How to Copy Site Permission Levels

Metalogix SharePoint Site Migration Manager (SSMM) can copy site permission levels from a source (either a 2003 or a 2007 SharePoint server) to a target (a 2007 SharePoint server). Migrating a site's permission levels is not the same as migrating user permissions. Permission levels are a set of overall permissions that are available to assign to users, or groups, while user permissions are the specific level of these permissions that are assigned to a defined user. Permission levels can be copied from one site collection to another using SSMM.

Permission levels must be either copied over to the target as a separate action before the actual user permissions are migrated, or they can be migrated with the site, if the check-box option is set. This feature will copy any custom permission levels that exist on the source without having to re-create them on the target, and will also recursively copy the permission levels for sub-sites (during a site and sub-site copy action). Permission level copies are scoped to the level of the migration, and copying permission levels will also break permission level inheritance.

Note: The Metalogix Extension Service is required on both the source and target servers in order for this feature to function correctly.

Copying Site Permission Levels as a Separate Action

  1. Using SSMM browse to the desired source site or site collection. Then right-click the Site, and select Copy site element > Copy site permission levels.

  2. Navigate to the desired target location. Right-click, and select Paste permission levels (or Paste permissions levels in batch if you are doing a batch copy operation).

  3. A Select permission level to copy dialog box should open. In this dialog user can select which of the existing permissions levels that they want to copy over to the target. Any permissions that are listed in the box on the left-hand side will be copied to the target, while any permission levels that are in the box on the right-hand side will be excluded from the copy. The green left and right arrows allow users to move the existing permissions back and fourth to get their desired results for the permissions levels they want to migrate.

    At the bottom of the dialog box there is also a check-box option for Delete existing permission levels. Checking this option will bring up a warning message that explains that with this option checked, all permission levels on the target will be removed (except for Full Control and Limited Access, which cannot be removed). If this option is checked and permissions levels are copied, then all of the existing permission levels on the target will be deleted, and then the selected permission levels (on the left-hand side of the Select permission level to copy dialog box) will be copied to the target. If this option is left un-checked, then all of the selected permission levels will be copied to the target. If some of the permission levels have the same name they will not be copied, and an Info message will be displayed explaining this. All of the existing permission levels on the target will remain as well.

  4. When all of the desired permission levels are selected to be copied to the target, click OK.

  5. The copy operation will run, and a status dialog will be shown. When the migration is complete users will be presented with completion dialog of the copy operation.

Permission levels should now be copied.

Note: When migrating permissions, it is not sufficient for the migrating user to be a site collection administrator. The user must be listed as a user with full control on the target site. In Microsoft Office SharePoint Server (MOSS) 2007, the simplest way to do this is to include the migrating user in the site owners group.

Copying Permission Levels as part of a Site Copy

This option is available at the Site copy level, and the permission level copy will be done during a site copy. Permissions levels will be copied after the site has been created, but before user permissions are migrated. This option is a check-box option in the Site Copy options dialog, but will only be available if the copy is being performed between two separate site collections. In multi-level sites, the permission levels will only be copied once, for the root level. If this option is left un-checked, then all of the selected permission levels will be copied to the target, but if some of the permission levels have the same name they will not be copied, and an Info message will be displayed explaining this

Copying Permission levels in a site copy

  1. Select the source site containing the permission levels to be copied. Right-click, and select Copy site.

  2. Navigate to the target site, right click and select Paste site. This will open the Copy Site options dialog.

  3. Place a check in the check-box for the Copy site permission levels option.

  4. Now you have two options. The first is to continue with the next step in the migration, and copy the permission levels.

    The second option is to click the ellipsis button ("...") beside the Copy site permission levels option. Clicking this button opens the Permission Level Copy Options dialog. This give you the option delete all the existing permission levels on the target, that don't match the existing permission levels on the source. So if any permission levels have already been created on the target, they would be erased if they didn't exist on the source. Set this option as desired, and click OK to close the dialog, and return to the Copy Site options dialog.

    Note: After the site copy has been started, permission levels from the source will be copied to the target, with the Delete existing permission levels option turned off by default, but if the preserve sticky settings are on, and the previous copy action had the Delete existing permission levels option turned on, then this option will be turned on for this action as well.

  5. Once all of the settings for the permission level copy have been set up, you can set the remainder of the site and list copy options as desired. Then click OK to begin the migration.

  6. The copy operation will run, and permission levels will be created on the target.

This option is also available at the Site Collection copy level, with a check-box option for copying permission level available in both the Site Collection copy options, as well as the Site copy options. If the permission level copy configuration for the site level has been set, at the site level, then they will be copied as a part of the regular site copy options. To copy permissions levels at the site collection level, please follow steps one through six from the Copying Permission levels as part of a site copy action.

See Also

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