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A solution package combines multiple SharePoint features into a single file and lets you deploy directly to SharePoint Server.
For example, A contact list has components such as list instance and list definition. These elements can be organized into a distinct feature and stored within a Windows SharePoint Solution Package (WSP) for easy management.
There are several SharePoint tools to manage and deploy the packages-
Solution Explorer empowers users to navigate and manage SharePoint project files easily. Within its context menu, there are unique functionalities for adding Features, Feature Resources, and Feature event receivers. Additionally, users can access multiple features and package designers for creating, deploying, and overseeing packages.
The Packaging Explorer is a window tool that collects the SharePoint files into packages. There is a simple hierarchical view of the complete package, project items, features, and files. The essential tasks in the packaging explorer are the following-
Utilizing these tools, you can generate WSP files and utilize them as needed. These packages encompass comprehensive details regarding features and functionalities, potentially including site services, definitions, and tailored features. Once created, the WSP files can be downloaded and subsequently reused on a distinct SharePoint account. If you possess a backup of the SharePoint account data, you’re enabled to proceed with preserving the WSP file.
NOTE
You can get the complete path of the Solution package on the Solution Management of Central Administration page.
WSP Extractor uses a PowerShell script for SharePoint (on-premises) to create a version history, providing comprehensive logs of all the SharePoint packages (WSP) deployed at your end. With WSP SharePoint Extractor, it is easy to export and take a backup of your WSP SharePoint. WSP SharePoint Extractor supports SharePoint 2019, 2016, 2013, and 2010.
Follow the given steps to back up your data using the PowerShell script.
Note:Use PowerShell 5.0 or later versions to run these scripts.
Backup-WSPSharePoint
These few steps will allow you to back up a WSP in a SharePoint Server using the PowerShell scripting. However, it is important to ensure that you do not miss any steps and perform these scripts with utmost prudence.
SharePoint administrators have several essential tasks to handle, such as data backup and migration. If you require assistance in backing up or migrating content to SharePoint from a different platform, you can seek professional aid from Kernel Migration for SharePoint. The has all the necessary capabilities to seamlessly migrate content, including metadata, permissions, and various properties. It is a comprehensive tool for both SharePoint migration and back up.
More Information
A- A WSP file or Windows Solution Package in a SharePoint environment is a compressed file that consolidates features, site templates, assemblies, and several other components.
A- Once you extract the WSP files (solution components), you can make modifications to site templates, assemblies, configuration files, and others as you need.
A- When you perform a WSP backup, it’s important to verify that you have all the necessary permissions assigned to execute backups and have enough disk space to store the backup files.
A- If due to any reason, you encounter any errors during the backup process of a .wsp file, try troubleshooting them by analyse the message displaying error in detail. Checking system logs and verifying that you’ve met all the requirements is also a notable step. However, if you still are unable to do that migrate to SharPoint using Kernel Migration for SharePoint, an efficient tool that performs SharePoint migration.
A- Once you run the PowerShell script to perform a backup, you’ll see the progress and completion summary mentioned in the end. You can also check the success of the backup process at the location mentioned in the Directory parameter. This will show you the WSP files backed up successfully at the given destination.
I am using these SharePoint tools for the management of packages and each tool is quite good to deploy the WSP packages. Great easy-to-use features in the tools.