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How "Overwrite" affects existing workspaces during Template installation

BindTuning Team avatar
Written by BindTuning Team
Updated over 2 months ago

When installing a template in an existing workspace using the Overwrite option, BindTuning ensures a smooth integration of the new content structure while managing existing content.

The overwrite process replaces existing elements in the target workspace with matching elements from the template. It is designed to maintain consistency, but it's crucial to understand how different content types are affected.


Microsoft Teams

Tabs

  • Tabs within a channel with matching names will be replaced.

  • Any custom configuration on the existing tabs may be lost if those settings are not included in the new template.


SharePoint Site Collections

Pages / Page Templates

  • Existing pages in the target workspace with the same name as those in the template will be replaced. This includes default homepages and custom layouts.

Lists

  • If a list in the target workspace has the same name as a list in the template, it will be replaced.

Warning: Existing list data may be lost when lists are overwritten. Always back up critical information beforehand.

Notebooks

  • Notebooks with matching names will be overwritten. The existing notebook is entirely replaced by the version in the template.

Document Libraries

  • Files within document libraries are checked by name.

  • If a file with the same name exists in the target library, it will be replaced by the corresponding file from the template.

Document Templates

  • Templates are matched by name and file extension.

  • Matching document templates will be overwritten.

Content Types

  • Content types with matching names are handled differently:

    • If a content type is not currently in use in the site collection, it will be replaced.

    • If a content type is in use, it will not be overwritten to avoid disrupting existing lists and libraries. Instead, the system will update the existing content type by adding any missing site columns, while preserving compatibility with current data structures.


Important considerations

  • Always back up important content before applying a template with Overwrite. This is a critical best practice to prevent unintended data loss.

  • Review the template structure carefully to understand which elements might be replaced on the target site.

  • Overwrite is intended for controlled updates where consistency is paramount across environments or teams, or for updating specific sections with new template versions.

  • If you have any questions or require assistance applying a template safely, feel free to reach out to our support team at [email protected].

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