Automating Releases with the SharePoint Content Deployment Wizard

From Authoring to Publishing: Workflow with the SharePoint Content Deployment Wizard

Overview

The SharePoint Content Deployment Wizard (CDW) is a tool that automates exporting and importing site content between SharePoint environments (authoring → staging → production). It streamlines moving site collections, webs, lists, libraries, or specific items while preserving versions, metadata, and permissions where supported.

Typical workflow (authoring → publishing)

1. Authoring environment

   • Authors create and review content in the authoring site collection.
   • Use versioning, check-in/check-out, and content approval workflows so only approved items are published.

2. Prepare export package

   • In CDW select source (site/list/library/item) and target environment details (URL, credentials).
   • Choose scope (full site vs. specific lists/items) and options: include versions, security, attachments, user info.
   • Optionally filter by date, content type, or GUIDs to limit export.

3. Export

   • Run export to generate a content package (WSP/backup-like files).
   • Validate export logs for errors and missing dependencies (site templates, feature references, custom solutions).

4. Transfer & staging

   • Move package to staging environment (if separate) and run import there first for QA.
   • Verify site appearance, navigation, web parts, search indexing, and customizations.

5. Import to production

   • Use CDW to import the validated package to production target.
   • Choose whether to overwrite existing content or import to a new location.
   • Validate permissions mapping and remap users if necessary.

6. Post-deployment checks

   • Run functional checks: pages render, links work, workflows trigger, search returns new content.
   • Check permissions and service integrations (search, workflows, branding assets).
   • If problems appear, revert using backups or re-import corrected packages.

Key options & settings to use

• IncludeVersions: preserve version history (useful for auditable content; increases package size).
• IncludeSecurity: export ACLs; map or remap users when source and target domains differ.
• OverwriteBehavior: choose merge, overwrite, or skip existing objects.
• File Size/Batching: split large exports into smaller batches to avoid timeouts.
• Dependency handling: include referenced lists, site columns, content types, and features.

Best practices

• Use content approval and a release checklist in authoring to control what’s exported.
• Test imports in a staging environment identical to production.
• Export incremental changes (items or lists) rather than entire site when possible to reduce risk.
• Ensure custom solutions (WSPs), features, and site templates exist on target before import.
• Map users between AD domains or use a service account remapping plan.
• Monitor logs and keep export/import timestamps and package versions for traceability.
• Schedule deployments during low-traffic windows and notify stakeholders.

Common issues & fixes

• Missing dependencies (web parts, features): pre-install required solutions on target.
• Permission mismatches: use user mapping or import without security and reapply permissions post-import.
• Large package timeouts: enable batching or increase operation timeouts on servers.
• Broken links/media: ensure publishing of related assets (master pages, images) and update absolute URLs if needed.

When to use CDW vs alternatives

• Use CDW for targeted migration of site collections, lists, or incremental publishes when you need control over versions and security.
• Consider database attach, backup/restore, or third-party migration tools for large-scale farm migrations or when needing richer mapping and transformation capabilities.

If you want, I can:

• provide a step‑by‑step CDW export/import checklist tailored to your SharePoint version, or
• draft PowerShell snippets and suggested option values for a typical incremental deployment.