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Exporting Notification Services Instance and Application Metadata
SQL Server 2005
If you do not have the files containing the instance configuration and the application definitions, Notification Services allows you to export metadata from the databases to a new instance configuration file (ICF) and new application definition files (ADFs). Exporting allows you to make backups of the instance configuration and application definitions, to use the files to create or update the instance, or to use the files as a template for new instances and applications.
Before you export metadata, be aware of the following:
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Exporting metadata does not re-create the original ICFs and ADFs. It creates files that contain the current instance and application settings, including values that may have been parameterized in the original files. For this reason, Microsoft recommends that, when possible, you use the original instance configuration and application definitions to update or re-create the instance of Notification Services.
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Exporting metadata modifies the ApplicationDefinitionFilePath values in the configuration file to point to the exported ADFs; this path is modified so that the configuration file can be used immediately. All other path settings, including BaseDirectoryPath, are left unmodified because they can point to other files needed by the instance, such as Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformation (XSLT) files.
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Encrypted arguments are not decrypted. If you use argument encryption, you must provide the unencrypted values before using the exported metadata to create or update an instance of Notification Services.
You have three options for exporting the metadata that describes the instance and its applications:
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Export the instance and application metadata to an editor in SQL Server Management Studio. For more information, see How to: Export Instance Metadata (SQL Server Management Studio).
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Use the nscontrol export command to export the instance and application metadata to files. Note that the resulting files use UTF-8 encoding. For more information, see nscontrol export Command.
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Use the Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Nmo.Instance.Export(System.String,System.Boolean) method from Notification Services Management Objects (NMO).
The resulting files are a valid definition of the instance and applications at the time you export the data.
Other Resources
Backing Up and Recovering Notification ServicesAdministering Notification Services
