---
title: "AllowOverwrite Element (XMLA) | Microsoft Docs"
ms.custom: ""
ms.date: "03/14/2017"
ms.prod: "sql-server-2016"
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ms.technology: 
  - "analysis-services"
  - "docset-sql-devref"
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apiname: 
  - "AllowOverwrite Element"
apilocation: 
  - "http://schemas.microsoft.com/analysisservices/2003/engine"
apitype: "Schema"
applies_to: 
  - "SQL Server 2016 Preview"
f1_keywords: 
  - "microsoft.xml.analysis.allowoverwrite"
  - "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:xml-analysis#EndSession"
helpviewer_keywords: 
  - "AllowOverwrite element"
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author: "jeannt"
ms.author: "jeannt"
manager: "erikre"
---
# AllowOverwrite Element (XMLA)
  Determines whether the parent [Backup](../../../analysis-services/xmla/xml-elements-commands/backup-element-xmla.md) or [Restore](../../../analysis-services/xmla/xml-elements-commands/restore-element-xmla.md) command attempts to overwrite the target file or database.  
  
## Syntax  
  
```xml  
  
<Backup> <!-- or Restore -->  
   ...  
   <AllowOverwrite>...</AllowOverwrite>  
   ...  
</Backup>  
```  
  
## Element Characteristics  
  
|Characteristic|Description|  
|--------------------|-----------------|  
|Data type and length|Boolean|  
|Default value|False|  
|Cardinality|0-1: Optional element that can occur once and only once.|  
  
## Element Relationships  
  
|Relationship|Element|  
|------------------|-------------|  
|Parent elements|[Backup](../../../analysis-services/xmla/xml-elements-commands/backup-element-xmla.md), [Restore](../../../analysis-services/xmla/xml-elements-commands/restore-element-xmla.md)|  
|Child elements|None|  
  
## Remarks  
 For **Backup** commands, the **AllowOverwrite** element determines whether the command can overwrite the backup file specified in the **File** element.  
  
 For **Restore** elements, the **AllowOverwrite** element determines whether the command can overwrite the [!INCLUDE[msCoName](../../../includes/msconame-md.md)] [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] [!INCLUDE[ssASnoversion](../../../includes/ssasnoversion-md.md)] database specified in the **DatabaseName** element.  
  
## See Also  
 [DatabaseName Element &#40;XMLA&#41;](../../../analysis-services/xmla/xml-elements-properties/databasename-element-xmla.md)   
 [File Element &#40;XMLA&#41;](../../../analysis-services/xmla/xml-elements-properties/file-element-xmla.md)   
 [Properties &#40;XMLA&#41;](../../../analysis-services/xmla/xml-elements-properties/xml-elements-properties.md)