Okay John this is what happened.
Did a backup. Files and DB.
I applied the update to take the DNN from 5.4 to 5.5.
That appeared to go ok ... until I ran the site afterwards.
All my calendars were empty ... there's a few of them and they are the heart of the site.
So I went to do a Restore and because I didn't read the docs thoroughly I skipped a step and my site was totally trashed (as in nothing but front page worked).
When I went to look at the standalone restore I saw my error and was able to complete the process and resurrect my site.
So why did I run into a problem in the first place?
Well afterwards I was curious so I did some checking.
In the Events module forum I found this post:
'
Do not forget to update Events to version 5.1.4 if you are upgrading to DNN 5.5!'
If I'd seen that before I tried the major update I would have explored that path first.
But I didn't ... and for that I'm guilty.
And some might say 'ignorance is no excuse' ... and maybe it's not.
But ...
1 - is there a note in the Installing / upgrading forum that mentions the situation with the events module? Or do we have to check every forum for every module we use before we go and try a core upgrade?
2 - I see the this text in the Events module post: "
The release release of DotNetNuke 5.5. marks a serious new version. Part of the changes involves a serious change in the core table structure of DNN" Peter's words not mine. I may act a bit newbyish but I have actually been through a few version/revision cycles of software from various vendors over the last 30 years or so and have come to expect that a version change (left of decimal pt) can be radical and break what was there before. A revision change (right of decimal pt) is not usually so drastic ... baby steps versus a giant step.
Now maybe I'm excusing 'glossing over' the upgrade homework and maybe I'm picking at nits with the language Taminga chose ... maybe.
But I fall back on my original gripe ... is DNN really as easy and lightweight enough for a single user to install, use, maintain and extend as the community would like? (and as is touted)
Or are there traps and pitfalls that will kill your efforts and leave you wondering WTF happened even thought you followed the advised path in good faith?
John, I applaud the work you guys do - really. The size and interelated operations of software written by many hands (like DNN) can lead to many issues. I know from experience how much of a fun ride that can be and that's why I don't do that anymore ... I just wanted to get in the car and drive. Not tinker under the hood so much.
Sigh ... now I have to go find out how to upgrade my events module and not lose all the events I've put into it. And that means time I was going to spend on expansion plans gets reallocated ... ah well it's not as if I have a boss standing over me.
And in case you think the 'get in the car and drive' was metaphor ... check out one of my other (non DNN) sites:
lesgodriving.com
(warning - use any browser but IE - something's not right with the way it presents)