Overview of the migration project
McGill University is upgrading its Web Management System (WMS) to a newer version of Drupal, the software used to build and manage McGill websites.
This upgrade involves significant changes to how Drupal works. As a result, existing websites built in the old WMS cannot simply be updated automatically. Instead, their content must be moved (migrated) from the old WMS (Drupal 7) to the new WMS.
How will the migration work?
To make the migration process smoother, we are migrating our websites in phases.
Sites are grouped into migration phases* based on their complexity and the features they use.
We will migrate sites in each current phase while building the feature required for the next phase (for example, webforms or profiles pages).
*You must be logged in to the McGill VPN to view this link.
How does this affect new websites built in the WMS?
New McGill sites can be built in the old WMS (Drupal 7) or the new WMS, but we strongly recommend using the new WMS unless you absolutely require a feature that hasn't yet been built in the new system.
How will this affect you?
If you manage a McGill website, you may notice changes to the tools and interfaces you use to create and update content.
The Web Services team will:
- Inform you about changes that affect how you manage your website.
- Provide guidance on using new tools, interfaces, and features.
- Give you advance notice of any actions you need to take.
How can you prepare for the WMS migration?
- Read the Web Services Digest for announcements, updates, and instructions
- Attend Web Services community events for updates on our progress (the year-end presentation in December and the mid-year conference in the summer)
- Check this page regularly for new articles with suggested tips, actions, and news related to the migration and the new WMS platform
The Web Services team will continue sharing information and guidance throughout the migration process.
