Title: xml database import error
Last modified: August 18, 2016

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# xml database import error

 *  [becs](https://wordpress.org/support/users/becs/)
 * (@becs)
 * [19 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/xml-database-import-error/)
 * HI all,
 * Many thanks to the guys at install4free. Amazing service.
 * However I am having a problem importing my old comments and posts. The file I
   am using is an xml file which wordpress.com emailed to me.
 * The following is the error, then I get loads of code content. I can paste the
   whole content if required.
 * There seems to be an error in your SQL query. The MySQL server error output below,
   if there is any, may also help you in diagnosing the problem
 * ERROR: Unknown Punctuation String @ 345
    STR: </ SQL: <!– generator=”wordpress/
   MU” created=”2006-10-16 10:10″–> <rss version=”2.0″ xmlns:content=”[http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/&#8221](http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/&#8221);
   xmlns:wfw=”[http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/&#8221](http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/&#8221);
   xmlns:dc=”[http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/&#8221](http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/&#8221);
   xmlns:wp=”[http://wordpress.org/export/1.0/&#8221](http://wordpress.org/export/1.0/&#8221);

Viewing 8 replies - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)

 *  [Chris_K](https://wordpress.org/support/users/handysolo/)
 * (@handysolo)
 * [19 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/xml-database-import-error/#post-466715)
 * Ah, the wordpress.com export format is a bit different. Grab this plugin (read
   the directions for install!) and see if it won’t do a better job with that export
   file: [http://www.technosailor.com/wordpress-to-wordpress-import/](http://www.technosailor.com/wordpress-to-wordpress-import/)
 *  Thread Starter [becs](https://wordpress.org/support/users/becs/)
 * (@becs)
 * [19 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/xml-database-import-error/#post-466717)
 * Thanks.
 * Just trying to follow the instructions, I cannot find the wp-content and wp-admin
   folders.
    I know its staring me in the face somewhere..
 *  [Chris_K](https://wordpress.org/support/users/handysolo/)
 * (@handysolo)
 * [19 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/xml-database-import-error/#post-466718)
 * They’d be on your web host, underneath the WordPress install directory (typically
   wordpress or blog maybe?)
 *  [Samuel B](https://wordpress.org/support/users/samboll/)
 * (@samboll)
 * [19 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/xml-database-import-error/#post-466720)
 * Hi,
    Look in your `/public_html/` folder. WP is installed at root level.
 *  Thread Starter [becs](https://wordpress.org/support/users/becs/)
 * (@becs)
 * [19 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/xml-database-import-error/#post-466723)
 * Okay I have done all that successfully.
    I go into import/import wordpress and
   browse to the xml file.
 * I get the error
 * Unable to create directory /home/rebe3091/public_html/wp-content/uploads/2006/
   10. Is its parent directory writable by the server?
 *  [Samuel B](https://wordpress.org/support/users/samboll/)
 * (@samboll)
 * [19 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/xml-database-import-error/#post-466726)
 * Hi,
    The 1st time you do this, you need to CHMOD the `wp-content` folder to 777.
   After performing your action, CHMOD back to 755. You can do this in your file
   manager or via FTP.
 *  Thread Starter [becs](https://wordpress.org/support/users/becs/)
 * (@becs)
 * [19 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/xml-database-import-error/#post-466730)
 * Funny you should say that Samboll, I have just done that as per advice on another
   post on the forum and I think it has worked…
 * please hold… lalalalalalal *ding*
 * It worked. Excellent, thankyou for all your help. Now this is sorted, hopefully
   I don’t need to change it again.
    Now to sort out image uploads 🙂
 * Thanks everyone, and thankyou especially to Sam B whose install of my WP was 
   amazingly quick.
 *  [Samuel B](https://wordpress.org/support/users/samboll/)
 * (@samboll)
 * [19 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/xml-database-import-error/#post-466737)
 * Wow! You’re a go getter. I just had a look at your site. Very good! I’m glad 
   you’re all fixed up.

Viewing 8 replies - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)

The topic ‘xml database import error’ is closed to new replies.

## Tags

 * [Import](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/import/)
 * [MySQL](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/mysql/)
 * [sql](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/sql/)

 * In: [Installing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/installation/)
 * 8 replies
 * 3 participants
 * Last reply from: [Samuel B](https://wordpress.org/support/users/samboll/)
 * Last activity: [19 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/xml-database-import-error/#post-466737)
 * Status: not resolved

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