Export Import option in SharePoint 2010

Though SharePoint 2010 provides an option for export where SharePoint 2010 allows you to export websites and lists and also an import option, where a user can import a site or a list.

Export:

You can use central administration, stsadm or powershell to export a site or a list.

Stsadm:

STSADM -o export -url <url> -filename <filename>

There are also lots of optional parameters are available.

PowerShell:

Export-SPWeb <url> -path <filename>

There are also lots of optional parameters are available.

Still it has some limitations for which we should use backup rather than export.

Limitations of Export:

- Export is just like copy a web site.

- But here are some characterstics that export will not keep like Settings not preserved are workflow associations and instances, file check-out status, alert subscriptions, tags and notes, and personal Web part settings.

- It takes long time and place a large burden on your farm.

- Microsoft is recommending not to export more than 1 GB.

Import:

You can use stsadm or powershell to import a web site or a list. But to import a site first the top level site should be created with the matching site defination (like team site or blank site etc) and also no content need to be there.

SharePoint will create the child web sites automatically, but top level site needs to be created before import.

If you are importing a list, if the lists exists then it must be the same template. If the list does not exists SharePoint will create.

Stsadm command:

STSADM -o import -url <url> -filename <filename>

There are also lots of optional parameters are available.

PowerShell commad:

Import-SPWeb <url> -Path <filename>

There are also lots of optional parameters are available.