"Server error: A site template has been applied to this site" error message when you try to import a Web package to My Site using FrontPage 2003 (830978)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server 2003
  • Microsoft Office FrontPage 2003

SYMPTOMS

When you use Microsoft Office FrontPage 2003 to import a Web package to My Site that is located on a computer that is running Microsoft SharePoint Portal Server 2003, you may receive the following error message:
Server error: A site template has already been applied to this site. Once a template has been applied, the site must be deleted and recreated in order to apply a different template.

CAUSE

This problem may occur if the Web package was exported from a Web site that is a different type than the Web site that you are importing to. The following are examples of this:
  • A Web package that was exported from a Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services Web site must be imported to another Windows SharePoint Services Web site.
  • A Web package that was exported from My Site on an SharePoint Portal Server-based computer must be imported to My Site on another SharePoint Portal Server-based computer.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

The error message that is described in the "Symptoms" section of this article does not correctly explain the cause of this problem. Some features of FrontPage 2003 cannot be used to modify existing SharePoint Portal Server sites and are not available in menu options. For example, when you try to edit the main SharePoint Portal Server Web site by using FrontPage 2003, the Web package Import and Export options are not available on the Tools menu.

My Site on an SPS server (for example http://some_sps_server/personal/your_username/) appear to FrontPage 2003 as a typical Windows SharePoint Services Web site. As a result, all menu commands are available. However, architectural differences in My Site will prevent Web packages from other Web sites with different templates from importing.

Additionally, you cannot restore a backup of a Windows SharePoint Services Web site to a Web site where a template has been applied--for example, a Windows SharePoint Services team Web site. You must restore to a blank Windows SharePoint Services Web site to avoid the error message.

You can deploy a Web package to a Windows SharePoint Services team Web site or a Windows SharePoint Services blank Web site.

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/6/2006
Keywords:kbprb kbwebpublishing kbweb kbImport kbPackage kbusage kbinterop kbnofix KB830978 kbAudITPRO