Export Repository

Newlook Developer's Import and Export tools allow you to import and export the contents of a SID file.

This allows you to manage changes to your SID file with the version control tool of your choosing.

How does it work?

The Export tool writes out the contents of your repository (.SID) file as a series of XML files. The XML format is compatible with most version control tools, which allows you to manage changes to your repository.

The Import tool replaces the contents of your currently loaded repository with the nominated source files.

Merging versus Importing

Newlook's Merge option allows you to merge individual items from the nominated SID file into your currently loaded repository. This option is useful if you want to manually select which items to bring into your current repository. The merge process gives users the option to replace or cancel a merge if an existing item of the same name exists in the current repository.

The Import option replaces the entire contents of your currently loaded SID file with the nominated source files. Everything in your current SID will be overwritten. This means that if you export the contents of your SID file, make changes to your current solution in Newlook Developer and then import any SID contents back in, the changes you made between the export and import will be discarded. This includes additions, deletions, modification and reordering.

How to export the contents of a repository

Select Tools | Repository |Export from the main menu.
Browse to the folder that you wish to write out the contents of your SID file to. By default, the repository location will be set to C:\ProgramData\Newlook 11.1\Source, however if you have previously exported to a different folder then the location will default to that location instead.
Click Export. The contents of your repository will be written out as a series of XML files.

Things to be aware of

If there is no solution loaded in Newlook Developer the Import and Export menu options will be disabled.
If you have unsaved changes pending in Newlook Developer when you initiate the Import or Export process, you will be prompted to save or discard those changes before the process begins.
The Clear source folder contents option (recommended), removes all files from the destination export folder prior to the export process starting. This ensures that any item removed in Newlook Developer since the last export, will also be removed from the source folder prior to export.
The export location will default to the last location that the user imported from.
If an export fails, the source files will contain whatever items were successfully exported up to the point of failure.

Using Newlook's command line tool to Import/Export

The Newlook install includes a useful tool, SID.exe, that enables developers to import and export a repository from the command line.

Because the output of the export process is in XML format, these commands can be used as part of an automated build process and/or with external source version control systems.