Mediawiki2Foswiki plugin. error Unknown encoding '' at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode.pm line 174.

-- PavlosKaimakis - 26 May 2015

Hello there,

I recenlty installed the MediaWikiToFoswikiContrib with a view to migrating data from MediaWiki to Foswiki.
I took a full XML dump from MediaWiki and I faced the following problem
[root@mediawiki mediawiki-1.21.1]# php ./maintenance/dumpBackup.php --full > ./dump_full.xml (I even used the --conf ./LocalSettings.php option but made no difference).
and when i tried to use the convertor tool I got this error:
-- root@linux-client:/export/foswiki/tools# ./mediawiki2foswiki --file /root/dump_full.xml --debug
0: version 0.8 unsupported at /export/foswiki/lib/CPAN/lib/Parse/MediaWikiDump.pm line 270.
at /export/foswiki/lib/CPAN/lib/Parse/MediaWikiDump.pm line 270
As such I editted the version of the dump_full_conf.xml and replaced it with 0.3 (that's the check inMediaWikiDump.pm line 270), so that this check will be overriden.
root@linux-client:/export/foswiki/tools# vi /root/dump_full.xml
...
Indeed that seemed to work and then the next error I got was the following:
-- root@linux-client:/export/foswiki/tools# ./mediawiki2foswiki --file /root/dump_full.xml --debug
unable to properly parse comprehensive dump files at /export/foswiki/lib/CPAN/lib/Parse/MediaWikiDump.pm line 490.
at /export/foswiki/lib/CPAN/lib/Parse/MediaWikiDump.pm line 490.
I searched online and I saw that that was the case quite often with full dumps. Therefore I retook the MediaWiki xml dump with the --current flag
[root@mediawiki mediawiki-1.21.1]# php ./maintenance/dumpBackup.php --current > ./dump_current.xml
Indeed when i tried to rerun the conversion I ran into another problem :
-- root@linux-client:/export/foswiki/tools# ./mediawiki2foswiki --file /root/dump_current.xml --debug
Use of uninitialized value $charset in pattern match (m//) at /export/foswiki/lib/Foswiki/Contrib/MediaWikiToFoswikiContrib/Converter.pm line 134 2.
Use of uninitialized value $name in substitution (s///) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode.pm line 104.
Use of uninitialized value $name in exists at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode.pm line 107.
Use of uninitialized value $name in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode.pm line 108.
Use of uninitialized value $find in exists at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 25.
Use of uninitialized value $find in hash element at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 26.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 40.
Use of uninitialized value $find in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 31.
Use of uninitialized value $find in string eq at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 44.
Use of uninitialized value $find in hash element at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 57.
Use of uninitialized value $find in lc at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 58.
Use of uninitialized value $find in hash element at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode/Alias.pm line 77.
Use of uninitialized value $name in string ne at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode.pm line 113.
Use of uninitialized value $name in hash element at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode.pm line 117.
Use of uninitialized value $name in concatenation (.) or string at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode.pm line 174
Unknown encoding '' at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode.pm line 174.
Encode::decode(undef, '__NOATTACHMENTS__\x{a}\x{a}== FieldWiki \x{a}\x{a} Analytics \x{a}<...') called at /export/foswiki/lib/Foswiki/Contrib/MediaWikiToFoswikiContrib/Converter.pm line 1345 Foswiki::Contrib::MediaWikiToFoswikiContrib::Converter::toUtf8('Foswiki::Contrib::MediaWikiToFoswikiContrib::Converter=HASH(0x9262c10)', '__NOATTACHMENTS__\x{a}\x{a} FieldWiki \x{a}\x{a} Analytics \x{a}<...') called at /export/foswiki/lib/Foswiki/Contrib/MediaWikiToFoswikiContrib/Converter.pm line 1237 Foswiki::Contrib::MediaWikiToFoswikiContrib::Converter::getPageText('Foswiki::Contrib::MediaWikiToFoswikiContrib::Converter=HASH(0x9262c10), 'Parse::MediaWikiDump::page=HASH(0x93ce944)') called at /export/foswiki/lib/Foswiki/Contrib/MediaWikiToFoswikiContrib/Converter.pm line 310 Foswiki::Contrib::MediaWikiToFoswikiContrib::Converter::convert('Foswiki::Contrib::MediaWikiToFoswikiContrib::Converter=HASH(0x9262c10)) called at /export/foswiki/lib/Foswiki/Contrib/MediaWikiToFoswikiContrib.pm line 87 Foswiki::Contrib::MediaWikiToFoswikiContrib::main() called at ./mediawiki2foswiki line 82 at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode.pm line 174. Encode::decode(undef, '__NOATTACHMENTS__\x{a}\x{a} FieldWiki \x{a}\x{a} Analytics \x{a}<...') called at /export/foswiki/lib/Foswiki/Contrib/MediaWikiToFoswikiContrib/Converter.pm line 1345 Foswiki::Contrib::MediaWikiToFoswikiContrib::Converter::toUtf8('Foswiki::Contrib::MediaWikiToFoswikiContrib::Converter=HASH(0x9262c10)', '__NOATTACHMENTS__\x{a}\x{a} FieldWiki \x{a}\x{a} Analytics ==\x{a}<...') called at /export/foswiki/lib/Foswiki/Contrib/MediaWikiToFoswikiContrib/Converter.pm line 1237
Foswiki::Contrib::MediaWikiToFoswikiContrib::Converter::getPageText('Foswiki::Contrib::MediaWikiToFoswikiContrib::Converter=HASH(0x9262c10)', 'Parse::MediaWikiDump::page=HASH(0x93ce944)') called at /export/foswiki/lib/Foswiki/Contrib/MediaWikiToFoswikiContrib/Converter.pm line 310
Foswiki::Contrib::MediaWikiToFoswikiContrib::Converter::convert('Foswiki::Contrib::MediaWikiToFoswikiContrib::Converter=HASH(0x9262c10) called at /export/foswiki/lib/Foswiki/Contrib/MediaWikiToFoswikiContrib.pm line 87
Foswiki::Contrib::MediaWikiToFoswikiContrib::main() called at ./mediawiki2foswiki line 82
root@linux-client:/export/foswiki/tools# vi /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode.pm

I'm not much of a Perl expert myself, but I understand the the 'use of uninitialized value' are warnings and the main problem seems to lie within the ...Unknown encoding '' at /usr/lib/perl/5.18/Encode.pm line 174.
Encode::decode(undef, '__NOATTACHMENTS__\x{a}\x{a}== FieldWiki \x{a}\x{a} Analytics ==\x{ ... part of the output.

There seems to be an encoding problem. I would appreciate any help on this. I even tried the same tool with another MediaWiki xml dump I downloaded off the web and I get the same errors.
I'm not sure if the workarounds for the first 2 issues I faced are correct, but I believe they are not related to the 3rd issue.
At your disposal for any further clarificaton
Thanks in advance

Pavlos
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm using perl 5.18.2 and the system is:
root@linux-client:/export/foswiki/tools# lsb_release -a
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 14.04.2 LTS
Release: 14.04
Codename: trusty