Importing and exporting domains

When you save a domain, it is stored in a metadata repository. The Pentaho Server does not use the metadata repository. Instead, it accesses an XML file exported from the Pentaho Metadata Editor. Exporting your domain is a good way to ensure safe backups of your domains. When you import a new domain, it becomes the active domain in the Pentaho Metadata Editor.

Import a domain

Perform the following steps to import a domain:

1. In the Pentaho Metadata Editor, go to File > Import From XMI File.

   Note: You may be prompted to save the currently active model if you have any unsaved changes pending.

2. In the file browser, select your domain file and click OK.

3. In the Save Model dialog box, type a name for the domain.

   If you enter the name of an existing domain, that domain is overwritten by the import.

Export a domain

Perform the following steps to export a domain:

1. In the Pentaho Metadata Editor, go to File > Export to XMI File.

   Note: You may be prompted to save the currently active model if you have any unsaved changes pending.

2. Type a file name and select a location to save your file.

   The default extension for a metadata domain XML file is .xmi.

3. Click Save.

Once you have entered a name for your export file, the domain is exported to that file. You can inspect the export file using a text editor to view the underlying XML code.

Domain backup and recovery

Each domain can be saved to the Common Warehouse Metadata (CWM) repository with any name you like. The Save and Save As options are available from both the Pentaho Metadata Editor file menu and the toolbar. Each time a domain is saved to the repository, a recovery export file of the domain is saved to the file system, under the .pentaho-meta directory. This directory is typically located in the your home directory. The recovery file contains the last successfully saved state of the domain. The files are named recovery_[*studio:domainname*].xmi.

Domain restoration may be necessary if you need to revert to the last known good state of your domain in the event of repository errors or corruption. You can restore a domain to the last saved state by importing a recovery file.