Overview
Tyndale University is a Canadian private Christian university in Toronto, Ontario, which offers a wide range of programs at the undergraduate, seminary & graduate levels. Built on over 125 years of history, Tyndale alumni are working in private, public and not-for-profit industries. Tyndale university sought to modernize its online presence by upgrading its website from Drupal 7 to a more secure and efficient version. The existing website had complex configurations, multiple content types, and numerous active users managing content. OPTASY was engaged to facilitate a smooth transition to Drupal 10/11, ensuring minimal disruption while improving performance, security, and maintainability.
Goals and Challenges
Goals:
- Ensure a seamless transition without compromising content structure and functionality.
- Implement a phased approach to migration to avoid major disruptions.
- Set up and maintain a reliable redirection system between the new and legacy sites.
Challenges:
- Managing the migration of a highly complex website with 57 active content types and 100+ view displays.
- Ensuring compatibility of existing content and user access with the new Drupal version.
- Implementing seamless redirects between the new Drupal 10 site (www.tyndale.ca) and the legacy Drupal 7 site (www2.tyndale.ca).
- Working within tight time constraints while ensuring a high-quality upgrade.
- Coordinating across multiple stakeholders to align expectations and technical requirements.
Solutions (How OPTASY Helped)
OPTASY leveraged its expertise in Drupal development and website migration to execute a seamless transition. The project was divided into two key phases: upgrading the core website and implementing the necessary redirects.
- Drupal 10/11 Upgrade: Upgraded the core website from Drupal 9.5.11 to Drupal 10/11, ensuring the latest security patches and performance improvements.
- Module Updates & Compatibility Fixes: Updated contributed modules to align with Drupal 10/11 and ensure full functionality post-migration.
- Phased Website Launch: Implemented a two-phase approach, launching key areas on the new site first while maintaining the remaining content on the existing Drupal 7 site.
- Seamless Redirection System: Configured server-side redirects to ensure users are directed to the correct version of the website depending on their requested content.
- Testing & Quality Assurance: Conducted rigorous QA testing to identify and resolve any issues before the final deployment.
- Client Training & Support: Provided Tyndale University with post-launch guidance to help them manage content and website functionality effectively.
“ OPTASY delivered a custom module, which worked well on both Drupal 7 and Drupal 10 sites. The team completed the project ahead of schedule and responded promptly to the client's needs and concerns. Despite the time zone difference, they facilitated the meeting during the client's typical work day.”
Andy Smith | Manager, Website Strategy & Development, Tyndale University
Results and Achievements
The successful execution of the project resulted in significant improvements for Tyndale University’s online presence.
- Modernized Digital Infrastructure: A secure and scalable website built on the latest version of Drupal.
- Improved Performance & Security: Faster load times and enhanced security measures to protect user data.
- Seamless User Experience: Maintained website accessibility and usability across both old and new site versions.
- Efficient Content Management: Enabled Tyndale’s team to manage content more effectively with updated tools and a streamlined workflow.
- Long-Term Partnership Potential: Positioned OPTASY as a trusted partner for ongoing website maintenance and support.