---
alias: user-guide-export-and-import
description: "The system allows exporting Master Data in XML or Excel formats for backup or analysis"
---

# Export and Import

Critical Manufacturing MES offers a feature of mass **Master Data Export** where you can export data from the entire system for backup or offline analysis or migration. However, you can also export data from individual entities by selecting the **Export** from the top ribbon of an entity details page.

![Screenshot showing mass Master Data Export options in Critical Manufacturing MES.](images/exportdatamaterial.png)

For every individual entity, you have two format options for the exported data:

## XML

:lock: Checklist.**Export** (XML export)

Choosing XML as a format will create a single XML file with the content of the entity, allowing you to import it in another system seamlessly through the entity landing page.

To export the file, select **More** from the top ribbon and choose the Export XML option from the dropdown menu. Enter a name for the XML file and select **Export** to generate the output file.

![Screenshot showing the XML export options in the top ribbon.](images/containerxml.png)

## Data to File

:lock: Checklist.**MasterDataExport** (XLSX export)

This option will generate a Master Data Package, which amounts in this case to an Excel file with a single worksheet for the entity you are exporting, populated with the data of that entity. You can later import this Master Data Package by using the built-in functionality in the Administration menu. For more information, see [Master Data Package](../administration/master_data_packages.md).

![Screenshot showing the export options for generating a Master Data Package as an Excel file.](images/productdatatofile.png)

!!! info
	  For more information on how to export multiple sets of different entities, see [[user-guide-master-data-export]].