Snapshots and retention

A snapshot holds the settings of each item from before an import or a restore, and the result of that import or restore. ConfigPort saves one each time, even when nothing changes.

The Snapshots screen

Open Components → ConfigPort → Snapshots. The list shows each snapshot with its date, its type (Import, or Restore of snapshot and a number), the file name, the user and the number of items.

Open shows the snapshot: who made it and when, the result of each item, Download the report, and the items that can be restored. See Reverting an import.

Delete removes the snapshot only. It changes no setting of the site. After you delete a snapshot, you cannot restore its items.

Snapshots are kept in the database of the site, not in files.

How long snapshots are kept

ConfigPort deletes old snapshots each time the Snapshots screen opens. A snapshot is kept while one of these is true:

• It is one of the 20 newest snapshots.
• It is younger than 90 days.

To change this, open Components → ConfigPort, click Options and open the Snapshots tab. The Options screen is Joomla's own and needs JavaScript to show its tabs.

A snapshot can hold settings that look secret, such as passwords or keys, as they were on this site before the import. Delete a snapshot that you no longer need. The report download leaves such values out.