How to: Import ASP.NET Settings from an IIS Server
After you define and implement an ASP.NET Web application in Application Designer, you can import ASP.NET settings from an existing Web application on an IIS Web server, rather than configuring them manually. You can perform this task by using the Import Web Application Settings Wizard. However, Visual Studio does not save any changes that you make to settings imported through the wizard back to the IIS Web server.
The following list describes permissions that you need to import settings from an IIS Web server:
You can run Visual Studio as a normal user except when you are importing settings from a server running Windows 2000 Professional or Windows 2000 Server.
If you want to import settings from a server that is running Windows Vista, you need administrator credentials and membership in the IIS_IUSRS group on that server.
If you want to import settings from a server that is running Windows XP, you need administrator credentials on that server or credentials with sufficient access to the IIS Metabase.
Tip
To change the credentials required to access the IIS Metabase, use the Metabase Explorer included with the Internet Information Services (IIS) 6.0 Resource Kit Tools. For more information, see Internet Information Services (IIS) 6.0 Resource Kit Tools.
You can import settings from IIS versions 5.0, 5.1, and 6.0. Not all settings from future versions of IIS will import successfully. ASP.NET settings appear in the WebApplication resource, which Visual Studio creates automatically for the application. You can view this resource in the Application Settings folder of the Settings and Constraints Editor. For more information, see Finding IIS Settings for ASP.NET Applications and IIS Web Servers.
Note
Application pools did not exist before IIS version 6.0. Therefore, Visual Studio will display errors if you attempt to import application pool information from earlier versions by using the wizard. For more information, see Troubleshooting IIS and ASP.NET Settings Import.
To import ASP.NET settings from an IIS Web server
On the application diagram, click an implemented ASP.NET Web application.
On the Diagram menu, click Import Settings.
The Import Web Application Settings Wizard appears.
Click Next to continue.
Using "http://" format, enter the location of the Web application from which you want to import settings.
Enter the appropriate user credentials to access the server. If you do not specify credentials, the wizard uses your current credentials.
Click Next.
If Visual Studio imports settings successfully, the Web Application Settings Imported page appears.
Click Finish.
If the settings import fails, Visual Studio displays a message that describes the issue. For more information, see Troubleshooting IIS and ASP.NET Settings Import.
You can run the wizard as many times as you want. The wizard will overwrite the existing settings each time the import succeeds.