Choosing an extraction method

Acronis SharePoint Explorer enables you to extract SharePoint data from either single-pass backups or Microsoft SQL databases.

The single-pass backups or databases from which you extract data must originate from the same SharePoint version as the one where Acronis SharePoint Explorer is installed.

If you are sure that you want to extract data from an SQL database, continue to "SQL database".

Before extracting data from single-pass backups, please consider the following questions.

1. Are the single-pass backups stored in a local folder of the machine running Acronis SharePoint Explorer console (except optical disks) or on a network share?
   • If Yes, continue to the next question.
   • If No, you can do any of the following:
     • Export the backup to one of the locations specified above and continue to the next question.
     • If the single-pass backups are stored in Acronis Secure Zone, you can extract the data by using the alternative workflow.
     • Go to step 5.
2. Are you using Microsoft SharePoint Server 2007 or are the single-pass backups password-protected?
   • If neither is true, continue to the next question.
   • If either or both are true, you can do any of the following:
     • Extract the data by using the alternative workflow. (Recommended)
     • Go to step 5.
3. Are the single-pass backups cataloged by Acronis Backup?
   • If Yes, continue to the next question.
   • If No, you can do any of the following:
     • Extract the data by using the alternative workflow. (Recommended in an urgent case)
     • Catalog the backups and continue to the next question. (Cataloging may be time-consuming, but it will be very helpful if you are planning to use Acronis SharePoint Explorer frequently.)
     • Go to step 5.
4. Is Acronis SharePoint Explorer Console is installed on the machine running Microsoft SQL Server, Acronis Backup Agent for SQL and Acronis Backup Command-Line Tool?
   • If Yes, extract the data by using the main workflow.
   • If No, you can do any of the following:
     • Install the console on the machine running the software specified above, and then extract the data by using the main workflow. (Recommended)
     • Extract the data by using the alternative workflow.
     • Go to step 5.
5. Recover the database containing the required data and extract the data from this SQL database. If the database is large, this may take a lot of time and disk space.