SHP 2016 Copy a list to to another List using PS

Question

The below PowerShell I was able to copy all items from a list to another list but I am missing the metadata in the destination list. How to keep the Metadata when copying the list. Please help.

#Get Objects $WebURL = "http://"

$web = Get-SPWeb $WebURL

$SourceListName = ""

$TargetListName= ""

$SourceList = $web.Lists[$SourceListName]

$TargetList = $web.Lists[$TargetListName]

#Get all source items $SourceColumns = $sourceList.Fields

$SourceItems = $SourceList.GetItems();

#Iterate through each item and add to target list

Foreach($SourceItem in $SourceItems) { $TargetItem = $TargetList.AddItem()

Foreach($column in $SourceColumns) 
{
  if($column.ReadOnlyField -eq $False -and $column.InternalName -ne "Attachments")
 {
  $TargetItem[$($column.InternalName)] = $sourceItem[$($column.InternalName)];
  }

$TargetItem.Update();

}

Answer 1

We suggest you use "Save as Template" feature to meet your needs.

1.Go to List settings of the source site >> Save list as template

2.On the Save as Template page, please select "Include Content" option.

3.Go to Site settings of the source site >> List templates, you will see the list template you just created.

4.If you want create list in same site, please following steps:

• a.Go to Site Content >> add an app >> find and click the list template and create new list

• b.Go to the new list, you will find all items are copied to the new list.

5.If you want create list in another site, please following steps:

• a.Download the template of the source site

• b.Upload the template on the destination site

• c.Go to Site Content of the destination site >> add an app >> find and click the list template and create new list

• d.Go to the new list, you will find all items are copied to the new list.

========================= Updated Answer =======================

1.Both lists should have same columns

2.Please run the below PowerShell script as an admin

Add-PSSnapin Microsoft.Sharepoint.Powershell
#Configuration variables
$WebURL = "http://sp/sites/sitename/"
$SourceListName = "listnameA"
$TargetListName= "listnameB"
#Get Objects
$web = Get-SPWeb $WebURL
$SourceList = $web.Lists[$SourceListName]
$TargetList = $web.Lists[$TargetListName]
#Get all source items
$SourceColumns = $sourceList.Fields
$SourceItems = $SourceList.GetItems();
#Iterate through each item and add to target list
Foreach($SourceItem in $SourceItems)
{
    $TargetItem = $TargetList.AddItem()
    Foreach($column in $SourceColumns) 
    {
        if($column.ReadOnlyField -eq $False -and $column.InternalName -ne "Attachments")
        {
             $TargetItem[$($column.InternalName)] = $sourceItem[$($column.InternalName)];
        }
    }
   $TargetItem.Update();
}

Answer 2

The before mentioned script, which can be seen on the sharepointdiary worked for me.

There is a big Important Notice at the start of the article. "Both lists should have same columns! So, have the source list saved as template and create a new list from it". Have you checked that all internal column names are the Same?

You could use @EchoDu_MSFT answer to replicate the list and leave out the list items and move over the list items to the new list, afterwards