Copy Files with version and metadata using PowerShell

Introduction

This script can copy a List / Library from one web to another web while maintaining versions and metadata.

Scenarios

In a real world, a lot of people ask copying just one List / Library from one web to another web while retaining versions, security info and metadata; this script would help to facilitate that.

Script

This script contains one single PS1 script:

ListLibrary_ExportImport.PS1

You can use this script in the following way:

Open SharePoint 2010 Management Shell with a proper account that has sufficient permission on both source and destination web.

PowerShell

Edit|Remove

if ( (Get-PSSnapin -Name Microsoft.SharePoint.PowerShell -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue) -eq $null ) 
{Add-PSSnapin Microsoft.SharePoint.Powershell}
 
#$SourceSite = "http://intranet.contoso.com/"
#$ItemURL = "/Lists/Tasks"
#$DestSite = "http://www.cotoso.com/"
$Path = $ENV:HOMEDRIVE + "\"
$Filename = $Path + "export.cmp"
 
$SourceSite = Read-Host "Enter Source Site URL"
$ItemURL = Read-Host "Enter relative URL of List / Library e.g. /Lists/Tasks or /Shared Documents"
$DestSite = Read-Host "Enter Destination Site URL"
Write-Host "Exporting from Source `t`t: " -NoNewline; Write-Host $SourceSite$ItemURL -ForegroundColor "Magenta"; Write-Host "Importing to Destination `t: " -NoNewline; Write-Host $DestSite$ItemURL -ForegroundColor "Magenta"
Write-Host "The Export file and import / export logs will be available at " -NoNewline; Write-Host $Path -ForegroundColor "Magenta"
Write-Host "Note :" 
Write-Host "1) Destination Library will be created if it doesnt exist. If exists then items will be added to it"
Write-Host "2) If the item(s) exists, they will NOT be overwritten, instead a new item will be added"
 
Export-SPWeb -Identity $SourceSite -Path $Filename -ItemUrl $ItemURL -IncludeUserSecurity -IncludeVersions 4 -Force
Import-SPWeb -Identity $DestSite -Path $Filename -ActivateSolutions -IncludeUserSecurity
Write-Host `t$Filename".export.log"

if ( (Get-PSSnapin-Name Microsoft.SharePoint.PowerShell -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue) -eq $null )  
{Add-PSSnapin Microsoft.SharePoint.Powershell} 
  
#$SourceSite = "http://intranet.contoso.com/"#$ItemURL = "/Lists/Tasks"#$DestSite = "http://www.cotoso.com/"$Path = $ENV:HOMEDRIVE + "\" 
$Filename = $Path+"export.cmp"$SourceSite = Read-Host"Enter Source Site URL"$ItemURL = Read-Host"Enter relative URL of List / Library e.g. /Lists/Tasks or /Shared Documents"$DestSite = Read-Host"Enter Destination Site URL" 
Write-Host "Exporting from Source `t`t: "-NoNewline; Write-Host $SourceSite$ItemURL-ForegroundColor "Magenta"; Write-Host "Importing to Destination `t: "-NoNewline; Write-Host $DestSite$ItemURL-ForegroundColor "Magenta" 
Write-Host "The Export file and import / export logs will be available at "-NoNewline; Write-Host $Path-ForegroundColor "Magenta" 
Write-Host "Note :"  
Write-Host "1) Destination Library will be created if it doesnt exist. If exists then items will be added to it" 
Write-Host "2) If the item(s) exists, they will NOT be overwritten, instead a new item will be added" 
  
Export-SPWeb -Identity $SourceSite-Path $Filename-ItemUrl $ItemURL-IncludeUserSecurity -IncludeVersions 4 -Force 
Import-SPWeb -Identity $DestSite-Path $Filename-ActivateSolutions -IncludeUserSecurity 
Write-Host `t$Filename".export.log"

Examples

Example 1: How to export and import “Tasks” list from one web to another web

Execute the script and it will ask for the required details.

Example 2: How to export and import “Shared Documents” library from one web to another web
Execute the script and it will ask for the required details.