Full update of index generates subscription notifications for unmodified documents (287287)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft SharePoint Portal Server 2001
This article was previously published under Q287287
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the properties of the Web Storage System. Before you edit the properties of the Web Storage System, verify that you have a current backup of your server if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, see the "Windows Backup" Help topic in Windows Help.

SYMPTOMS

When you perform a full update of the index, SharePoint Portal Server generates subscription notifications for all content for which there is a match, regardless of whether the content was modified after the last update. These notifications are generated on the dashboard site or by e-mail, if you request it.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because all documents are reindexed when you perform a full update. When an existing unmodified document is reindexed as part of an incremental, adaptive, or notification update, SharePoint Portal Server considers the document to be modified. Subscription matches are identified during the indexing process, and subscription notifications are generated for the content, even though the content is otherwise unmodified.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, disable notifications before you perform a full update. To do so, add a custom DisableSubscriptionNotifications property to the workspace by using the Plex tool that is included with SharePoint Portal Server.

WARNING: If you edit the properties of the Web Storage System incorrectly, you can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall any product that uses the Web Storage System. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems that result if you incorrectly edit the properties of the Web Storage System can be solved. Edit the properties of the Web Storage System at your own risk.

NOTE: Always back up your server before you edit the properties of the Web Storage System.

If you add the DisableSubscriptionNotifications property, all notifications, including e-mail notifications and dashboard site notifications, are disabled. After the full update completes, edit the property to reenable notifications.

To disable subscription notifications during a full update, follow these steps:
  1. Start the Plex tool from the following folder on the SharePoint Portal Server CD, where Drive is the drive that contains the CD:

    Drive:\Support\Tools

  2. Type the following address in Folder, where servername is the name of your server, and workspacename is the name of your workspace:

    http://servername/SharePoint Portal Server/Workspaces/workspacename

  3. Click Refresh.

    The directory structure of the workspace appears on the left, and the Name, Type, and Value columns appear on the right.
  4. Right-click the right window, and then click New Field.
  5. In Name, type the following line:

    urn:schemas-microsoft-com:publishing:DisableSubscriptionNotifications

    NOTE: This line is case sensitive.
  6. In Type, click adboolean.
  7. In Value, click True.
  8. Quit the Plex tool.
NOTE: The changes may not take effect for five minutes. To make the changes take effect immediately, restart MSSearch.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about support utilities for SharePoint Portal Server, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

318468 Contents of the Support Tools ToolsHowTo.txt File

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:9/24/2004
Keywords:kbbug kbpending KB287287
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.