Hello,

How do I export my Definition Files to XML? I do not see an option to export Definition Files to XML anywhere and even when right clicking on a Definition File, there is not option. Clicking on the Add button under Definition Files Tab will ask to import an XML, so therefore how do you export Definition Files to XML?

Thanks!

WTD3

Not quite sure what you mean by, "How do I export my Definition Files to XML"  You don't export a definition file to XML.  It's already written in that format.

When you work your way through the wizard to create a definition file, your choices are stored in XML format.  The XML file contains the information to perform your backup instructions.  This is all done behind the scenes, of course.  The XML files are stored by default in C\Users\Users Name\ Documents\Reflect.  You can use an alternate location to store the files. but you would need to tell Reflect where you are storing them so it knows where to look.  That is what the Add button is for.  You're basically telling Reflect not to look in the default location but to look "here" instead.

As noted above, if you see a definition file in the Backup Definition Files tab, then it corresponds to an XML file that already exists somewhere on your system — unless you deleted the underlying XML file, in which case you would have a broken definition file registration in Reflect.

WTD3,  Is there something in particular you are trying to accomplish with the "export"/add functions?  Like moving your Definition Files from one location to another?

                                

+x

 

JK - 10 October 2021 4:33 PM

WTD3,  Is there something in particular you are trying to accomplish with the "export"/add functions?  Like moving your Definition Files from one location to another?

That is what I thought the OP might have been wanting to do and perhaps used some confusing terminology.  I touched on moving them to a different location as the goal but haven't heard back yet.

I  forgot that the default location and folder where the XML files is in my Documents folder and that Macrium Reflect automatically saves them there in the Reflect folder. The problem is there is no information that I could find that states this in the manual. Even though it does this automatically and for some reason you were to delete the folder or files in the folder, does Macrium Reflect "regenerate" the folder and files? If not, then it would be great to have the option to manually export the XML Definition files it seems?

The V8 Knowledge Base does mention where the files are stored but admittedly, it is somewhat buried and not easily found:  https://knowledgebase.macrium.com/display/KNOW80/XML+validation+error

If you delete the individual XML file or folder where they are stored, no, Reflect will not regenerate those items. 

As far as exporting, if you think about it, they are actually getting saved (exported) in the images you create and store on other media.  One of  Reflect's primary purposes is to back up all the files and folders on your computer so it would be easy to mount an image and recover the XML files.  Additionally, you could always use Windows copy/paste feature to save these files elsewhere.

I believe the folder itself does get recreated automatically (but the xml files that it previously contained do not reappear).   This came up in a different thread, where the user objected to the repeated creation of a folder they had no need for.

                                

I decided to look deeper into this.
I deleted the Reflect folder at C\Users\Users Name\ Documents including the XML files within and rebooted the computer. At this point, no Reflect folder was created at the default location.  Next, I launched Reflect V8 and checked the default location. Again, No Reflect folder was created.  So, I created a definition file and tried to save it at the completion of the wizard. I received the following message from Reflect:




It may be that the Reflect folder is created when the product is installed. I didn’t go that far in my test.
Lastly, I mounted a Reflect image and restored the Reflect folder.  Initially, none of my definition files appeared within the Definition File list.  Restarting Reflect populated the list.

capair -- Interesting, in light of the experiences reported in the other thread I had linked.  I wonder if there is a difference between checking vs. unchecking the "Save backup" option on the last screen.  In the other thread, the user reported always unchecking that option, and finding that the Reflect folder had been recreated afterwards.