Using the Website Copy Tool (for v7.x Portals)

The Website Copy Tool is designed to copy an existing Portals Website to a newly created Website. Alternatively, it can export the website to an XML file. That XML file can then be uploaded into CRM using this same tool. This tool can also be run from the command line.

Please note that the destination CRM environment must have the Base Portal customizations installed before a copy of the website can be created. This tool is only designed for use on v7.x Portals. If this behavior is desired for v8.x Portals, you can use the Configuration Migration Tool.

This tool is located in the Utilities folder of the Legacy Adxstudio Portals installation directory (e.g. \Program Files (x86)\Adxstudio\XrmPortals\7.0.0023\Utilities\WebsiteCopy.exe)

Original Adxstudio Documentation

This tool was created by Adxstudio and is designed to work with v7.x Portals. The original Adxstudio documentation can be reviewed if desired, but we will discuss the relevant details in this article. The original documentation is no longer being updated

Supportability

Please note that the Legacy Website Copy Tool is provided as-is. This tool is not supported by Microsoft. At this time, there is no officially supported method of copying Portal data. However, this tool can be used as-is if needed.

Copy an Existing Website

These steps will essentially perform an Export AND Import within a single walkthrough of the Wizard. Use these steps if you are not creating or using an existing XML file. Original Adxstudio documentation

• Run the Website Copy Tool
• Source of the Website
  • Choose Microsoft Dynamics CRM server
• Connect to Server (Source Environment)
  • Enter the Discovery URL and click Go
    • Note: Your Discovery URL can be found in CRM under Settings > Customizations > Developer Resources > Discovery URL
  • Enter the appropriate credentials
• Name of Organization (Source Environment)
  • Select the appropriate Organization Name you are copying from and then choose Connect
• Source Website
  • Select the Website Name of the Portal you wish to copy
• Destination of the Website
  • Choose Microsoft Dynamics CRM server
• Connect to Server (Destination Environment)
  • Enter the Discovery URL and click Go
    • Note: Your Discovery URL can be found in CRM under Settings > Customizations > Developer Resources > Discovery URL
  • Enter the appropriate credentials
• Name of Organization (Destination Environment)
  • Select the appropriate Organization Name you are copying to and then choose Connect
• Specify the Destination Website Name
  • This name must be unique to this environment
• Summary of Website Copy Information
  • Review the information on this screen and then select Create Website
• Upon completion, you will have the option to Savea script file that contains the settings you just entered into the Wizard
  • It is not necessary to save this file, but this can be used to run the copy process from the command line if desired
• Select Finish and you can then view the newly copied Portal Website in the destination environment

Export to XML

These steps will perform an Export of the desired Portal Website to an XML file. This file can later be imported, using the same tool. Original Adxstudio documentation

• Run the Website Copy Tool
• Source of the Website
  • Choose Microsoft Dynamics CRM server
• Connect to Server
  • Enter the Discovery URL and click Go
    • Note: Your Discovery URL can be found in CRM under Settings > Customizations > Developer Resources > Discovery URL
  • Enter the appropriate credentials
• Name of Organization
  • Select the appropriate Organization Name you are exporting from and then choose Connect
• Source Website
  • Select the Website Name of the Portal you wish to export
• Destination of the Website
  • Choose XML file
• Destination XML File
  • Select Browse and choose a location to save this new file
• Destination Website
  • Enter a Website Name
• Summary of Website Copy Information
  • Review the information on this screen and then select Create Website
• Upon completion, you will have the option to Savea script file that contains the settings you just entered into the Wizard
  • It is not necessary to save this file, but this can be used to run the copy process from the command line if desired
• Select Finish and you can then view the newly exported Portal Website XML file

Import from XML

These steps will perform an Import of a Portal Website from a previously created XML file. Original Adxstudio documentation

• Run the Website Copy Tool
• Source of the Website
  • Choose XML file
• Source XML File
  • Select Browse and choose the previously saved XML file
• Source Website
  • Select the Website Name of the Portal you wish to import
• Destination of the Website
  • Choose Microsoft Dynamics CRM server
• Connect to Server
  • Enter the Discovery URL and click Go
    • Note: Your Discovery URL can be found in CRM under Settings > Customizations > Developer Resources > Discovery URL
  • Enter the appropriate credentials
• Name of Organization
  • Select the appropriate Organization Name you are importing to and then choose Connect
• Destination Website
  • The Website Name entered here must be unique to this environment

• Summary of Website Copy Information
  • Review the information on this screen and then select Create Website
• Upon completion, you will have the option to Savea script file that contains the settings you just entered into the Wizard
  • It is not necessary to save this file, but this can be used to run the copy process from the command line if desired
• Select Finish and you can then view the newly imported Portal Website in the destination environment

Command Line Interaction

The Website Copy Tool can also be run from the command line. This allows the copy process to be automated, without need to interact with the User Interface. Original Adxstudio documentation

Example:

Websitecopy.exe /sourceConnectionString:"ServiceUri=http://crm.contoso.com/adxstudio; Domain=contoso; Username=adxstudio; Password=******;" /sourceWebsiteName:"Basic Portal" /targetFile:C:\Temp\BasicPortal.xml /targetWebsiteName:"Basic Portal" /includeSubscribers:true

Available Parameters: