Mb is not a problem. However, importing it into the new blog is. Please assist us the non-IT expert.
Uchu Keling
January 15, 2009 at 1:55 am
nice tip. thanks!
kOoLiNuS
January 15, 2009 at 5:38 am
Love the new user tip, especially for blogs with hundreds of posts, very useful thanks!
I Want This Website
January 15, 2009 at 8:04 am
great idea…thanks.
Mizsia
January 15, 2009 at 11:42 am
Good One but I would recommend using Twittermail.com to tweet via email and twibble for tweeting via phone. Thanks a ton!
Ankit Desai
January 16, 2009 at 4:15 am
That’s great. Just the tip I needed. Thanks Mark!
optimystic
January 16, 2009 at 6:44 am
I currently have 4 blogs and am planning on merging all into 1. I am on the 2.7 upgrade. has anyone run into major issues or is it pretty easy to accomplish??
I am not very techy but it appears fairly easy. I will of course back up everything. Any assist on this would be appreciated.
Scott
Scott
January 16, 2009 at 8:59 am
Really cool tips
Andy
January 16, 2009 at 9:56 am
@Scott ~ I had problems! Check the newly created file before your try to export! I have about 4 years worth of posts and WP seemed to just give up after about half. I tried again and even more unusual was the 1st and 2nd file were different sizes.
moby
January 16, 2009 at 1:27 pm
One suggestion that I would make to folks is to go under the hood of WordPress a little bit. Perhaps you may want to try this with a test blog first. But, everything is stored in MySql and if you learn a little of that with php you can correct any errors that may occur as you merge blogs. And you can also do cool personalizations of your blog!
Valentine Gifts
January 16, 2009 at 5:48 pm
good idea!
conor
January 16, 2009 at 8:46 pm
tips on this. Fortunately I only have about six months worth of post, so the file sizes shouldn’t be to big. When I went into the export yesterday it said a max of 64 megs and I am pretty sure I will be no where near that size.
U figure if I back everything up and things are safe I should be o.k., Hopefully!
Thanks for the feedback!
Scott
Scott
January 17, 2009 at 7:11 am
Good One but I would recommend using Twittermail.com to tweet via email and twibble for tweeting via phone.
download-load
January 17, 2009 at 5:50 pm
i’ll try this one. sounds great to be tested.
Revenue Share
January 19, 2009 at 11:22 am
nice tips, not only for the merging part, but also for the bulk edit category tip, i didn’t realize that this feature already implemented in wp2.7
in the previous wp, usually i use wp batch category plugin to did that.
poer
January 19, 2009 at 7:00 pm
[...] It might be a good idea to bookmark this tip. It made a lot of sense and will save us from headaches from unexpected issues that might come. [Link] [...]
Tip on Merging Two WordPress Blogs — WPCandy — WordPress Themes, Plugins, Tips, and Tricks
January 19, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Excellent site markjaquith.wordpress.com and I am really pleased to see you have what I am actually looking for here: this .. as it’s taken me literally 1 hours and 55 minutes of searching the web to find you (just kidding!) so I shall be pleased to become a regular visitor
Aboneynctet
March 4, 2009 at 5:14 pm
I have any problem with a gallery, wp_postmeta no has been send to a new web, and no appear gallerys…
sunide
April 6, 2009 at 4:26 pm
[...] 今回、２つのWordPressブログを統合する簡単な方法をMark Jaquith氏が書かれていた（Tip for merging two WordPress blogs « Mark on WordPress）ので、それを参考にして「リセット前」の記事を「リセット後」のブログに統合しました。ちなみに統合した「リセット前」の記事数は145。全て統合しました。 [...]
古い記事をインポートして統合 « Waviaei
May 11, 2009 at 10:34 am
thank you
online film seyret
May 20, 2009 at 10:51 am
hi , thanks a lot ,I created the blog first in my sub folder ,as it doing well now want to have in the root folder of my site. just i created another word press installation and searching the solution ,yours is the right solution thanks for the tips.(I plan to keep the two blgos for some time until people get used to new root . will it effect my search engine optimization (duplicate content )
s.manimaraa
July 2, 2009 at 9:58 am
You can break between entries.
Mark Jaquith
March 6, 2009 at 2:09 am