Hmmm ... replying to my own post! :|
Have done what I've suggested … to verify it can be done.
Moodle is version 2.4.2 (Build: 20130311)
1.9 backup file originally 32.8 Meg
Unzipped a 1.9 backup locally on HD.
Moved course_files folder outside the 'build' directory.
*Didn't* edit the moodle.xml file any at all.
Re-zipped using only the files/folders that remained … including the moodle.xml file.
Zip file is now 53KB.
Got into the 2.4 Moodle.
Started a new course with basic information.
When reaching the point of enrolling users, instead, went to restore.
Uploaded the 53K re-constructed zip and restored the course.
Errors are reported in apache error_log like this:
[Wed Mar 13 22:49:56 2013] [error] [client xx.xxx.xxx.xxx] (moodle1) error migrating the resource main file course_files/imlog/messagelog.txt, referer: http://site/moodle24/backup/restore.php
And they were indeed true.
All links/activities that could xfer showed as links (including folders). Those links that went to files had to be reconstructed.
Created a file system repo for the course pointed to 'course_files' folder.
Uploaded all the contents of the local course_files folder to the 'couse_files' repo on the server via scp (one could use FTP or other).
Re-linked all files from the course_files repo.
Best thing about the 'work' required … NO LEGACY.
Care to see:
http://sos.tcea.org/moodle24/course/view.php?id=1675
Guest access allowed. Some links still broke … needed zzzzzzzzzz's.
'spirit of sharing', Ken