[Important News!]
I’ve kicked off a new project/band where I’m creating music with a heavier techno/metal sound called binarywaste. You should check it out by clicking right here!
I’ve written some small and then fairly complex tools for SharePoint over the years. On this page you’ll find information on where to find the latest versions of my various tools, along with just historical information on tools no longer available, but always remembered :).
SPIEFolder
SPIEFolder is a tool you can use to import/export files to/from SharePoint document libraries and the local file system.
Allows you to either Import a file system folder (And all files and subfolders) into a SharePoint Document Library, and also export a SharePoint Document Library or a complete site’s content to the file system for Windows SharePoint Services 3.0/Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 and SharePoint Foundation 2010/SharePoint Server 2010. This tool completely replicates the document libraries folder hierarchy to the file system when exporting, and replicates the folder hierarchy from the file system to the document library when importing.
Note: This tool ONLY exports the physical files and folders, it does NOT export metadata.
Lastest Version: 2.0 – Click to Download
SPLSBackup
SPPurgeList
Allows you to purge the contents from any list or document library on WSS 2.0/SPS2003 or WSS 3.0/MOSS 2007.
If you need to retain a list/document library itself (Maintaining its original GUID) without completely deleting the entire list/document library and re-creating, this tool can help.
You could certainly use Web Folders (WebDAV) to clear the contents, but users stand the chance of accidentally deleting the contents of the forms folder which is not desirable. As well, you could script and automate the task using this tool if you desired.
Lastest Version: 1.0 for WSS 3.0/MOSS 2007 http://sppurgelist.codeplex.com/
SPSiteBuilder
The purpose of the SharePoint Site Builder (SPSiteBuilder) is to assist customers with performing SharePoint Site Collection build outs for testing purposes. Primarily for load testing, etc. This sample source can be compiled to produce a tool that will allow you to easily create multiple hierarchies of site collections.
Lastest Version: 3.0 for WSS 3.0/MOSS 2007
Dowload: http://spsitebuilder.codeplex.com/releases/view/21794
SPSiteManager
The purpose of the SharePoint Site Manager (SPSiteManager) is to assist customers with performing SharePoint Site Collection maintenance activities for SharePoint Products and Technologies (which includes Windows SharePoint Services 2.0 and SharePoint Portal Server 2003). This sample source can be compiled to produce a tool that will allow you to analyze your farm looking for problems, repartition/level sites across content databases, perform batch backups, restores, and deletes of site collections, and perform Site maintenance and cleanup for SharePoint Portal Server.
Lastest Version: 2.5 for WSS 2.0/SharePoint Portal Server 2003
Dowload: http://spsitemanager.codeplex.com/releases/view/9865
SPUserUtil and the SharePoint Utility Suite
Read all about it here: https://blog.krichie.com/2007/02/02/just-because-the-sharepoint-utility-suite-is-dead-doesnt-mean-i-am-nor-those-needs-are/
Keith Richie 
Broken download link for SPIEFolder 2.0 ?
It’s corrected Kim
i am trying to find the 1.0 version to use on wss 3.0…but i cant find it…is there a link for it?
Nate, due to popular demand, I’ll be generating a build of the 2.0 version for SharePoint 2007. After some testing this evening, it should be up here then or tomorrow.
Awesome!!!!
Hi Keith,
First on, congratulations on such an impressive portfolio of work / achievements.
I’m hoping I can trouble you for a moment. I’m looking at your SPSiteManager tool and I’m wondering if it’s able to take a back-up of a SharePoint 2003 site collection sub-site, with an aim of restoring this to a top level site on a different site.
The only problem is that this is a fairly large site at about 25GB. I don’t have a back-up environment for my live server, so I’m looking to take a copy of this site to restore into a virtual environment. Permission and security fidelty isn’t a concern, just the site and the content.
Any pointers are appreciated.
Cheers,
Steven
Steven, it’s site collection level only. Requests to add individual site backup within a site collection came up numerous times, but for 2003 there was just no real easy way to do it. It’s been so long ago, and not necassary in later versions of SharePoint that I just gave up on the idea.
Hi Keith,
Thankyou for your response.
I suspected as much. How SPSiteManager back-up the site collection? Does it use the same API / structure as STSADM? The main point I’m asking is if the back-up of a 20GB odd database is feasible either within SPSiteManager or via the native command line.
Yes, it does the same thing as STSADM, except it forces a lock on the site before it backs it up. The reason is explained in the documentation.
Hi Keith – you mentioned you’d be posting a SP-2007 compatible version, were you able to do that? The version from the 2.0 download link is the one from June 1st, which I believe is for SP-2010.
Hey Simon, sorry have not completed it yet. My real job comes first. 🙂 Hopefully have it up soon
wow seems like you ahve a popular tool….eagerly awaiting the update…..you should put up a paypal donate button for your work….i donate for tools that work….
Compiled version for 2007 is now in the SPIEFolder package. Enjoy!
Hi Keith – using tnew “2007” version on Sharepoint Server 2007 I still get this error:
Could not load file or assembly ‘Microsoft.SharePoint, Version=12.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=71e9bce111e9429c’ or one of its dependencies. The system cannot find the file specified.
Is the problem that SPIEFolder cannot send a user name and password? I am logged in to the site through the URL when I run the command.
Thanks in advance for your kind advice.
Simon, you have to run it on your SharePoint server itself. It doesn’t look like you are doing that.
Hey, does the new SPIEFolder 2.0 work with WSS 2.0 / SharePoint 2003? Just curious. If not, is there way to download the old version?
James, not it does not. I have no plans to generate a WSS 2.0/SPS2003 version from the 2.0 codebase.
Hi Keith,
I downloaded your spiefolder app for moss 2007 but it does not work. it doesn’t export anything. The syntax is correct it says processing folder then ends after a few seconds and there is nothing in the file system.
Thank-you
Telmo, is there anything in the root of your document library? If not, are you using the recursive switch so that any subfolders and items are exported? Can you share you’re exact syntax?
Hi Kieth. Quick question- Does the export for 2010 maintain the file metadata? Specifically Creation and last modified dates/times?
No it does not Ed.
SPIEFolder sounds great. For exporting does it export any metadata other than folder structure?
Vermont, it does NOT export metadata. Since this quesiton has come up multiple times, I’ve ensured to update the page information to explicitly state so.
SPIEFolder export is exactly what I need but it is giving me an error (below). Its MOSS 2007/x64 Publishing Site. I tried it from app server as well as WFE. I am logged in as admin to servers (all including SQL) and SC Admin. I can acceess the sites directly by IE and tried pointing to doc libraries but same result. Server OS is Windows 2008/R2 and is fully patched and CU’ed.
C:\Users\aq\Desktop\export\2007>SPIEFolder.exe -o export -url http://spx -directory c:\temp\
The Web application at http://spx could not be found. Verify that you have typed the URL correctly. If the URL should be serving existing content, the system administrator may need to add a new request URL mapping to the intended application.
Aamir, there is no x64 version of SPIEFolder for 2007
I’m running MOSS 2007 on Windows 2003 x64 Standard Ed. Is that why I am getting the message below?
The Web application at https://sites2.myworldgroup.com/SFO could not be found. Verify that you have typed the URL correctly. If the URL should be serving existing content, the system administrator may need to add a new request URL mapping to the intended application.”
Is there any fix/workaround for this? I’m trying to export data.
was there an answer to this? I am getting this same error.
Marie, there is no x64 version of SPIEFolder for 2007. That is why the error is occuring.
Is the source code for SPIEFolder v.2.0 available? I was hoping to extend it a bit and put it to work on a site.
Sorry Mark, source will no longer be made available.
HI Keith, I am using SPIEFOLDER to download documents from my Document Library and I am getting the error “The web application couldn’t be found”. But if I type the same URL in the IE window, I can see my document library. Can you please help ?
Manu
I am using SharePoint 2010 production version
Manu, this is more than likely because the DNS name/url you are using in the browser isn’t in the Alternate Access Mapping rules for that web application. Use the local server url to get past this issue.
Hi Keith, I cant seem to get the -recursive param work for your SPIEFolder this is the command im running:
c:\utils\spiefolder -o export -url http://sp02/ -directory C:\tempBackup\spfiles -recursive -overwrite > c:\scripts\SPFilesExport.log
export works but it doesnt do it recursively through the sharepoint url structure eg http://sp02/filestore and http://sp02/marketing/filestore
Craig, recursion only works on a per site basis. There is not site traversing built into the recursive option yet.
Hi Keith,
I was googleing around an I found your excellent tool. But it seems like I need the 1.0 version because I have a 2003 env.
Is it possible to get the 1.0 version?
Thanks,
Daniel
Daniel, the 1.0 version is no longer available.
Hi Keith,
does this change the “created by” column after I import the files? i need to retain the original creator of the documents.
Thanks so much!
Denisse, it does not retain those timestamps from the file system.
Hi Keith,
Great tool. I’m a noobie at SP, but have been charged with it’s implementation nonetheless.
I understand that it does not import metadata, but the approval state of all import documents is ‘pending’.
Is there anyway of making the default status of the imported docs as ‘approved’?
Cheers,
Tim
Tim, That feature is definately under consideration. it’s a matter of determining if the publishing feature is available and coding around that. It’s just a matter of time 🙂
Keith – Again, many thanks. Powerful, extremely useful tool.
Is there any way to get the newly appointed SharePoint document ID as the documents go in?
Spiefolder 2.0 link seems to be down. Thanks
Justin, it’s corrected. Sorry for the wait.
Keith, I am very new to SharePoint and appreciate your work on this tool, but I need a little help in getting my problem sorted out. My office is running SharePoint Service 3.0 on a Windows 2008 R2 machine. I am trying to copy a folder/file structure from my Windows XP machine onto a Sharepoint site that I have setup. I attempted to run the commands from command prompt on my XP Machine. What exactly am I doing wrong?
C:\Documents and Settings\JHammer\Desktop\2007>SPIEFolder.exe -o import -url “ht
tp://67.91.166.43:28515/bjb” -directory C:\Documents and Settings\JHammer\Deskto
p\2007 -recursive
Could not load file or assembly ‘Microsoft.SharePoint, Version=12.0.0.0, Culture
=neutral, PublicKeyToken=71e9bce111e9429c’ or one of its dependencies. The syste
m cannot find the file specified.
Loring, this is a tool that uses the Server Side Object Model, which requires you to run the tool on the SharePoint Server itself.
Thank you for the quick reply Keith. Is there a Server Side Object Model for Sharepoint 2007? I only see ones listed for 2010.
In 2007 it’s just “The Object Model” 🙂 It was more specifically called the “Server Side OM” in 2010, due to the inclusion of the “Client Side OM” in 2010.
Thanks so much Keith.
Hi Keith, first at all i want to give my congratulations because this tool is great!
Now, i can´t test how great is (hehe), because when i ran the followind scripts:
SPIEFolder.exe -o export -url http://c099sr0201p93/cetelem/IT/operaciones/Documentos/Forms/AllItems.aspx -directory C:\Nueva carpeta\
Nothing happen!
I recieve the message:
Processing Folder /cetelem/IT/operaciones/Documentos/Forms/AllItems.aspx
And then it back to command prompt and no generate any file in destination folder…
I execute it on a Sharepoint 2010 Standard, the document library was migrated from 2007.
Thanks and best regards!!
Leandro, just use the location to the document library itself, not the allitems page reference, i.e. http://c099sr0201p93/cetelem/IT/operaciones/Documentos/
Also, if there is nothing at the root of the document library, it’s not going to put anything into your destination directory unless you add the recursive switch to enumerate subfolders.
I went to CodePlex to get the older version of SPIEFolder because I’ve got an ancient SBS 2003 system with about 50GB of data in it that I need to migrate, but it’s no longer available. Would it be possible to get an older copy of that app?
Sorry Aaron, the 2003 version of the tool is dead.
SPIEFolder was an absolute lifesaver… thanks very much 😀
Hi Keith!, I wondering If lastest version of SPIEFolder works for MOSS2007… Thanks you!
Yes it does for the x86 version, but I do not have a build yet for x64
Keith!, that’s great!, I have x86 version installed. I’ll keep you posted, and thank you in advance.
Does this mean if I am running MOSS on a 64 bit OS, I cannot use this tool?
Where can can i donwnload SPIFOLder ver. 1.0 . I Really need it. I have sharepoint2003.
Sorry Bosco, the 1.0 version is no longer available. Can you help explain your need for it?
I was able to find it here , thanks anyways, works great!..Had to export tons of MB from old sp2003 document libraries.
http://www.softpedia.com/progDownload/SPIEFolder-Download-107646.html
Again, great utility Keith!
Bosco, I would be wary of any links to “copies” of my old tool. I can’t validate that they are not modified beyond what I originally wrote.
Keith, I know you have gotten many requests, and since things are moving to SharePoint 2010, I would imagine they aren’t towards the top of your priority list at this point. However, I was hoping you may be working on the 64-bit version of the SPIEFolder for SharePoint 2007. I am in dire need of this, because they used SharePoint for order entry, and they need to archive their older orders for record keeping. Any chance of a program of yours helping me with this? It’s hosted on an sbs 2008 64-bit machine currently.
Thank you in advance.
Eric, I had hoped to do this a few months back, but I’ve been pretty busy working a couple different jobs right now. This has been requested many times, so let me see about getting a 64bit 2007 environment up and getting it built. Can’ promise anything real fast though.
I’m appreciative for any time you put into it
I appreciate it too. I will be waiting for it 🙂
Hi, I am using Sharepoint 2010 on X64 Server 2008 R2 and trying to export, but I am continously getting the “Web App at xxx could not be found. verify that you typed the URL correctly.
I am using the following command:
-o export -url “http://localhost/FiNDiT/Accounts/” -directory c:/spie/export -recursive
I have substituted localhost for mustang (the name of our server) and it is giving the same result.
Hi Keith, getting an operation timeout trying to download v2.0
SPIEFolder is excellent!
Just used it to import 18000 documents into Sharepoint as part of converting an older CRM system to Microsoft Dynamics. One small suggestion if you ever make changes is an option to allow it to change file names to remove illegal characters. At the moment it gives an error message. (In fact for my puposes this did not matter as had a pre-run utility which copied/renamed files into a folder structure ready for SPIEFolder to run but this would be helpful in other cases).
Paul
Hi Keith – thank you for sharing (for free) SPIEFolder with us. I’m trying it out on a WSS 3.0 x32 server, and get the following when I execute it: “Cannot open database WSS_Content” requested by the login. The login failed. Login failed for user ‘SYMCOR\NVanBer’. I am able to use those same credentials via a browser to acccess the same library where I have full rights. Any thoughts you might be able to share on where I could go from here would be greatly appreciated!
Norm, is that an account that has unrestricted access? Just because you may be permissioned in the site to be able to view from the browser, doesn’t mean you can run a console app against the farm from the server with the same account. Read the details of this posting: https://blog.krichie.com/2008/09/11/unrestricted-access-via-sharepoint-object-model-from-console-applications/ and see if this helps.
BINGO – that was it.
Many thanks Keith – you’ve saved me a bunch of time!
Keith I have downloaded your SPIEFolder utility and have read the reference material. However, I don’t see instructions on how to update the utility to point to the MOSS library nor file system folder. Any insight would be appreciated.
Tricia, the -url parameter is used to point it to your library, and the -directory parameter is used for the file system folder.
First, thank you the tool has worked nicely for me since last year. However we have upgraded to 2010, so now I am trying to get this to run on the 2010 box. It runs as the sp_admin(full farm privileges on down), but not as the dev_user (full site control). Are there farm permissions needed or other added permissions needed for this to run?
Thanks,
Jill
Hi,
I am trying to run the tool and I get “Processing folder…” but nothing else happens. I have even tried granting everyone full access just in case there was a permission issue on the folder I am trying to export too.
I am running 2007 on Win 2003 x86.
Can you please advise.
I am running the following for reference:
C:\Documents and Settings\administrator>f:\SPIEFolder.exe -o export -url “http://servername/Intra/Company/Sysadmin/ServiceDesk/Shared Documents/Forms/AllItems.aspx” -directory F:\TestExport
Processing Folder /Intra/Company/Sysadmin/ServiceDesk/Shared Documents/Forms/All
Items.aspx
I have tried with %20 in the url too. I have also tried with recursive and quiet.
I worked out the issue…
I needed to use: http://servername/Intra/Company/Sysadmin/ServiceDesk/Shared Documents
NOT
http://servername/Intra/Company/Sysadmin/ServiceDesk/Shared Documents/Forms/AllItems.aspx
Hope that helps anyone else…
Exported great!
Thanks for the tool! 🙂
We had an old, long abandoned Sharepoint 2007 instance sitting around that we wanted to cull. SPIEFolder worked great to export all of the document libraries for us. Thanks for providing it!
Have you ever considered creating an ebook or guest
authoring on other blogs? I have a blog based on the same subjects you
discuss and would really like to have you share some stories/information.
I know my readers would enjoy your work. If you’re even remotely interested, feel free to shoot me an e mail.
Hi
Im tring to use SPIEFolder, but i cant change the utility options. If i run it it automaticli exits after a second. I would really appreciate the help.
Can you provide the syntax of how you are running it?
Hello, I can’t download SPIEFolder. Can you verify the link, please ? Big thanks !
Fred, seems to be working at this time, can you try again?
Hi Keith, great work with your SharePoint utils.
I too have a desperate need for a x64 versions of this console app, and wondered if you’ve had any time to dedicate to it?
i need some tool to read all details about the AllDocs Table and translate it to Unicode text
Keith would you happen to have any tools or suggestions on how to also export all lists with attachments to the file system for SP2007
Sorry, I’m afraid I don’t have anything available
Keith, does this application need to be run locally from the SPS server? I am getting the following error: Could not load file or assembly ‘Microsoft.SharePoint, Version=12.0.0.0, Culture
=neutral, PublicKeyToken=71e9bce111e9429c’ or one of its dependencies. The syste
m cannot find the file specified.
That is correct Chris, it has to be run ON the SharePoint server itself
Awesome. Thank you so much. It is running now after some syntax tweaks. Excellent excellent tool Been trying to copy data out of a library using copy/paste with numerous issues over the last 3 days… This seems to be running like a charm!
Keith, I have one more question for you… I have received a character length error… I need to know if the export stopped at this point or if it just displayed the error at the end. Also, is there any way to get it to ignore the error and keep exporting if it did stop?
The specified path, file name, or both are too long. The fully qualified file na
me must be less than 260 characters, and the directory name must be less than 24
8 characters.
Thank you!
You should have seen continuous messages about exporting the other files if it continued. Did you? If you didn’t then it stopped at that error. To be honest, I can’t remember and I’ll need to look at the source as soon as I can and see what it does. Sorry for the late reply, I don’t seem to be getting notifications anymore when someone makes a comment
Thank you for the SPIEFolder tool! We had docs on the live site we needed to replace with backups, so we restored the SP VM however the open with explorer option on the server would not open in explorer on the restored vm, where it would on the live site’s server. So I tried your tool and it is currently exporting the entire library for that site. Thank you thank you thank you! Saved me so much time I would have spent trying to troubleshoot and get open with explorer working. 🙂
I’m glad it worked out for you Frank!
That’s a comprehensive list, I’d suggest adding http://www.virtosoftware.com/sharepoint-web-parts to it.
Tell me why I would add a 3rd party tool to a list about tools “I’ve” written?
Hello Keith, Will this tool work with SharePoint 2013
No, not currently
Hi Keith,
you mentioned that SPIEFolder tool will not export metadata along with files and folder structure. do you have or know a tool that will do both?
I believe Sharegate will do this for you. http://en.share-gate.com/
Any chance to add exclusions i.e. specific folder and/or files.
Not at this time. However, if you need something custom written, my rate is pretty reasonable.
Hi Keith,
It It possible downlad SPIEFolder.exe for x64?
I have two sharepoints 2007 in two servers, one with x32 and other with x64. On first server SPIEFolder.exe is perfect, but don’t find the web in the second server.
Thanks,
Joan
I currently have no plans to ever go back and generate x64 version of SPIEFolder for SharePoint 2007. I’ve considered generating an x64 version for SharePoint 2010/2013 and 2016, however that would be when I have time to do so.
Ok , also thanks for your contributions and support.
How to download the data that is stored in the LLC Database app from the sharepoint in to an Excel file
Could you give me a bit more context here?
Is there a way to export files from a specific view of a document library?
I don’t currently have a version of a tool that would only extract those but it could be coded up
Hey Keith, just tried the spiefolder export for an old Sharepoint Services 3.0. I’m getting this Error: The Web application at http://%server%/Shared Documents could not be found.
Verify that you have typed the URL correctly. If the URL should be serving exis
ting content, the system administrator may need to add a new request URL mapping
to the intended application. URL seems correct, could u explain what is meant with new request? Thx in Advance
you’re not literally using “http://%sserver%/Shared Documents” as your URL are you? It doesn’t accept tokenized URLs.
hey thx, no %Server% stands for the servername
do you have a server name entry in your alternate access mappings? load balanced name? It could be that it can’t find a mapping specifically with the server name. The SharePoint OM uses the name you enter to match against your access mappings to find which content database the site lives in. You might want to try with the actual load balanced name of the web app.
thx, I just checked the alternate Access Mappings and its exactly the same URL without the /Shared Documents. To be honest I’m not quite familiar wit this old SharePoint and another Admin did installed it years ago. This Customer having only 10 GB of Documents in it and we need to find a way to transfer this Data to SharePoint Online. This Server is also not at the Domain, maybe its an Authorization Issue? Is there a Debug Mode? Or maybe you have another idea how to transfer these files to SharePoint Online? Thx in Advance
Send me a message via the contact form and I’ll reply in email. See if we can get to the bottom of this