‘Save
site as template’ is a pretty useful feature which has been carried out from
SharePoint 2007 version and it’s still there in SharePoint 2013. Useful
functionality when we want to transfer the site structure from one location to
another with small data as it has a size limitation. I don’t want to discuss
about size limitation in this article as it altogether a different issue and
needs a separate set of troubleshooting.
In
the past, I have written some useful articles to share the knowledge based on
the same topic. Please find the following references:
Mystery of save site as template in SharePoint 2010
Save site as template using SharePoint Designer 2010
Save site as template is missing
How to activate the site template in the solution gallery
Unexpected error has occurred while saving the site as template
IMP NOTE:
If you find a different solution, please report it as a comment to this post. Be sure to double-verify it: undo your solution and verify that the problem comes back, then redo it and verify that the problem goes away.
If you find a different solution, please report it as a comment to this post. Be sure to double-verify it: undo your solution and verify that the problem comes back, then redo it and verify that the problem goes away.
Problem
description:
One
user has reported an incident that he is not able to save the site as template.
– That’s a plain description. Previously I thought that he might be facing some
problem/error while saving the site as template but further probing revealed
the fact that he is not able to see the option “save site as template”.
Error
message:
There
is no error message here as the link is missing so NA.
Let
me tell you some facts which are useful to understand the logic behind this-
It’s
been pretty clear that if you have the publishing feature activated on your
site collection then ‘save site as template’ won’t be there.
Reference:
SharePoint
Publishing feature does not support "Save Site as Template" option
But
there is a tweak here for SharePoint 2007 and SharePoint 2010 versions as
people can get this functionality / access that page by appending http://sitename/_layouts/savetmpl.aspx
!
But this is a closed loop in SharePoint 2013 as you cannot browse
that page by making the changes in the URL.
But
after when I realized that it’s not possible using GUI so i started exploring
SharePoint Designer 2013 and found the solution.
Resolution
/ Here are the complete details:
1. Open the SharePoint
Designer 2013
2. Top Ribbon
3. You will see the ‘site
options’
4. Click on it
5. You will see 4
different tabs (Parameters, language, advanced and navigation)
6. Click on parameters
tab and you will see the option of “SaveSiteAsTemplateEnabled” is set to False
7. Select the option
->click on Modify
8. Set it true
9. Click on Apply and
OK
Please refer the following screenshot for better clarity.
If
you have any queries/questions regarding the above mentioned information then
please let me know. I would be more than happy to help you as well as resolves
your issues. Thank you.
Product Applies To:
o
SharePoint
2013
If the publishing feature in your site is activated, the save site as template will be blocked. You can use either PowerShell or SharePoint designer to enable save site as template
ReplyDelete-Ting Li
Check your site settings > site features. If you have the publishing feature activated, the option to save that site as a site template will not be available. If it is activated, deactivate it, and that option will show in the Site Actions section.
ReplyDelete- Carol Puissegur
Not in the copy of SharePoint 2013 I'm looking at... Usual restrictions apply - site can't be a publishing site or have the publishing feature enabled...
ReplyDeleteWhile turning off publishing will allow you to save the site as a template, you will probably run into issues when you use the site template for a new site. Test, test, test!
ReplyDeleteNice! I'm going to give that a try; having a publishing-enabled site template would be terrific. I'd want to do some testing, first, though to make sure there weren't any issues as a result of having that feature enabled the moment a site was created using the template.
ReplyDeleteWhen you enable Publishing feature in SharePoint there are many changes that takes place like Inherit Theme and Apply Theme sections are added to the Site Theme page etc. Even if you disable the feature again the added items are not deleted/removed. This causes some issue to come. So caution before you enable this feature although very useful.
ReplyDeleterohit anand tapaswi
You can do it too, adding to the sub site URL: _layouts/15/savetmpl. aspx; and follow the wizard page.
ReplyDeleteErnesto J. Garcia N.
Thanks for a great read. As Steve Jobs said : “Innovation is what separates leaders from followers.”
ReplyDeleteI feel strongly about it and love learning more on this topic.Thanks
ReplyDeleteLinux Thin Client & Citrix Thin Client
SharePoint Designer and the OOTB save site as template are good tools, but for this task I would still use PowerShell. As far as I can remember SPD and OOTB... will not save the sub sites and permissions groups for those sub sites while PowerShell will.
ReplyDelete-Lukasz Kokot
SharePoint Administrator at ASSA ABLOY
I think I've seen this problem and it was in O365. Save Site as Template disappeared when I enabled Publishing Features.
ReplyDelete-Ivan Krupsky
SharePoint Architect \ Consultant \ Lead .NET Developer
Yes, in our on-premise SharePoint 2013 farm, I see Save Site as Template under site actions as long as SharePoint Server Publishing site feature turned off. Seen same on prior SP2010 farm.
ReplyDelete-Trevor Oborne
Systems Analyst, School District SharePoint and ERP Systems Go-To Guy, Techie/Geek...
It is not missing! it is under Site actions in the site settings page
ReplyDelete-Ofer Gal
Architect at Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
Cannot save a site as a template with Publishing turned on.
ReplyDelete-Darrell Trimble
CEO at SP Marketplace
Ivan is correct, with publishing turned on you cannot save a site as as template. You can turn off publishing and save template, then turn Publishing back on.
ReplyDelete-Robert Davis, CKMP®; MCTS®
SharePointologist (Architect and Administrator) at UnitedLex Corporation