University of Iowa Case Study: Drupal 8 to Drupal 10 Migration
Midwest Archaeological
Conference
Academic organization upgraded from Drupal 8 with Ubercart to Drupal 10 with Commerce, preserving 10+ years of membership data
Visit MAC WebsiteAdvancing Archaeological Research in the Midwest
The Midwest Archaeological Conference (MAC) is a professional organization affiliated with the University of Iowa, dedicated to advancing archaeological research and scholarship across the American Midwest. For over six decades, MAC has connected archaeologists, researchers, students, and enthusiasts who share a passion for uncovering and preserving the region's rich cultural heritage - from ancient indigenous civilizations to historic settlements.
Drupal 8 Ubercart to Drupal 10 Commerce
CodeLift migrated the organization from an aging Drupal 8 platform with Ubercart to a modern Drupal 10 site with Drupal Commerce. The migration preserved complex membership workflows, conference registration systems, PayPal integration, and years of historical data while ensuring long-term maintainability.
The Importance of Digital Preservation in Archaeology
Archaeology is the scientific study of human history through the excavation and analysis of artifacts, structures, and other physical remains. In the Midwest, archaeological research reveals thousands of years of human habitation - from Paleoindian hunters who followed megafauna across glacial landscapes to the sophisticated mound-building cultures of the Mississippian period, and the diverse Native American nations who shaped the land before European contact.
The Midwest Archaeological Conference plays a vital role in this scientific community by facilitating the exchange of research findings, organizing annual meetings where scholars present their discoveries, and maintaining a network of professionals dedicated to preserving and understanding the region's archaeological heritage. Their website serves as a digital hub connecting this community - managing memberships, facilitating conference registrations, and providing access to scholarly resources.
When technology ages, so does the ability to serve this mission. CodeLift's modernization ensures MAC can continue advancing archaeological knowledge for decades to come.
About the Client
"The Midwest Archaeological Conference has been connecting archaeologists and researchers across the region since 1958. Our website is essential for managing memberships, coordinating our annual meetings, and keeping our community connected. Having a modern, secure platform ensures we can continue this mission well into the future."
Migration Approach
Ubercart to Commerce Migration
We executed a structured migration from the legacy Ubercart e-commerce system to Drupal Commerce. This involved carefully preserving membership purchase workflows, conference registration products, and PayPal payment integration while modernizing the underlying architecture.
Complex Membership System
MAC's sophisticated role-based membership system - including lifetime members, current members, board members, and conference registrants - was meticulously migrated. Custom modules ensure that completed purchases automatically assign appropriate user roles.
Pantheon Cloud Hosting
The site was deployed on Pantheon's enterprise hosting platform, providing robust infrastructure with development, test, and live environments. This enables safe updates and staging of changes before they go live.
Legacy Data Cleanup
Custom update hooks were developed to clean up legacy Ubercart data structures and normalize file paths from previous migrations. This ensures the database is clean and optimized for the new platform.
Conference Registration Workflows
The annual meeting registration system, with its complex pricing tiers (MAC members, non-members, students, tribal representatives), visibility-controlled content blocks, and presenter submission forms was fully preserved and enhanced.
Always Up-to-Date SLA
Under CodeLift's maintenance agreement, MAC benefits from continuous security updates and version upgrades. The site will always run on the latest supported Drupal version with all security patches applied.
Modern Platform for Archaeological Scholarship
The Midwest Archaeological Conference now operates on Drupal 10 with Drupal Commerce, providing a secure, maintainable foundation for their scholarly community. The migration preserved all critical functionality - from membership management and conference registration to content publishing and community communication - while establishing a platform that will support MAC's mission for years to come.
Key Metrics
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566 configuration files migrated and verified
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68 webforms preserved including conference registration and membership pledges
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58 views and 57 content blocks maintained
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11 user roles with complex visibility rules preserved
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PayPal Commerce checkout fully operational
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SLA: Always on the latest Drupal version
Behind the Migration
"Working with academic and research organizations like MAC is particularly rewarding. Their website isn't just a marketing tool - it's essential infrastructure for a scholarly community. The complex membership system, conference registration workflows, and years of historical data required careful handling. We're proud to help preserve the digital home of Midwest archaeology."
Technical Highlights
E-Commerce
- Drupal Commerce with PayPal integration
- Multiple product variation types for membership options
- Automated role assignment on purchase completion
- Guest checkout with order assignment
Membership Management
- 11 distinct user roles (lifetime, current, board, registrant, etc.)
- 15 block visibility groups for role-based content
- Rules-based automatic role assignment
- Membership renewal workflows
Conference Management
- Annual meeting registration forms
- Presenter and symposium organizer submissions
- Tiered pricing based on membership status
- Meeting preference collection
Infrastructure
- Pantheon enterprise hosting
- Dev/Test/Live environment workflow
- Automated backups and security
- Mailgun email integration
Managed Drupal Upgrade Service
With CodeLift® your Drupal site is upgraded seamlessly to the latest Drupal version. It stays current, stable and secure on the latest version.
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SEO, Design and User Journeys Are Tested and Verified -
Dedicated Senior Developer, Start to Finish
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Fixed Project and Monthly Continuation Pricing
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Automated Steady-State-Update
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Upgrade to Latest Drupal Version
CodeLift ® is an official Drupal Certified Migration Partner of the Drupal Association
Specialized in Drupal upgrades
| CodeLift | Web Agencies |
|---|---|
| ✅ Drupal Upgrades | 🚫 Generic Development |
| ✅ Fixed Project and Monthly Continuation Pricing | 🚫 Consultancy services |
| ✅ Steady State Update | 🚫 Complete overhaul |
| ✅ Repeatable automation | 🚫 Ad-hoc solutions |
