Creating a SiteCollection in a new Content DB in existing WebApplication

We had a requirement to create a new Site Collection in a existing Web Application, in a new Content Database other than the default Content Database associated with the web application. It looks that a Web Application can have a single Content DB with the default SharePoint UI. But this is not true. We can have multiple content database within the same web application. So this implies that we can have a multiple site collection in a single web application pointing to different content db's as well multiple site collection can point to same content db's.

These are the steps which can be followed to create a new site collection in a new content DB

1. Go to Central Admin -- Application Management – Content Databases

2. Bring all the existing Database to Offline associated with the WebApplication in which we need to create a site collection in a new content DB:

3. Click on Add a content DB.

4. Provide the required Information and create a new Content DB:

5. Create the New Site Collection. This site collection will be automatically will be created in this newly created Content DB.

6. Now make all the content DB in Ready Status.

With these steps we can create multiple Content Databases for a Web application which will be associated to different Site Collection in the Web Application.

See Also: Creating a Site Collection in a Specific Content DB

Attempt a Question on Content DB

Free Courses on SharePoint 2007

Here are some free courses on SharePoint 2007. Each course duration is 20-40 min and i find them informative and good for learning basic things in SharePoint:

1. Share Excel data with others by exporting it to a SharePoint site
2. SharePoint document libraries I: Introduction to sharing files
3. SharePoint document libraries II: All about checkout
4. SharePoint document libraries III: Work with version history
5. SharePoint document libraries IV: Tips and tricks
6. SharePoint document libraries V: How to download a library
7. SharePoint slide libraries I: Set up a library for your team
8. SharePoint slide libraries II: Use slides in the library
9. SharePoint calendars I: Make the most of your team calendar
10. SharePoint calendars II: Connect a SharePoint calendar to Outlook
11. SharePoint calendars III: Create your own calendar
12. SharePoint calendars IV: Tips and tricks
13. Workflows I: Basics you should know
14. Workflows II: Collect feedback for a file
15. Workflows III: Collect digital signatures for a file
16. Workflows IV: Include someone outside your company
17. Workflows V: Handy tips for tasks
18. Excel Services I: The basics
19. Excel Services II: Requirements, recommendations, and permissions
20. Excel Services III: Control what people see
21. Excel Services IV: Allow user input

Getting SharePoint Designer WorkFlow Files

Recently we had a requirement where we need to process the files created by SharePoint Designer for the SharePoint Designer work flows. Any SharePoint Designer Workflow creates 4 files from which we need to read the data for .xoml and .xoml.rule files. These files stores the data for all the conditions and actions while creating the SharePoint Designer Workflow. Since these files are stored Content DB we can not read them and process them. Also SharePoint Object Model does not provide any method of doing so. So the only option left to store them in the File System and process these files by reading line by line.

With the following code these files can be saved to the local file system:

SPSite site = new SPSite({siteurl}); // Pass the siteurl in this.
SPWeb web = site.OpenWeb();
//These files are stored in the Workflow folder.
SPFolder folder = web.Folders["WorkFlows"];
//Pass the WorkFlow name
foreach (SPFile file in folder.SubFolders[{WorkFlowName}].Files)
{
byte[] bytes = file.OpenBinary();
FileStream fs = new FileStream({FilePath} + @"\" + file.Name, FileMode.Create);
fs.Write(bytes, 0, bytes.Length);
fs.Close();
fs.Dispose();
}

Attempt a Question on SharePoint Designer