Help

Export XML Workspace Document

Summary

Creates a readable XML document of the geodatabase contents.

The XML Workspace Document is useful for sharing geodatabase schemas or copying geodatabase schemas from one type to another.

Usage

  • The output can be created as an XML file or as a compressed ZIP file that contains the XML file. To create an XML file, give the output file name a .xml extension. To create a compressed ZIP file, give the output file name a .zip or .z extension.

  • If the input is a geodatabase or a feature dataset, all data elements contained within that workspace are exported. If you only want to export a subset of data elements to an XML file, you will need to copy them to a new geodatabase to be exported.

  • If you export a feature class in a network, topology, relationship class, or terrain, all the feature classes participating in the network, topology, relationship class, or terrain are also exported.

  • The tool messages will include the list of data element names that were exported.

Syntax

ExportXMLWorkspaceDocument_management (in_data, out_file, {export_type}, {storage_type}, {export_metadata})
ParameterExplanationData Type
in_data

The input datasets to be exported and represented in an XML workspace document. The input data can be a geodatabase, feature dataset, feature class, table, raster, or raster catalog.

Feature Class; Feature Dataset; Raster Dataset; Table; Workspace
out_file

The XML workspace document file to be created. This can be an XML file (.xml) or a compressed ZIP file (.zip or .z).

File
export_type
(Optional)

Determines if the output XML workspace document will contain all of the data from the input (table and feature class records, including geometry) or only the schema.

  • DATA —Export both the schema and the data. This is the default.
  • SCHEMA_ONLY —Export the schema only.
String
storage_type
(Optional)

Determines how feature geometry is stored when data is exported from a feature class.

  • BINARY —Store geometry in a compressed base64 binary format. This binary format will produce a smaller XML workspace document. Use this option when the XML workspace document will be read by a custom program that uses ArcObjects. This is the default.
  • NORMALIZED —The geometry will be stored in an uncompressed format, resulting in a larger file. Use this option when the XML workspace document will be read by a custom program that does not use ArcObjects.
String
export_metadata
(Optional)

Determines if metadata will be exported.

  • METADATA —If the input contains metadata, it will be exported. This is the default.
  • NO_METADATA —Do not export metadata.
Boolean

Code sample

ExportXMLWorkspaceDocument example 1 (Python window)

The following Python window script demonstrates how to use the ExportXMLWorkspaceDocument tool in immediate mode.

import arcpy 
arcpy.ExportXMLWorkspaceDocument_management("c:/data/StJohns.gdb", "c:/data/StJohns.xml","SCHEMA_ONLY", "BINARY", "METADATA")
ExportXMLWorkspaceDocument example 2 (stand-alone script)

The following Python script demonstrates how to use the ExportXMLWorkspaceDocument tool in a stand-alone script.

# Name: ExportXMLWorkspaceDocument.py
# Description: Exports the contents of my geodatabase to an XML workspace document. 

# Import system modules
import arcpy

# Set local variables
in_data = "c:/data/StJohns.gdb"
out_file = "c:/data/StJohns.xml"
export_option = "SCHEMA_ONLY"
storage_type = "BINARY"
export_metadata = "METADATA"

# Execute ExportXMLWorkspaceDocument
arcpy.ExportXMLWorkspaceDocument_management(in_data, out_file, export_option, storage_type, export_metadata)

Environments

Licensing information

  • ArcGIS for Desktop Basic: No
  • ArcGIS for Desktop Standard: Yes
  • ArcGIS for Desktop Advanced: Yes