How would the conversion of a custom CMS using a text-file-based database to Drupal be tackled?

You would parse the text with PHP and use the Drupal API to save it as a node object api.drupal.org/api/function/node_save See this similar issue, programmatically creating Drupal nodes: stackoverflow.com/questions/2525696/reci... stackoverflow.com/questions/2493461/drup... Essentially, you create the $node object and assign values. Node_save($node) will do the rest of the work for you, a Drupal function that creates the content record and lets other modules add data if need be You could also employ XML RPC services, if that's possible on your setup.

You would parse the text with PHP and use the Drupal API to save it as a node object. api.drupal.org/api/function/node_save See this similar issue, programmatically creating Drupal nodes: stackoverflow.com/questions/2525696/reci... stackoverflow.com/questions/2493461/drup... Essentially, you create the $node object and assign values. Node_save($node) will do the rest of the work for you, a Drupal function that creates the content record and lets other modules add data if need be.

You could also employ XML RPC services, if that's possible on your setup.

My main concern is in mapping the abstractions in the text data files (just edited question to reflect this). – James Morris Mar 31 '10 at 2:57 You can add to a content type in Drupal with the CCK module drupal. Org/project/cck, and those fields then become part of the node object.

– Kevin Mar 31 '10 at 2:58.

Since you have not written any PHP for a long time, and you are probably in a hurry, I suggest you this approach: Download and install this Drupal module: drupal.org/project/node_import This module imports data - nodes, users, taxonomy entries etc. - into Drupal from CVS files. Read its documentations and spend some time to learn how to use it. Convert your blog into CVS files.

Unfortunately, I cannot help you much on this, because your blog entries have a complex structure. I think writing a code that converts it into CVS files takes same time as creating CVS files manually. Use Node Import module to import data into your new website.

Of course some issues will remain that you have to do them manually; like creating menus etc.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.