Backup/Restore subsite including Workflow History

I know this topic has been asked on the Internet many times but I thought it would be worth seeing if there was any new information.

I need to move a subsite to a new site collection and its imperative the workflow history is kept for auditing purposes.  Export/Import won't work as this doesn't bring across the history.  I can't use Backup-SPSite as this is a subsite.  We have a 200GB databases that needs to be "split" and its starting to get a bit urgent.

Any new information on how this can be done or is there a product out there that will do this?

September 7th, 2015 12:29am

check if you can open the workflow history list in Access and copy paste the contents in the other WF History List 
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September 7th, 2015 2:18am

Hi kelsnz,

According to your description, you want to restore a site with workflow history.

In my opinion, workflows would be lost after you export and import a site or a list. If you want to backup with workflows, you should backup on a site collection-level at least. This is because workflows store some of their data on the site itself, outside the scope of any lists.

For your requirement, I suggest you find a third party tool to do it.

Please check if the tools below works(I am not familiar with it, please test):

http://www.metalogix.com/help/Selective-Restore-Manager/StoragePoint-Edition/002_HowTo/011_RestoreWorkflows.htm

Hope it will be helpful to you.

Best Regards,

September 8th, 2015 5:23am

Hi,

Workflows will not be included in export site operation. Refer to TechNet Documentation: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee663490.aspx
The Backup and restore on SharePoint sub-site level can be achieved via export/import operation. You can use the Export-SPWeb and Import-SPWeb to move sites (sub-sites) across site collections.

Example:  To move sub-site across site collections the following commands can be used.

Export-SPWeb "http://old-SiteCollection.com/sites/SubsiteA" -Path "C:\SP\ExportsiteA.cmp"

Import-SPWeb "http://new-SiteCollection.com/sites/SubsiteB" -Path "C:\SP\ExportsiteB.cmp"

I hope this helps.

Regards.

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September 8th, 2015 8:52am

Thanks all for the feedback.  Using Access is too messy and Export-SPWeb does not include Workflow History.

I am trialling a third party product called DocAve (AvePoint) which appears to copy my sites and even just one list/library with the workflow history!  So, this suits my needs.

Microsoft should really be providing this solution out of the box though.

September 8th, 2015 8:31pm

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