# Master Data Administration Console Online Help

# Export, edit, and import master data

You can export all your master data type information and master data entry information to an XML file, modify the contents of the XML file, and then import it back. There are two main reasons you might want to export data or to export, modify, and import it:

- You want to save "snapshots" of your master data for future reference. To do this, simply export the data and save the file. See steps 1 through 3, below.
- You want to edit a master data type. You cannot edit a master data type if master data entries based on it exist. However, you can export the data, modify it, and import it back, as described below.

To export, edit, and import master data:

1. In the left pane of the Console, click Export.
2. On the Master Data Export page, click Export.
3. Follow the instructions in the dialog boxes to save the file with a name and to a location of your choice.
4. Delete the master data entries for the master data type you want to edit.

   See Delete master data entries.

5. Edit the master data type according to your needs.

   See View and edit master data types.

6. Open the XML file you saved in step 3, above, in a text or XML editor. Then:
   1. Make appropriate changes to the master data entries based on the changes you made to the master data type you modified in step 5, above.

      For example, if you changed the ID of an attribute of the master data type, you must find all occurrences of that attribute in the master data entries and change them to the new value. In this case, you would change all occurrences of `<VocabularyElement id="old_value">` to `<VocabularyElement id="new_value">`.

   2. Save the file.

   {{NOTE TO REVIEWERS: is this adequate? Or do I need to document the XML schema/DTD?}}

7. In the left pane of the Master Data Administration Console, click Import.
8. On the Master Data Import page, enter the path and name of the XML file (or click Browse and select it) and click Import.