How to Merge SharePoint Sites & Consolidate Data Quickly?
SharePoint is a collaboration platform that stores various data such as documents, lists, calendars, and other content in a centralized location. However, managing these contents in multiple SharePoint sites can be daunting, and time-consuming. Therefore it is suggested to merge SharePoint sites to streamline the digital workspace. By consolidating multiple SharePoint sites, organizations can improve collaboration and data management. To do so, in this guide, you will explore all the methods and solutions to related queries, that help you to consolidate SharePoint sites simultaneously.
Understanding SharePoint Sites!
In Microsoft SharePoint, sites play a vital role as all your data will be stored in the SharePoint Site including documents, lists, calendars, and other content. It helps multiple users to work on the same project, share data, etc. We can say that it is a centralized location where all the data is available online and can be accessed by several users at the same time. One can customize these sites for organizational purposes, and more.
There are several types of SharePoint sites are available, and one can use any of them to their needs i.e.
- Team Sites: For collaboration, sharing documents, and task management.
- Communication Sites: For broadcasting information to a wider audience.
- Hub Sites: Helps to group similar sites in one place.
- SharePoint Online Sites: Hosted in Microsoft’s cloud environment.
All these sites have benefits and limitations also. However, when it comes to consolidating these sites, the first question that often comes to a user’s mind is: ‘Why should we consolidate SharePoint sites? Do you have the same query? Don’t worry, in the next section, we will understand that clearly and simply.
Why Merge SharePoint Sites?
Sometimes users are frustrated by handling multiple SharePoint sites, especially when finding specific data on several sites. Not only this but here are numerous reasons to merge the SharePoint site:
- Merging sites helps the team to collaborate more easily, as working across multiple sites will be a hassle.
- Managing data becomes easier if all the data is available in one centralized location.
- Adding security and permission settings in a single Sharepoint site is much easier than on several sites.
- Managing several sites needs more time, resources, and cost. Consolidating the sites, helps organizations to minimize the time, and cost. Additionally, updating a single site is easier, than numerous sites.
- Backing and recovery of numerous sites becomes tedious, as compared to a single site.
After reading these points, we understand there are numerous advantages to consolidating SharePoint sites. Now, this is the time to learn the methods for the same.
How to Merge SharePoint Sites? – Top 2 Methods!
We researched this query, and find most of the guides said there is no manual method to initiate the consolidation. But that was wrong, as our experts found a manual and automated solution as well. Both the solutions are tried and tested, and 100% secure. So, one can opt for any of them, according to their needs, and following the SharePoint Online Migration best practices makes this task seamless. Let’s start with a smart solution:
Method 1). Use a Cutting-Edge Solution to Consolidate SharePoint Sites
As we learned at the start of our discussion, there are different types of SharePoint sites, and merging them into one can be challenging. Additionally, it takes more time, if you have large data in them. So, to avoid complexities and time-consuming procedures, we introduce our reliable tool i.e. SharePoint Migrator. We designed this tool after understanding all the pain points of the users.
Any user can use this solution to merge SharePoint sites, thanks to its simple and clear GUI. With this utility, one can complete the merging task quickly, while maintaining the data integrity including user permissions, metadata, and version history. Additionally, it can migrate SharePoint sites, document libraries, lists, and other content from one SharePoint site to another simultaneously which saves time.
There are more benefits offered by this solution, which makes this software exceptional from others which are:
- For large data Batch Migration option is available.
- Offers Date Filter option for specific content migration.
- Category-based filter for specific data category transition ( e.g., only lists migration).
- Delta migration feature to move only currently arrived data.
- Specifically, copy document library to another SharePoint site.
- 24/7 support if any questions related to this.
- Compatible with any Windows machine.
So, these are some features of this utility. If you need to see its interface, then download it for free from the mentioned button.
How to Use this Solution to Merge SharePoint Sites?
To use this tool to consolidate SharePoint sites, you have to purchase it. Don’t worry, it comes at a quite decent price, with 30 days money-back guarantee, and a one-time purchase.
Here are working steps of this software:
Step 1. Run the solution, and select Microsoft 365 as both the source and destination platform as shown below:
Step 2. Choose the category, and leverage the date filter for selective data transition.
Step 3. Provide the Admin Email & Application ID for both the source and target platform and validate it.
Step 4. Now, fetch the users from the source account.
Step 5. Afterward, import sites via: Fetch Sites, Import Sites, and Download Template.
Step 6. Finally, hit Start Migration to proceed with the task.
Method 2). Consolidate SharePoint Sites Manually
Microsoft offers no direct or native tool to merge SharePoint sites. But, there is one trick, which we discover in this section. SharePoint stores all its data in OneDrive. We can export that from OneDrive, and then import it to the target SharePoint site. Sounds complicated? Yes, it has, but there is no option other than this to move SharePoint list from one site to another or other content. To do so, instructions are as follows:
1. Export Documents & Libraries from the Source Site
- Option 1: Manual Download of Files
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- Navigate to the document library on the source site.
- Select the files or folders to move.
- Click Download to save files locally.
- Option 2: Sync Files via OneDrive
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- Go to the document library.
- Click Sync.
- Files from the document library will sync to a local folder on your computer.
- Once synced, copy the files to the target SharePoint site.
- Export SharePoint Lists to Excel
- Navigate to the list to transfer on the source SharePoint site.
- From the ribbon, select List Settings.
- Click on Export to Excel.
- Save the Excel file locally.
- Prepare the Target SharePoint Site
- Create a Document Library:
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- In the target SharePoint site.
- Click Site Contents > Add an App > Document Library.
- Name the library.
- Create SharePoint Lists:
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- Go to Site Contents > Add an App > Custom List.
- Use the same name as the source list and configure column names.
- Upload Documents to the Target Site
- Option 1: Upload via the Web Interface
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- Go to the target document library on the new SharePoint site.
- Click Upload > Files or Folders.
- Select the files you downloaded or synced from the source site.
- Click OK to upload.
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- Option 2: Drag and Drop
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- Open the local folder synced via OneDrive.
- Select the files/folders.
- Drag them into the target document library in the SharePoint web interface.
- Import SharePoint Lists Data to the Target Site
- Create a New List on the target site, and go to the destination list.
- Click List Settings > Import Spreadsheet.
- Browse to the Excel file exported from the source site, and select it for import.
- Map the Excel columns to SharePoint list columns.
- Click OK to import.
Bottom Lines!
Managing multiple SharePoint sites is quite complicated and time-consuming. That’s why most of the users search on the internet if there is a solution to merge SharePoint sites. After thorough research on the same query, we explained to users two reliable methods to proceed with the transition effortlessly. After reading this guide, you don’t need to go elsewhere, as the details and exclusive information provided here can’t be found anywhere.