Title: Site Changes – Keep Database or Export Posts & Comments?
Last modified: August 20, 2016

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# Site Changes – Keep Database or Export Posts & Comments?

 *  [FlipFl0p](https://wordpress.org/support/users/flipfl0p/)
 * (@flipfl0p)
 * [13 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/site-changes-keep-database-or-export-posts-comments/)
 * Hi all,
 * I have a two year old site and I’m updating it, changing the theme, adding BBpress
   forums and Buddypress.
 * I’ve exported my site as a backup and preserved the database using a plugin and
   am working on the new site in a subdirectory.
 * My question is, when the time comes to build my new site is it better to start
   with a fresh installation and keep my posts by exporting and them importing them
   or is it better to preserve the old database?
 * What are the advantages / disadvantages of each method?
 * Ideally I like the idea of a fresh start as I know my database is bloated with
   residual code from old plugins I’ve tried but what are the drawbacks? I’ve never
   actually used the Export / Import facility so don’t know if I will be losing 
   anything in the process.
 * This has been bothering me for a few weeks now so I appreciate your input!

Viewing 1 replies (of 1 total)

 *  [shadez](https://wordpress.org/support/users/shadez/)
 * (@shadez)
 * [13 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/site-changes-keep-database-or-export-posts-comments/#post-3336238)
 * whats the difference? export-import to new or retaining old is the same aint 
   it. i mean, eod, its the same data.
    code, plugins etc dont get into your DB.
   infact, not even those images you use in posts… have a look at this: [http://codex.wordpress.org/images/9/9e/WP3.0-ERD.png](http://codex.wordpress.org/images/9/9e/WP3.0-ERD.png)
   there are couple of plugins which can cleanup post-revisions and stuff like that
   for you. and imho, that should do.

Viewing 1 replies (of 1 total)

The topic ‘Site Changes – Keep Database or Export Posts & Comments?’ is closed to
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## Tags

 * [database](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/database/)
 * [export](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/export/)
 * [Import](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/import/)
 * [moving site](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/moving-site/)
 * [upgrade](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/upgrade/)

 * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/)
 * 1 reply
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [shadez](https://wordpress.org/support/users/shadez/)
 * Last activity: [13 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/site-changes-keep-database-or-export-posts-comments/#post-3336238)
 * Status: not resolved

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