After doing an stsadm export/import of a document library, all the document modified dates are changed to current date and modified by changed to the person who did the import. How do I retain the last modified dates and modified by values as in the source library? I know we can preserve metatdata using the Manage content and structure GUI and saving as templates, but anyway to do it via stsadm? Thanks.

Hello, It is not possible to do it via export-import, as this command actually takes the backup of files and then creates (modifies) then in the doc library. Only in the backup-restore operation of stsadm, all the data get backed up as it is with all the metadata. So unfortunately there is no other way provided OOTB except saving doc library as a template. But there are lots of tools available for migrating the data along with the metadata. I used Metalogix and I felt it good. But you can explore more for other tools. One more thing to add, If you want to move the content within same site collection, then its possible. Please check the following thread which explains this http://blog.henryong.com/2008/01/21/how-to-movemigrate-sharepoint-list-itemsdocuments-and-preserve-metadata-properties-at-the-same-time/ hth, Regards, Rohan

Thank you very much for the response. Yup, we're looking now at various 3rd party tools to do this. Regards.

Hi, stsadm import operation retains created, modified and modified by values when the -includeusersecurity parameter is included (it has to be included during the export as well). If you want to retain modified and created dates without keeping the user information you will have to write your own script using the SharePoint import API and play with the SPImportSettings.UserInfoDateTime property. Kind regards,