Export and Import SharePoint Contents (List and Site)

Introduction

We often need to export and import SharePoint content, like lists, libraries and sites from one site to another.

This article explains granular export and import in SharePoint.

How to Export and Import SharePoint contents

We can export sites, libraries and lists from the Central Administration using the following procedure.

  1.  Go to Start -> All Programs -> Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Products -> SharePoint 2010 Central Administration.

  2.  Click Backup and Restore and Select Export a Site or List.

    Backup and Restore

  3.  Now you are redirected to a page where you have options to select site collections, sites and lists as below.

    site collection

  4.  I need to take a backup of a list that is on a root site of the site collection so I have made change as below. Also specify the location where you must store the backup file (cmp).

    backup file

  5.  Click Start Export.

  6.  You will be redirected to a page where your activity status will be shown as below. This page is refreshed automatically every 30 seconds. You can also refresh it on-demand by clicking on the Refresh link.

    Refresh link

  7. You can also export content using a PowerShell command as below:

    Export-SPWeb -Identity http://win-ohmrv9tijth:1000/ -Path “c:/BackupPShell/Region.cmp” -ItemURL "Region" –Force

    PowerShell

  8.  Next go to the server where the content is to be imported.

  9.  You can import content using a PowerShell command as below:

    Import-SPWeb http://win-hcapniqsuj5:5555/ -Path D:\cmps\Region.cmp -UpdateVersions Overwrite

    Import

  10. The exported list is shown as below:

    Exported list

Conclusion
 
This article explained Export and Import SharePoint contents.