I think it’s been pretty common knowledge that you can open up a Document Library in Windows Explorer view to move mass documents to other folders or libraries. But there’s a drawback to that method because the document’s properties get updated in the process – mainly the modified date/time as well as the user would take on the role of the person that ‘Last modified’ the document. This also applies to copying list data in data sheet view from one list to another.
Some have figured out a different way where you can save the current list or Document Library as a template with content included and redeploying that to other locations. Unfortunately this method will also overwrite the last modified timestamps and also the ‘Created by’ property with the time that the list was recreated and by the person that created it, respectively.
So if you want to move the contents of a SharePoint Document Library or List and be able to preserve the item’s metadata/property values at the same time you should use this method:
1. Create a blank destination List or Document Library. You don’t have to worry about recreating custom fields and whatnot. The move process will do this for you.
2. Go to the ‘Site Content and Structure’ page. You can access this site with either Site Actions > Site Settings or http://portal/_Layouts/sitemanager.aspx
3. Navigate to your source List or Document Library and mark all the items that you would like to have moved. Then click on Actions > Move…
4. You’ll then be prompted with a pop-up that will let you navigate to your destination List or Document Library. After you find that, just press the OK button and you’ll be good to go!
So by using this method, you’ll be able to preserve all of the document properties/metadata while moving list items or documents from one location to another!
The SharePoint Swiss Army Knife 
Interesting post. But I have a problem with it.
What settings source site must have? I have got the next message ” The current operation could not be completed. Try again, or contact your system administrator. The operation did not succeed because the site was not provisioned with publishing resources
” when I try to copy source items. I’m site collection administrator for this site collection
you have to make sure the settings and structure is same for both libraries. it will error out otherwise.
Simple, just turn on publishing feature in your site collection features and then in your site features, otherwise you will get the above message. You don’t have to maintain the settings and structure.
Thanks,
Bharath
Is this feature only available in SharePoint 2007?, I cannot find the “Content and Structure” option in SharePoint Services v3.0
Hey Chris, possibly only for MOSS 2007. I haven’t tried this with WSS v3.
Maxim, maybe you have to turn on the Office SharePoint Server Publishing Infrastructure Feature? Not sure if it’ll work without it. I’ve only tested this on MOSS 2007 using the Enterprise Collaboration Portal Template.
Yes, you’re right.
It seems to me this feature works only for site which was created from the Collaboration Portal template (and may be for other MOSS site templates). It doesn’t work for sites from the usual WSS templates (ie Team Site, Blank Site). At least I didn’t get this feature working with these site templates.
I was wrong. Now it works with Team Site also. Great!
Another great benefit of using the Site Content and Structure tool to move documents:
If there are pages with links to those documents within the site collection, those links will be updated to the new location.
Found it, Used it, Loved it…pure genius!
This post is kind of a solution to my problem but when I tried doing this i get an error indicating that “This feature is not supported for List and Folders”.
It would be helpfull if anyone to help with the following problem.
I am doing Incremental Migration from Lotus notes to Sharepoint. I have successfully generated an XML file for the data from teh Lotus notes. Now I would like to overwrite the Metadata information in teh Sharepoint with the one that I have retrieved from Notes.
Thank you
Not only is it not supported for folders, but I am unable to even see the contents of the subfolders to move them individually. 😦
Are there any tools out there that allow moving, copying and organizing list content without a Phd in computer science?
What if other sites have links to the documents or list items, which you are moving?? Will the links be preserved or is ther another way to do this??
At the moment if you move a document from site A to B. And Site B has a link to site A … the link now opens a blank page.
Thanks.
Gitte Persson
How did you get it working? I’m getting
“The current operation could not be completed. Try Again or contact your system administrator. The operation did not succeed because the site was not provisioned with publishing resources”
I solved the same problem.
make sure your document libraries has the same structure. remove column indexing from your original library, make sure same columns being displayed on the default view and it works. let me know if you have more questions
Hi I have same problem, i did as you said, i still have same error, please any help.
Im getting a file not found error when i try to migrate my sharepoint list using sitemanager
I have tried in my site. In the content and structure, i have selected docs from the src lib and when select the actions menu, i have given only with delete option.Other two options(move,copy) are disabled. Can any one help me out in this. I am using MOSS 2007. My site type is “Team Site”.
When you say “my site” do you talk about the “My Site” feature? Because I cannot found the “content and structure” feature under My Site…
Thanks
Have you figured out how to get the copy and move options activated? I’m having the same problem where I only have the option to delete. I’m trying to move a discussion board to a different location within the same site.
Thanks.
This tool isn’t available in WSS 3.0, only MOSS 2007.
There is a stand alone tool developed by a SharePoint “fan” that can help you do this regardless of what version of SharePoint (WSS or MOSS) you’re using but I can’t recall it’s name of the top of my head.
For senthil, you need to go “into” the list or lib and select the individual items to move, not the list itself.
That said, I’m having issue trying to move 3 list items to a site list above and below the current site:
Attempt to move url(s): https://sharepointqa.company.com/sites/gis/Collaboration/Lists/Tasks/1_.000;https://sharepointqa.company.com/sites/gis/Collaboration/Lists/Tasks/3_.000;https://sharepointqa.company.com/sites/gis/Collaboration/Lists/Tasks/2_.000; failed. Please try again
moss2007sp1 master admin
Thoughts?
i need move folder to other library,
this folder is content type,
How to do this ?
Thanks.
This also seems to have problems with lists containing calculated columns.
Cool! If you take a library with a lookup-column, and you copy the items to a library on another site, the lookup-column is still referencing the list on the original site! Woohooo! Cross-site lookups as a side effect.
I need to move content around to a site collection under different web application. Is there a way to do this with meta data intact
Hey Atul, not out of the box but you can do it programmatically .
Hi Henry, could you possibly point me to some code set that follows the process you detailed in this article? Thanks
Hi Henry,
Is there anyway to copy Excel/MSword document from sharepoint(Moss2007) to another locaion(not to sharepoint application its like external location) automatically when we upload new/existing document to document library..
Hi Sampath,
Yes, you can do this using an event receiver attached to the document library,
When I try this on MOSS 2007 I receive this message no matter what I try. “The destination list is incompatible with the source item.”
The source item is a “Project Task” list under the “Tracking” heading in the create section. I’ve tried copy/move to a blank custom list a blank project tracking list, and a fully customized (identical) project tracking list.
Any ideas?
Hey Is, I’ve come across this a long time ago and the only thing I remember coming up with is that some lists have special schemas that can’t get replicated on a list of a different base template. Your mileage may vary.
Yeah… thanks. I’m stuck with a broken list and no way of getting it fixed as far as I can tell.
This method is cool, but would be extreamly time intensive, in my case , because I can’t move folders. So you have to create an entire subfolder structure first, in each doc library.
Great Post! I have never worked with Content and Structure before. I never liked the copy-paste method because of losing the properties. Appreciate the information.
Great method, but I need to move a Document Library from one site collection to another and in the navigation dialog box I am restricted to the site collection where the source library resides. Any ideas or other methods?
TAT, Use SharePoint Designer (Free to download) to export your library and then import it in the destination site.
JH, Use SharePoint Designer (Free to download) to export your library and then import it in the destination site.
Hey JH, the only other ways I can think of are programmatically.
Hi this works nicely on one of our sites after I activated Office SharePoint Server Publishing Infrastructure Feature. On other sites however I can’t find this feature in the list to activate??
Great…
Actually I want to move a List content from one sharepoint team site to another team site on other server. It should be done daily.
I want to create a XML Webservice .. Please can anyone help me…
If you have any ideas… Please suggest me
Instead of move, I tried to copy an issue tracking list. Everything seems to work perfectly except the “description” column did not get copied. The column was left blank. I even tried matching all the column settings before copying, still did not work. Anything special about the description column?
Thanks in advance.
senthil ,
I have noticed that certain type of document cannot be move, in that case the move to option is disabled. It is a little bit of try and see so you have to uncheck these types. It might also have to do with big files.
hope it helps you.
In testing, I got four files to move to a blank document library. Is there a way to move the files to a non-empty folder? Thanks.
I still have a problem moving to a non-empty folder. When I moved from the (new) doc lib A to folder B, the modified date on the object(s) was/were changed to today. The modified by was not changed. Can we get around this?
I was excited to give this a try, but it might not work for me… I can’t see the directory structure of the target site from the destination site. They’re both internal to my workplace. Any ideas how to see one from the other?
Thanks!
Hey Myron, this may occur if your 2 sites exist in different site collections.
This only works for me when moving a list item from one list to another. If I attempt to move a list item from one folder to another in the same list I get error
Attempt ot move url whatever/13.0 failed. Try again.
any way around this?
hi did you ever manage to figure the copy to sub folder of the same list?
fn
Great post! Your method works to preserve almost all of the document properties/metadata of all document versions.
However, the modified property of the oldest version of a document (usually version o.1) is set to the date & time that you perfomed the move. This is clearly unwished-for…is there any way to avoid this???
Hey Mark, that might be possible if done programmatically.
Hi ! Please tell how to do this using code for site collections under different web applications in MOSS .. can this also be done for SharePoint 2003 using code ?
Any way to copy/move the source document’s Created date? It’s copying every column except the creation date.
i was able to copy list items from a blog post list to custom list type but none of the columns from blog post got created in the destination list
what kind of list should i create to migrate blog post list data
your help is appreciated
thanks
################################
Maxim Shulga // January 23, 2008 at 2:00 am
I was wrong. Now it works with Team Site also. Great!
################################
Hi Maxim,
how did you get the feature running on your MOSS? We also want to move Content (Lists, Documents etc…) by using “Content and Structure” in WSS Team-Sites. These Teamsites are located in seperate Sitecollections in a MOSS 2007 Server.
Hey Kersten, this feature cannot be used across site collections.
hi henry,
i was able to copy list items from a blog post list to custom list type but none of the columns from blog post got created in the destination list
what kind of list should i create to migrate blog post list data
also when i creating a new posts list within a existing blog site, it says that we can have only one instance of posts list is possible
i want to move over a blog post list to another location, i have various custom columns created, could you suggest how to achieve this
your help is appreciated
thanks
Hey Bob, I know that the Blog Doc Libraries are a little bit different as they inherit multiple content types or something like that.
Perhaps you can try creating a new blog site to import to instead of a custom list? Sorry, I haven’t tried moving blog posts. Let us know how it goes. Thanks!
This is useful – having just migrated to 2007 I’m quite interested in finding out as much as I can so I can help our end users. I’m even more interested in some of the back-end stuff, likeGary LaPointe’s stsadm extension.
I got here by way of Google, asking how I could manually or programmatically change the system-set “created by” field of a list item. For example, we SharePoint Admins use our normal human accounts for most everything, and then sign in as our “super user admin” account when we need to do something.
Inevitably, we inadvertantly add something somewhere as the super user admin and I want to change it back to my normal account for reporting purposes.
If you have a tip, let me know!
Hey Whall, I don’t know of any tools out there but I’m quite sure you can change the created by programmatically. Maybe have some kind of loop going through everything in a particular site switching out a specific ‘Created By’ value with anything you want. Let us know if you find anything!
Referring to comment by RH on February 20, 2008 – I am receiving the same error message – Attempt to move url(s)….failed. Please try again. Anyone have a resolution to this problem?
Henry: Thanks for the excellent tip.
All: I’m having a problem similar to senthil above: disabled move/copy options in content and structure on MOSS 2007.
It’s a discussion board and I’ve tried moving/copying at the board and the item level, but the options are greyed/disabled at both levels. In the same site, I can move list items and documents just fine. It seems the only problem is with discussion boards and their items.
Anyone done this successfully?
Thanks.
After turning on the Office SharePoint Server Publishing Infrastructure Feature on my test SharePoint server, I was able to move documents and list items using the Content and Structure option without any problems. On my production SharePoint server, I had to do an IISReset after turning on the Office SharePoint Server Publishing Infrastructure Feature before I could successfully move items and documents using the Content and Structure option.
Hi folks,
we had the same problem (disabled “move” and “copy” item).
So be sure that you have no docs in your lib being checked out while trying to move the content.
This was the fault when we tried it. After checking in all docs in the lib the menu items “move” and “copy” will appear!
But unfortunately we are facing a lot of problems with look-up columns.
E.g. in our doc library all metadata is transferred to the new destination, but when you upload a new item in the destination one look-up column has lost it “connection” to its data (containing the possible options as a drop-down).
A second list (tasks) is loosing all its metadata in the look-up columns. But when adding a new item to the task list you´ll find all the correct options in the drop-downs from the look-up columns.
We´ve tried the hole move-process twice and alsways the same result… help for frustrated admins is appreciated 😉
BR,
Netzzwerg
Henry,
This is a great tip for preserving date/user information if the document already exists in SharePoint. How would you go about preserving date/user information for companies that are just setting up SharePoint and want to migrate years of old documents into the system?
Thanks!
Chris
Hey Chris, I think I’ve seen a partner product that does this but I don’t have the name of the company or software off the top of my head. The product/company is specific to migrating data from file shares to SharePoint.
There is a product from Simego called Data Synchronisation Studio that does exactly what you’re looking for.
http://www.simego.com/Products/Data-Synchronisation-Studio
Hope this helps!
Hey Chris, I was just going through a copy of Windows IT Pro and noticed a mention of using Robocopy for moving files. I haven’t tried it yet but it says that Robocopy can also copy file attributes. Perhaps you can use it to copy to a SharePoint UNC path.
Just tested robocopy and it gets us half way there. The attributes are saved if you view the Document Library in Actions > Open with Windows Explorer but not in the Doc Lib’s web interface. 😦
robocopy source destination /COPY:DAT
Save yourself the headache!!!!!!
I love sharepoint but the copy / move is restricted to site collection and isnt all that robust… I highly recommend you try this free tool from codeplex…
http://www.codeplex.com/SPDeploymentWizard
AND this tool also maintains the MODIFIED BY and MODIFY DATE… which is like icing on the cake if you ask me!
Thanks Joaquin!
this is a great post! But how would I move folders between Lists preserving the metadata?
Thanks
Bob
The resaon you dont get the comments copied with the rest of your blog is that the original post and the comments are in two different lists.
I have tried to find a way to achieve the exact same thing as you, but without any luck im affraid.
Hi, is it possible to copy list from task list to another task list ? If possible, how to do it ? because i was tried to copy but nothing happen.
Thanks
Is it possible to retain document properties captured in the file if it sits in a file share (migrating from file share to SharePoint document library)? When we are migrating files from our file share to SharePoint, the date modified and created by and all that automatically captures the info at time of migration (even if the file is really 5 years old, etc.)
Hi, I am trying to move documents from one Document Library to another Document library in a different site inside the same collection. But I am getting below error message. Can anybody help me to figure out why this error message is coming up.
Help appreciated.
Thanks
An error was encountered performing this operation.
hi, while moving documents one doclib to another doclib, the modified column has been changed to current date.
Create a template of your list/library.
For those of you with WSS 3.0, I’ve heard that this works (not sure if it also works with MOSS 2007):
1. Go to your list/library page
2. Settings –> Discussion Board Settings (or whatever)
3. Click “Save XXX as template”
4. Fill out form and make sure to check “Include Content”
5. Download the template to your PC
6. Go to new site
7. Site Actions –> Site Settings –> Site Templates
8. Upload the template to the new site
9. Create the new list/library from the template
This practice moves meta data, but does not prevent an overwrite of the modified/timestamp related information. All documents/items will show the user logged in during the move as the most recent user to modify and the date/time the move occured as the most recent change.
I use the built-in tools in SharePoint to move lists…
http://armsinfragilehands.blogspot.com/2008/10/checking-in-multiple-documents-at-once.html
Hi,
I also have to export/import a List/library between 2 site collections.
I’ve tried the SPDeploymentWizard. It actually preserves the Created By and Modified By, but overwrites the Created Date with the import date. Do I have to use the “Retain Object Identity”-Option to get the CreatedDate imported correctly?
Hi there,
I am emailing you regarding a tricky issue, I hope you could help me in it.
I am working on a project and dealing with so many lists, and of course there are so many “Lookup Fields” between those lists.
Now I want to transfer these lists to a new environment which already has data and I have no idea how to handle that because I don’t want to override the data and of course I want to keep the connections between these Lookup Fields, How can I do that ???
Somehow my problem is pretty close to this entry:
http://objectmix.com/sharepoint/294151-moving-lists-one-sharepoint-server-another.html
So far, the only way I know how to do that is to export the data to Excel and use Access 2007 to import again so its about how to create Lookup fields with the APIs. I have actually tried several times but never gotten around to do it in another better way, do you have any idea or another option/suggestion or code make me able to handle this issue?
I look forward to hearing from you soon please!
Sincerely,
–Alex
Hi,
I am using WSS 3.0 and not able to the find the menu items shown by Henry after following the navigation advice.
Been going through these posts from beginning till end. Someone ask whether it works for WSS 3.0 but I didnt seem to see an obvious answer that says ‘No’.
Can those who try it with WSS 3.0 successfully let me know whether it can be done ? If yes, appreciate guidance.
Thanks,
Jupp
Like Dre (Feb 01 post), I received a File not Found error when trying to move docs from one library to another – within the same site collection. I am using MOSS 2007 and have all permissions. I have seven libraries that I need to move and they are too large to save as templates.
Any suggestions on how to avoid getting the File not Found error (that don’t involve using code)? I have verified that I can can open the docs in the source libraries.
Thanks,
Michael
Sorry – correcting my e-mail address.
For those that are having trouble, you may want to try writing a small app that does this programmatically. I recently found this great post to help you get started: http://nehasinha.wordpress.com/2008/07/18/archiving-items-in-a-splist/
Of if you’re interested, feel free to contact me in regards to my consulting/SharePoint Help Desk services. blog [@] henryong.com.
Hi
Does anyone know of a way I can export and import Sharepoint lists, from one server to another, and still preserve the system data such as created by?
Cheers
Kate
I’m having a problem similar to senthil above: disabled move/copy options in content and structure on MOSS 2007.
It’s a discussion board and I’ve tried moving/copying at the board and the item level, but the options are greyed/disabled at both levels. In the same site, I can move list items and documents just fine. It seems the only problem is with discussion boards and their items.
Anyone done this successfully?
Please Henry Help me its urgent
Thanks.
Meera
I’m not sure if you can assist me but I’m trying to figure out why the meta data for my date fields will not load into my sharepoint doc lib. I created custom fields and when it is save into sharepoint… sharepoint blanks out the dates…why
Hi Henry
Thanks for the post ! I would like to move a custom list within site collection but wondering if all created views for that list will be moved too ? Or I will need to re-create them on the new place again ?
Thanks.
I just tried it and can connfirm – NO any list views neither columns’ structure will be moved, just a list data. So everybody have to know that such method is good only for the entire list data moving. Then you will need to re-create all old list views again. So I would recommend to store your list as a template with content before moving.
Why not to use export import objects?
there you can specify what lists and where to move them, just create a dummy console application, and specify all objects, if you need a code let me know.
at this case the whole lists will be moved including all views
dude, your flickr images aren’t showing.. i see the red ‘X’ for all images.
I am trying this move function and getting the following error:
“The formula refers to a column that does not exist. Check the formula for spelling mistakes or change the non-existing column to an existing column.”
We have recently migrated the team site from WSS to MOSS and now I want to move our Project Tracking list to the new location. I have tried Export To/Import From Spreadsheet function and it’s not only missing links and other information, quite a bit of it has to be cleaned up.
How do you “check the formula for spelling mistakes…”, or how do I get around this?
Am also having some issues with custom field columns
Is it possible to move/copy list under/into document library?
I have tried this in the Navigation but unable to do the same.
We have a product called MetaVis CLASSIFIER that does exactly this. There is currently no charge for its use at this time because we are in our beta program.
http://www.metavistech.com/CLASSIFIER
MetaVis CLASSIFIER lets users apply metadata and move/copy files anywhere in SharePoint with just a few clicks. Tag and move previously loaded documents, en masse, with regulatory data, retention dates and useful keywords.
This is cool but I appear to be losing my workflow metadata. Any idea how I can preserve the workflow info?
Did you get an answer or is this a Sharepoint limitation?
I would guess it’s a non-feature.
How do I move a survey across site collections using this method. Ineed to preserve the metadata.
Can this be done with Team Discussion topics? I need to move a couple from one discussion to another.
This is WONDERFUL! You just put 3rd party “move” vendors out of business! I wonder why Microsoft makes this SOOO hard to find/figure out! We had to buy an expensive tool for WSS 3.0 to move docs and retain metadata, and figured we’d have to buy another product for MOSS, but this is AWESOME! THANKS!
Hi Terri,
MetaVis Classifier http://www.metavistech.com/bulk is inexpensive and can move documents and metadata very easily from your file system or different SharePoint sites In addition, it allows you to reclassify the documents during the move. You can try it for free for 7 days by downloading it from our site. It takes 5 mins to install to your workstation and see if you like it.
Hi Henry, I am unable to preserve version history of lists copied within a site collection using above method. Any insight?
Could it work accross SPWeb in the same SPSite?
Hello, Henry,
I have a unique situation. I am migrating from Sharepoint 2007 to Sharepoint 2003. The reasons for this are for security as we’ll migrating data onto a more secure, government server. I was able to migrate everything EXCEPT the owners/authors of the list databases (Actions, Risk Register, Calendar, Time-off Calendar). I don’t want to manually input them as they will number in the thousands. Please advise.
Hey Kevin, what kind of tool did you use to migrate from 2007 to 2003?
Hi Kevin, MetaVis now supports copying content and site structure between SharePoint 2003, 2007 and 2010. We thought most people would want to move from SharePoint 2003 to 2007 or SharePoint 2007 to 2010. We hadn’t anticipated anyone wanting to downgrade from 2007 to 2003 but as it happens we support Migration in any direction. If you would like to give it a try please download MetaVis Architect Suite Trial Addition and during the registration put a note in about your problem and we can send you a special license key that will allow this functionality. You can download the trial at http://www.metavistech.com. Hope this helps.
Hi Henry, i have followed your steps to the letter but the modified date changes to the time i have moved the documents not the last time the doc was actually modified on the site? Any ideas what i am doing wrong?
Thanks
Spencer
that was really kewl, thanks alot!
I am able to successfully move a custom list from one site to another using this method on our development Sharepoint server. However, it doesn’t work on our production server. I can copy or move the list using “manage content and structure” but it only copies and/or moves the few columns to the destination list. Any ideas?
can someone tell if a folder can be moved from one document library to another within the same site. I see the move icon greyed out in the content and structure.
Hi, My requirements are to migrate version history & metadata with doc libraries/lists across site collections and/or subsites in one site collection. After using your method, the metadata and version history was successfully migrated however when opening the document it was corrupt. In other words, I used a text document filled with english text and when I opened the document it was filled with Japanese text.
Has anyone experienced this?
In order to migrate/copy documents libraries, to copy documents from one library to another library, or from an existing library to a new library:
1. Save the existing Document Library as a template, and if the contents of the library exceed the 10MB limit, do not include them.
2. Create a second (new) Document Library based on the template from #1.
If the library’s content was successfully saved in the template (i.e. it was less than 10MB) then the migration/copy process is complete.
If however, the content was not saved in the template, then proceed to step #3
3. From inside the first (original) Document Library, click: “Actions > Open with Windows Explorer”, and a new Explorer window will open showing the directly structure of the library.
4. From inside the second (new) Document Library, click: “Actions > Open with Windows Explorer”, and a new Explorer window will open showing the directly structure of the library.
5. Drag files from the first (original) Document Library into the second (new) Document Library. All metadata should be preserved. Additionally, if you would like to copy the documents (and not simply move them), hold down shift while dragging the files (i.e. copy and paste) from one window to another.
Hi,Can anyone help me with some tutorials/documents on migration from websphere to sharepoint.
SharePoint Migration has become so easy by using Xavor’s SharePoint Migrator. I have used that personally by free downloading from Xavor’s website. The software can migrate tons of terra bytes of data from WSS 3.0 to MOSS 2007. Besides that, I have found another useful tool in their website named as SharePoint Admin Tool that allows site administrator one click access to a set of useful administrative tools like check access of security principle and add web part options. Both Softwares can be downloaded from the following link for absolutely free.
http://www.xavor.com/whatwedo/solutions/OneClickSharepoint.aspx
Here are the links for further details of both software products.
http://www.xavor.com/whatwedo/solutions/sharepointmigrationtool.aspx
http://www.xavor.com/whatwedo/solutions/xavorsharepointadmintools.aspx
henry ong = the *man*
Thanks for the tip.
BTW, if you want to move folders/files while preserving properties, you can use Sharepoint Designer.
Hi Guy,
Could you elaborate on the steps involved to achieve this? I’m using SharePoint Designer 2010 to import files, but the date created & modified fields are being modified to the time of transfer.
Many thanks,
Ross.
Perfect solution for me worked great! thanks!
Hey I tried this method but ran into issues. After much research I found that if you have set a limit on the total uplaod size, then this functinality will not work if you select documents and exceeds the size of the total upload.
I increase the size of the total upload and it started to wrok fine. Thanks for your article. It was good to start with.
http://www.ekhichdi.com/a/Sharepoint-alerts-not-working-87.html
I thought this had saved me a bunch of time re-creating a list, however now in the new location when a new item is created, the only field available is title?
This is Amazing. Perfect Solution 🙂
I moved all my documents already using windows explorer. Can I retrieve created by and created date from version history?
if you only have the option to delete you are retarted. I am 12 years old and even I know you can only move individual documents at once not a whole folder. click on the folder to see its contents dummy
perfect solution thanks jo jo. The rest of these idots sharing a cubical tried to get all technical thinking they sound important. Shout out get a real job and feed your kids assholes
Hey great guide jo jo, thanks for making this. Just wondering, does this only work when moving things within a site collection? I’m pretty sure it wont work across sites, but I just thought I would double check. Thank you for the help!
Your instructions just destroyed my list!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the extra work…Now I have to figure out how to restore it all before my boss has a baby!
Hey Henry,
ok…so i have a toolBook document that i am deploying as a DHTML document. I am trying to upload this to sharepoint but the link seems to get broken when it gets uploaded. When toolBook deploys the files it creates a folder with all sorts of stuff in it. I have tried compressing this and uploading, and simply uploading only the launch file. Any suggestions.
Thanks,
Dr. Dreidel
Dr. Dreidel,
What you have do do is separate the media files from the web files. Keep them in separate folders but you have to upload all of the files which toolBook puts in the “web export” folder which it automatically creates.
jo jo
Hey Henry,
Do you know anything about design teplates in sharepoint, and how to customize a page. Time is of the essence.
Hey Brian, are you referring to design templates similar to the ones you could get from sites like TemplateMonster.com?
I am looking for some way to change the feel and layout of a sharePoint page. TemplateMonster costs money. Is there any tool for designing templates in sharePoint???
You’ll want to look into SharePoint Designer as the tool and the development topics around custom master pages, and page layouts. “SharePoint Branding” is the overall terminology for this stuff.
So i just downloaded SharePoint Designer 2010. How do I access it, through SharePoint?
If you’re using WSSv3 or MOSS 2007 you’ll need SharePoint Designer 2007. If you’re using SharePoint 2010, then you need SharePoint Designer 2010. It’s a client application like Word/Excel but for SharePoint. It sounds like you should coordinate with your local SharePoint/IT liaison for instructions or training on how to best use the tool.
This is exactly what i needed. perfect, thank you.
How to move the list items from a list in one server to another?
SharePoint 2010
Lists – where is the Actions > Move (Copy)
feature?
Hey Cliff, it should be in the same spot as 2007 – in Site Actions > Site Settings > Site Content and Structure. Or you should also be able to get to it with http://sitename/_layouts/sitemanager.aspx.
But if you’re referring to the ability to copy an entire SharePoint List as a whole, I don’t think that exists OOB…
Found sitemanager.aspx
We have a list setup with a custome fiels added.
10 items in the list.
If I select (say) 2 list items via checkbox can I copy (or move) them to another SharePoint 2010 list?
This works great except when I try to move a document that has a metadata that is a drop down. One of my drop downs works but the other drop down doesn’t work. Any ideas?
I have this working well, with the exception of Person or Group column information. No data will move from one list to another for any of these columns. And ideas?
hei that was so good man!!!!
ARGH!!! I’m trying to copy an issues list from one site to another within the same collection. I HAVE done this before but now, like others above, the options for copy and move are grayed out! I can delete, but the site owner would have a coniption fit… that’s not what they want. They simply want the list, with data, moved to the new project site. HELP!! Is there a setting somehwere that would gray out the move/copy options that may have been inadvertently turned on that I’m missing somewhere?
TIA
Folks, the solution is here : http://www.go4sharepoint.com/Forum/move-discussion-list-items-10976.aspx
Do people not read posts before replying any more?
The methods described at that link do not accomplish the goals acheived here, primarily the preservation of metadata such as Created By or Modified By.
That having been said, using SharePoint 2010, I too am having the same issue as Tammy. I get as far as selecting the list items I want to move, but then the Copy and Move actions are disabled; the only enabled action is Delete. Any solutions to this problem?
As far as I could remember, if I’m not mistaken, I think if the list includes a web parts list or a connection to another list, it won’t let you copy it.
Hi,
Can this be used to transfer/move Doc Libraries between 2 different Share Points ?
To sum up, in my experience:
1. SharePoint services does not offer “Site content and Structure”. So don’t bother.
2. SharePoint Designer is probably the easiest tool to use for moving things around.
3. If I am not mistaken somehow, to transfer a library from a site to another, use copy function in SharePoint Designer, then delete the original if necessary once you see the target working as expected. I think copy keeps values including modification dates like the original, while cut/paste will use the new date. If your experience shows otherwise, pleaselet me know.
Thanks. eman
Hmmm… if i try to use Site Settings in WSS, i cannot see the Content and Structure link, however, if i use the url directly it works [http://wss_server:8888/_layouts/sitemanager.aspx]! (but perhaps because i have another web app on the same server that is MOSS + Publishing feature activated, so perhaps the extra pages were added to _layouts folder !?!?
Anyhow, if this is the same case for you, you can use the Site Content & Structure tool.
HiNarasimha,
We can transfer/move Doc Libraries between 2 different Share Points.
You can also look at this blog post for another way to move items : http://goo.gl/VpSLZ
Excellent article. I have been searching for this feature for long and it was hidden in site settings. THe url hint given by you was very useful.
Thanks.
If I try to link documents using a Document Center I don’t have the Content Type “Link to Document.”
I’m trying to find a way to manange system specifications within a project framework originization. I would like to have a document center for all exisiting system specs then users update the specs within a different site (specific to the project) and link back to the document library when published. (I’m using SharePoint 2007)
Any help?
This is awesome! I am always using Windows Explorer at work and it changes everything to look like I just added it on that date. This is great…
Nice Article
Hi,
Thanks for your article. Recently we moved some Approved pages from one Library on one subsite to another library on different subsite, but after that pages are showing Draft state in destination library (copied to library). Can I have some suggestions on this behavior as it is not suppose to be like that, correct me if I am wrong?
Thanks,
Saravanan
Im having trouble moving multiple files within Sharepoint to another location within the same Sharepoint and im loosing the metadata. is there a way to move files and content around and not loose hidden files or metadata?
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Thank you very much for sharing this vital info..I have already passed the same to my team members and all are aking the advantage of this useful data, Thanks again..
My “move” failed with error message “The destination list is incompatible with the source item. Let me just say that before I attempted the move to an existing list, I made sure all the same columns were in both lists. After checking the SharePoint logs I encountered this detail: “09/15/2011 11:13:58.02 w3wp.exe (0x107C)
0x066C CMS
Site Management
7fnq
Unexpected
SMListItemData.LoadChildItems: Failed to cast column ‘RelatedIssues’ from ‘Lookup’ to ‘DateTime’ ”
Both list were created from Issue tracking template and both have a column (built-in) called “Related Issues”. Both columns are lookup columns. So. Why is the move trying to cast this column as a datatime data type?
Hi, could you find a solution for this?
Hi Henryong,
I am unable to find content and structure in SharePoint 2010.How to move list content from one list to another list?
Regards
Dharmendra
This is wonderful I have had nightmares due to the size of my work flow list, two of my work flows were hitting 80,000 items respectively and the speed and the process was just going down, If I copy the items the comment will not show until I met this publication.
I have logged this to our Microsoft support site they could not resolve it.
Henry you have just saved an enterprise of over 10000 staff.
I appreciate
Don’t know if anyone noted this in the comments … but, it should be noted that if your original list has versioning enabled, you need to enable versioning on the destination list, prior to moving/copying content over. Useful if you have comments, etc., captured as part of versioning in the original list.
wonderful post!! I could able to get the list items along with the preserved created and modified values. Thanks a ton!
For those who are all facing the issues with the type casting a small suggestion from my side. Hope it may help u
Before performing this operation. Just save the list or document library as a template with out content and create the same list in destination site. And then if you perform the move operation, it may solve the issues. I tried in the same way and with out errors i could move the items.
Kindly correct me if there is any better option!! Thanks
So . . . if I’m not a site administrator, I can’t move a group of files into a folder except by using copy and delete? I’m that one who created and uploaded the files. Now I want to put them in a 2011 folder for organiazational purposes.
this worked for me – thank you!
HI, could you please let me know how to move a survey from sharepoint 2007 to sharepoint 2010
Hi,
could anyone please let me know how to move documents in a library to a folder present in the same library. I tired it with content and structure but it says operation failed and when i see the error log it shows “group or user 146 cannot be resolved “.
your help will be highly appriciated.
BR,
Vino.
Try with SharePoint Designer.
You can download it from Microsoft for free, if you don’t have it already.
By the way, in my experience, I prefer SharePoint designer 2007.
I’m attempting to archive multiple survey responses to an archive folder from a main collab site on MOSS 2007. Can someone please tell me the best (albleit-easiest) way to accomplish this?
Kind regards.
thanks Henry, it works perfectly…
I am getting an error while moving a page from one location to another location in the same site
error is “The current operation could not be completed. Try again, or contact your system administrator. in the bottom OK button is there after clicking ok button the page is moving..
Please help me..
This only works in the same site. Not much use.
worked perfectly for me to move files and change log from one website to another in the same sharepoint 2010. thanks a lot
Can someone explain how to do this in SharePoint Designer? I can’t figure out how to export and the import the document library I want to move from one site to another.
Nowadays, I would recommend downloading Migration Suite from Quest/Dell Software and using their trial to do migrations like this. It’s super easy and quick to use. I believe you get 1GB of transfer with the trial – http://www.quest.com/migration-suite-for-sharepoint/
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code in “Event Receiver” for copy documents from one document library to another document when the document is “Approved”
i have write code like this sir.. but it is not working … will u plz send me code
public class EventReceiver1 : SPItemEventReceiver
{
public override void ItemUpdated(SPItemEventProperties properties)
{
base.ItemUpdated(properties);
SPListItem item = properties.ListItem;
if (properties.ListItem[“Approval Status”].ToString() == “Approved”)
{
string destination = item.ParentList.RootFolder.Name + “/bbb/” + item.File.Name;
item.File.CopyTo(destination, true);
}
}
This worked like a charm for me with Sharepoint 10. At first it doesn’t look like the metadata columns transferred, but they did. Go into Library Settings/Change new button order and default content type (scroll down, it’s below Content Type). Check the visible box and you’re set. Thank you so much.
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Hi there,I want to to move documents from one site collection to another site collection with no change in metadata, is there anyway to do it.
I’ve been looking for a solution also and by accident I found that Teracopy, a freeware copy tool, will transfer all metadata including metadata from pdf’s! Teracopy works from the explorer so open the source and destination tiles.
I like to know whether it works for you too!
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want to move document items from one site to another site using Site Content and Structure in same site collection. getting error
1576|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|cccccccccnncnnnnn|
Thanks for Replaying
This can be use just inside the same site collection?
It didn’t seems to work across site collections.
Yes, only in the same Site Collection.
I have tried using your method to move a document library but the custom fields did not move with it. The new library only showing the basic column fields.
“Create a blank destination List or Document Library. You don’t have to worry about recreating custom fields and whatnot. The move process will do this for you.”
How to i enable copy/move option for list?
Very informative.
With the same concern I tried LepideMigrator for Documents that allows to migrate and preserve metadata.
http://www.lepide.com/lepidemigratordocuments/sharepoint-to-sharepoint-migration.html
Beware this technique does seem to break the Document ID connection.
Accidentally I found GS Richcopy 360 on a blog and went on to try it. And I must say that its performance is unmatched, it can do all these stuff. I use it almost daily at work and at home too. It never disappointed me. You should also give it a try. Hope this comment helps someone in need. Thanks 😉