Question

I’ve exported a number of sites from one SharePoint server. I have created a web application (url http://jps) but have not yet created a site collection. I am attempting to import these sites on another server, and have three questions.

1) Do I need to create an empty site collection to import to?

2) If I export the top-level site collection, will the import add all of the subwebs beneath it or do I need to export and import each sub web and then use the Site Content and Structure page to manage?

3) I am getting an error when running the following command:

stsadm -o import -url
http://jps/gpwkspace -filename
“E:\Backups\JPsExport\jp_gpwkspace.dat”
-includeusersecurity

The site http://jps/gpwkspace could
not be found in the Web application
SPWebApplication Name=SharePoint –
jps80 Parent=SPWebService.

Answer 1

1) Yes, create a blank site or whatever, it will be overwritten but you need to have something present (there might be a stsadm parameter to avoid this, but it’s straigthforward to create an empty blank site through stsadm or central admin so …)

2) Export > Import at the site collection level will export and then import everything underneath.

3) Do you have a valid web application (I guess so, jps80) and at least one site collection (see my first answer) even if it’s a blank site ?