Importing and exporting

A computer list you built once should not stay on one machine. Export it to roll the same list out to a team, move it to a new workstation, or keep it under version control so changes are tracked.

Export the list

Choose Computers > Export computer list and pick a format:

• JSON - the default. It diffs cleanly in version control and keeps the full structure: names, descriptions, notes, groups, and the expand and collapse state.
• XML - for interoperability with other tools.
• Text - one entry per line as name|description. The simplest format to hand-edit or generate from a script.
• RHF - Radmin Host File, kept for compatibility with older lists.

The export captures the whole tree, so a colleague who imports it sees the same groups you do.

Import a list

Choose Computers > Import computer list and select a file; the format is detected from the extension. You then choose how it merges with the current list:

• Add new computers only - the default and the safest. Your current list stays, and only names not already present are added.
• Replace entire list - clears the list and loads the file in its place.
• Import all - adds everything, including duplicates.

Import does not test connectivity or credentials; it loads the names as written, and the program connects to them afterward. As with bulk operations, Replace entire list takes effect on disk only when you exit normally, so you can back out by closing without saving.

A simple rollout

To standardize a team on one list, build and groom it once, export to JSON, and share the file. Each person imports with Replace entire list to match it exactly, or with Add new computers only to merge it into a list they already keep. Storing that JSON in a repository gives you a history of every change.

For more detail, see importing and exporting the computer list in the handbook.