WordPress installation

Once you’ve thoroughly prepared your content and Drupal site for migration, you can move to the WordPress platform. The initial step is downloading and installing WordPress, which is straightforward. You can refer to the official documentation.

Set up a permalink structure on WordPress

The clean URL structure is ideal for any website. However, by default, WordPress uses a different permalink structure. After migrating to WordPress, the URLs for your content will lose the structure you had in Drupal, resulting in URLs similar to the default WordPress format. To achieve a user-readable URL structure, you need to update the permalink settings on WordPress.

To change the permalink structure,

go to Settings > Permalinks in your WordPress dashboard. We recommend selecting the “Post name” option.

The Post name URL structure allows you to generate custom permalinks for each page and post. While you can set up a custom URL structure, the “Post name” option works well for most of the websites. Post name will use the name of your post title.

Drupal to WordPress content migration 

Now that the Drupal website is ready to migrate with our pre-migration checklist and your WordPress environment is also all set, it’s time to execute the Drupal to WordPress data migration. Here’s a step-by-step guide to transfer your content.

1.  Install FG Drupal to WordPress plugin

Our first step involves installing the FG Drupal to WordPress plugin on your new WordPress website. Think of this plugin as a bridge, allowing for the effortless transfer of your content such as articles, images, videos, and more. It works flawlessly with all Drupal versions and even integrates with multisite setups. This Drupal to WordPress migration tool ensures a smooth data transfer process. While the FG Drupal to WordPress plugin’s free version is a great starting point, it has some limitations as well. You might miss out on migrating custom content types specific to your Drupal site, user accounts and their data, or advanced SEO features like URL redirects. 

2. Initiate the import process

Once installed, select the “Import” option within the plugin. It will start the actual migration from  Drupal site to the new WordPress site.

3. Pre-migration check

Before switching from Drupal to WordPress begins, the plugin might display a screen highlighting the arrangement of the content. This is a friendly reminder to ensure everything is well-structured for a smooth migration.

4. Cleaning up the existing data (optional step)

If you’ve previously attempted a partial migration or have existing WordPress content that you don’t want to include, the plugin might prompt you to erase it. This allows for a clean import of your Drupal content.

5. Drupal website’s URL

The next step is to enter your Drupal website’s URL, so the plugin can fetch your content. You will also need to choose how your media files, including images and videos, will be downloaded during the migration. The plugin requires your Drupal website’s database credentials to access the stored information, including articles, pages, and images.

6. Finding the Drupal credentials

On your web server (using an FTP client or file manager)

find the folder where Drupal is installed. This folder might be named public_html/your_drupal_folder. Inside this folder, follow these steps:

1. Open the ‘sites’ folder.
2. Inside the  ‘sites’ folder, open the default folder.
3. Look for a file named settings.php inside the default folder.

Both WordPress and Drupal are popular website platforms, but they store your database credentials in different locations:

• WordPress: Look for your credentials in the wp-config.php file. This file sits in the root directory of your WordPress installation.
  
• Drupal: Look for your credentials in the settings.php file, also located in the root directory of your Drupal website.

7. Enter the Drupal credentials

Once you have your Drupal credentials, the window will ask you to enter this information during setup.
Once you have your Drupal credentials, the FG Drupal plugin will guide you through the next steps. Here’s what to expect:

Enter your credentials: The plugin will ask you to enter the database information you found earlier. Copy and paste these values carefully.

Test the connection: Most plugins have a “Test the Database Connection” button. Click this button to see if the plugin can successfully connect to your Drupal database.

Look for green lights: If everything is correct, you should see a green message saying “Connection Successful.” This means you’re good to go!

Important Tip: When entering the Drupal table prefix (often called just “prefix” in the settings.php file), make sure to include the underscore at the end. This seemingly small detail is crucial for a successful connection.

8. Executing the Drupal to WordPress migration

The plugin offers a functionality where you can customize the migration process. This section is known as “Behavior”. In this section, you can choose which content types to move, decide whether you want images copied or linked, and even specify whether to migrate user accounts.

Once you’ve reviewed and adjusted these preferences, then click the Start/Resume Import button, The plugin will handle everything automatically, migrating your Drupal content to your new WordPress website. The amount of time this takes depends on the volume of content that is being transferred, but the plugin will keep you informed of its progress.

Finally, once the migration is complete, you’ll receive a notification, and you can dive into your WordPress website to see all your Drupal content in its new site.

Remember to modify Internal links after the migration

While your Drupal to WordPress migration might be complete, one final step remains: internal link updates. If your articles have many internal links, you’ll need to modify them within WordPress to ensure proper navigation. This process ensures a seamless user experience on your new website.

While not mandatory, you can use the “Modify Internal Links” button to automatically fix any broken internal links that might have occurred during the migration. This is especially helpful if you change your permalink structure or implement 301 redirects. Simply click the button, and then it will take care of the rest, notifying you once it’s complete.

Update your DNS setting 

You have successfully migrated your website’s content from Drupal to WordPress. The final step is to update your Domain Name System (DNS) records to redirect visitors to the new WordPress site.

Currently, visitors are still being directed to your old Drupal site. To transition them seamlessly, log in to your domain registrar account, locate the DNS settings, and modify them to point to your new WordPress website.

Most registrars provide detailed instructions and support for this process. Updating your DNS records ensures a smooth transition, maintaining brand consistency and a positive user experience. Once completed, your WordPress site will be fully operational.

Create new website sitemap

A sitemap is an XML file adhering to the Sitemaps.org protocol. It outlines a website’s URL structure and can include metadata for search engines, aiding content discovery and indexing.

While moving from Drupal to WordPress, creating a new sitemap on your WordPress site is the recommended approach. Additionally, having a WordPress sitemap from the start aids search engines in understanding the migration, potentially minimizing negative impacts on your search engine ranking. 

Finally, a new sitemap offers flexibility for URL changes during migration, ensuring optimal search engine indexing with the most accurate URLs. Creating a new WordPress sitemap streamlines the migration process and assures a smooth transition for search engines.

Conclusion

Well done! You’re almost at the finish line of your Drupal to WordPress migration.

This checklist has guided you through the key steps, from setting up WordPress to managing crucial tasks like plugin installation and DNS settings. By following these steps, you’ve ensured a smooth transition. Switching from Drupal to WordPress simplifies website management and opens up new growth opportunities. 

Check out our next blog “Post Migration Checklist” to help you with the post-migration activities for your new WordPress site.  Get in touch if you are looking for Drupal to WordPress migration services.