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Exclude Files and Settings

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Applies To: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Vista

When you specify the migration .xml files, MigApp.xml, Migdocs, and MigUser.xml, the User State Migration Tool (USMT) 5.0 migrates the settings and components listed, as discussed in What Does USMT Migrate? You can create a custom .xml file to further specify what to include or exclude in the migration. In addition you can create a Config.xml file to exclude an entire component from a migration. You cannot, however, exclude users by using the migration .xml files or the Config.xml file. The only way to specify which users to include and exclude is by using the User options on the command line in the ScanState tool. For more information, see ScanState Syntax.

In this topic:

  • Create a custom .xml file. You can use the following elements to specify what to exclude:

    • <include> and <exclude>: You can use the <include> and <exclude> elements to exclude objects with conditions. For example, you can migrate all files located in the C:\ drive, except any .mp3 files. It is important to remember that Conflicts and Precedence apply to these elements.

    • <unconditionalExclude>: You can use the <unconditionalExclude> element to globally exclude data. This element takes precedence over all other include and exclude rules in the .xml files. Therefore, this element excludes objects regardless of any other <include> rules that are in the .xml files. For example, you can exclude all .mp3 files on the computer, or you can exclude all files from C:\UserData.

  • Create a Config.xml File: You can create and modify a Config.xml file to exclude an entire component from the migration. For example, you can use this file to exclude the settings for one of the default applications. In addition, creating and modifying a Config.xml file is the only way to exclude the operating-system settings that are migrated to computers running Windows. Excluding components using this file is easier than modifying the migration .xml files because you do not need to be familiar with the migration rules and syntax.

Create a custom .xml file

We recommend that you create a custom .xml file instead of modifying the default migration .xml files. When you use a custom .xml file, you can keep your changes separate from the default .xml files, which makes it easier to track your modifications.

<include> and <exclude>

The migration .xml files, MigApp.xml, MigDocs, and MigUser.xml, contain the <component> element, which typically represents a self-contained component or an application such as Microsoft® Office Outlook® and Word. To exclude the files and registry settings that are associated with these components, use the <include> and <exclude> elements. For example, you can use these elements to migrate all files and settings with pattern X except files and settings with pattern Y, where Y is more specific than X. For the syntax of these elements, see USMT XML Reference.

Note

If you specify an <exclude> rule, always specify a corresponding <include> rule. Otherwise, if you do not specify an <include> rule, the specific files or settings will not be included. They will already be excluded from the migration. Thus, an unaccompanied <exclude> rule is unnecessary.

  • Example 1: How to migrate all files from C:\ except .mp3 files

  • Example 2: How to migrate all files located in C:\Data except files in C:\Data\tmp

  • Example 3: How to exclude the files in a folder but include all subfolders

  • Example 4: How to exclude a file from a specific folder

  • Example 5: How to exclude a file from any location

Example 1: How to migrate all files from C:\ except .mp3 files

The following .xml file migrates all files located on the C: drive, except any .mp3 files.

<migration urlid="https://www.microsoft.com/migration/1.0/migxmlext/mp3files">
    <!-- This component migrates all files except those with .mp3 extension-->
    <component type="Documents" context="UserAndSystem">
        <displayName _locID="miguser.sharedvideo">MP3 Files</displayName>
        <role role="Data">
            <rules>
                <include filter='MigXmlHelper.IgnoreIrrelevantLinks()'>
                    <objectSet>
                        <pattern type="File">C:\* [*]</pattern>
                    </objectSet>
                </include>
                <exclude>
                    <objectSet>
                        <pattern type="File">C:\* [*.mp3]</pattern>
                    </objectSet>
                </exclude>
            </rules>
        </role>
    </component>
</migration>

Example 2: How to migrate all files located in C:\Data except files in C:\Data\tmp

The following .xml file migrates all files and subfolders in C:\Data, except the files and subfolders in C:\Data\tmp.

<migration urlid="https://www.microsoft.com/migration/1.0/migxmlext/test">
    <component type="Documents" context="System">
        <displayName _locID="miguser.sharedvideo">Test component</displayName>
        <role role="Data">
            <rules>
         <include>
            <objectSet>
                 <pattern type="File">C:\Data\* [*]</pattern>
            </objectSet>
          </include>
         <exclude>
             <objectSet>
                   <pattern type="File"> C:\Data\temp\* [*]</pattern>
             </objectSet>
         </exclude>  
            </rules>
        </role>
    </component>
</migration>

Example 3: How to exclude the files in a folder but include all subfolders

The following .xml file migrates any subfolders in C:\EngineeringDrafts, but excludes all files that are in C:\EngineeringDrafts.

<migration urlid="https://www.microsoft.com/migration/1.0/migxmlext/test">
<component type="Documents" context="System">
  <displayName>Component to migrate all Engineering Drafts Documents without subfolders</displayName>
  <role role="Data">
    <rules>
         <include>
            <objectSet>
                 <pattern type="File"> C:\EngineeringDrafts\* [*]</pattern>
            </objectSet>
          </include>
      <exclude>
        <objectSet>
          <pattern type="File"> C:\EngineeringDrafts\ [*]</pattern>
        </objectSet>
      </exclude>
    </rules>
  </role>
</component>
</migration>

Example 4: How to exclude a file from a specific folder

The following .xml file migrates all files and subfolders in C:\EngineeringDrafts, except for the Sample.doc file in C:\EngineeringDrafts.

<migration urlid="https://www.microsoft.com/migration/1.0/migxmlext/test">
<component type="Documents" context="System">
  <displayName>Component to migrate all Engineering Drafts Documents except Sample.doc</displayName>
  <role role="Data">
    <rules>
         <include>
            <objectSet>
                 <pattern type="File"> C:\EngineeringDrafts\* [*]</pattern>
            </objectSet>
          </include>
      <exclude>
        <objectSet>
          <pattern type="File"> C:\EngineeringDrafts\ [Sample.doc]</pattern>
        </objectSet>
      </exclude>
    </rules>
  </role>
</component>
</migration>

Example 5: How to exclude a file from any location

To exclude a Sample.doc file from any location on the C: drive, use the <pattern> element. If multiple files exist with the same name on the C: drive, all of these files will be excluded.

<pattern type="File"> C:\* [Sample.doc] </pattern>

To exclude a Sample.doc file from any drive on the computer, use the <script> element. If multiple files exist with the same name, all of these files will be excluded.

<script>MigXmlHelper.GenerateDrivePatterns("* [sample.doc]", "Fixed")</script>

<unconditionalExclude>

If you want to exclude a file type from the migration, regardless of the other <include> or <exclude> rules, you can use the <unconditionalExclude> element. This element excludes objects globally across all components. For example, use this element if you want to exclude all .mp3 files from the computer. Or, if you are backing up C:\UserData using another method, you can exclude the entire folder from the migration. Use this element with caution, however, because if an application needs a file that you exclude, the application may not function properly on the destination computer. For the syntax of this element, see USMT XML Reference.

  • Example 1: How to exclude all .mp3 files

  • Example 2: How to exclude all of the files on a specific drive

  • Example 3: How to exclude registry keys

  • Example 4: How to Exclude C:\Windows and C:\Program Files

Example 1: How to exclude all .mp3 files

The following .xml file excludes all .mp3 files from the migration:

<migration urlid="https://www.microsoft.com/migration/1.0/migxmlext/excludefiles">
  <component context="System" type="Documents">
        <displayName>Test</displayName>
        <role role="Data">
            <rules>
             <unconditionalExclude>
                        <objectSet>
    <script>MigXmlHelper.GenerateDrivePatterns ("* [*.mp3]", "Fixed")</script>
                        </objectSet> 
             </unconditionalExclude>
            </rules>
        </role>
    </component>
</migration>

Example 2: How to exclude all of the files on a specific drive

The following .xml file excludes only the files located on the C: drive.

<migration urlid="https://www.microsoft.com/migration/1.0/migxmlext/allfiles">
    <component type="Documents" context="System">
        <displayName>Test</displayName>
        <role role="Data">
            <rules>
  <unconditionalExclude>
                    <objectSet>
      <pattern type="File">c:\*[*]</pattern>
                    </objectSet>
  </unconditionalExclude>
            </rules>
        </role>
    </component>
</migration>

Example 3: How to exclude registry keys

The following .xml file unconditionally excludes the HKey_Current_User registry key and all of its subkeys.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<migration urlid="https://www.microsoft.com/migration/1.0/migxmlext/miguser">
   <component type="Documents" context="User">
      <displayName>Test</displayName>
      <role role="Data">
         <rules>
            <include>
               <objectSet>
                  <pattern type="Registry">HKCU\testReg[*]</pattern>
               </objectSet>
            </include>
            <unconditionalExclude>
               <objectSet>
                  <pattern type="Registry">HKCU\*[*]</pattern>
               </objectSet>
            </unconditionalExclude>
         </rules>
      </role>
   </component>
</migration>

Example 4: How to Exclude C:\Windows and C:\Program Files

The following .xml file unconditionally excludes the system folders of C:\Windows and C:\Program Files. Note that all *.docx, *.xls and *.ppt files will not be migrated because the <unconditionalExclude> element takes precedence over the <include> element.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<migration urlid="https://www.microsoft.com/migration/1.0/migxmlext/miguser">
   <component type="Documents" context="System">
      <displayName>Test</displayName>
      <role role="Data">
         <rules>
            <include>
               <objectSet>
    <script>MigXmlHelper.GenerateDrivePatterns ("* [*.doc]", "Fixed")</script>
    <script>MigXmlHelper.GenerateDrivePatterns ("* [*.xls]", "Fixed")</script>
    <script>MigXmlHelper.GenerateDrivePatterns ("* [*.ppt]", "Fixed")</script>
               </objectSet>
            </include>
            <unconditionalExclude>
               <objectSet>
                  <pattern type="File">C:\Program Files\* [*]</pattern>
<pattern type="File">C:\Windows\* [*]</pattern>
               </objectSet>
            </unconditionalExclude>
         </rules>
      </role>
   </component>
</migration>

Create a Config.xml File

You can create and modify a Config.xml file if you want to exclude components from the migration. Excluding components using this file is easier than modifying the migration .xml files because you do not need to be familiar with the migration rules and syntax. Config.xml is an optional file that you can create using the /genconfig command-line option with the ScanState tool. For example, you can use the Config.xml file to exclude the settings for one of the default applications. In addition, creating and modifying this file is the only way to exclude the operating-system settings that are migrated to computers running Windows.

  • To exclude the settings for a default application: Specify migrate="no" for the application under the <Applications> section of the Config.xml file.

  • To exclude an operating system setting: Specify migrate="no" for the setting under the <WindowsComponents> section.

  • To exclude My Documents: Specify migrate="no" for My Documents under the <Documents> section. Note that any <include> rules in the .xml files will still apply. For example, if you have a rule that includes all the .docx files in My Documents, then only the .docx files will be migrated, but the rest of the files will not.

See Config.xml File for more information.

Note

To exclude a component from the Config.xml file, set the migrate value to "no". Deleting the XML tag for the component from the Config.xml file will not exclude the component from your migration.

See Also

Reference

Customize USMT XML Files
Config.xml File

Other Resources

USMT XML Reference