WordPress Tip : Extending extended RSS (WXR) 2 Mb limit!

From WordPress version 2.1 onwards, users have been blessed with the feature of exporting the categories, posts, comments, author information in a WXR file (called extended RSS) and lets you import in any other WordPress installation and all this makes formatting of WordPress pretty easy.

However, you can’t upload a file which is more than 2 Mb in size so that means if your WXR file reaches 2.2 Mb in size then you are out of luck! Now, this sounds a little unfair and the worst part is that it’s not the limitation imposed by WordPress, it’s a limitation imposed by your web host.

Why it happens ?

This happens because the PHP.INI file has post_max_size & upload_max_filesize settings and either of them is set to 2 Mb.

What’s the solution ?

1. Edit the PHP.INI file and change the values to 8 Mb : If you are on VPS or Dedicated server then you are game! You don’t have to worry about anything, just go to that file and change the values, however if you are on shared hosting, then chances are you are out of luck.

However, few webhosts allow you to edit the PHP.INI file (check the FAQ first and if you don’t see that then go ahead and call the tech support) and if you are on such a webhost then simply go ahead and make the changes and write a post on your web host, singing the praising songs for them!

2. Talk to your webhost : If you are not lucky enough then talk to your web host and ask them to make these changes, most of the times they’ll make these changes as it’s really not a huge change. However, no one can guarantee if this can work for you or not.

3. Use PHPMyAdmin to back or restore the database : There is an excellent step by step guide available on WordPress codex which tells you that how you can create the backup and then later restore it. If the situations are not with you, then this is the best solution.

Do you know any other way of doing it ? If yes, please share it with us.