---
title: Importing Architecture Elements from ArchiMate® XML
description: >-
  Take architecture elements and their relations from an ArchiMate® XML file
  into your Process Space instead of creating them one by one.
search:
  tags:
    - anleitung
    - architekturelement
    - archimate
    - import
    - xml
---
Bpanda reads the **ArchiMate® Open Exchange File Format 3.0** as exported by modelling tools. The import creates the elements as a draft; they are published in a second step.

## Prerequisites [#prerequisites]

You are a **BPM Manager** or **Designer**.

## How to proceed [#how-to-proceed]

1. Select **Architecture**.
2. Select the **Drafts** tab.
3. Select the ⋮ **three-dot menu** and then **Import Architecture Elements from ArchiMate® XML**.
4. Select the XML file.

The import starts as soon as you select the file — there is no intermediate step and no preview. The file may be up to **15 MB** in size.

## What the import creates [#what-the-import-creates]

The elements are created as a **draft**, not as published elements, and you are entered as the **Owner**. They therefore appear on the **Drafts** tab and only become visible to everyone once they are published — individually or via **Publish All Drafts** in the same ⋮ menu.

**Relations are included.** If you import a file again, Bpanda recognises existing elements by their identifier and updates them: it overwrites a draft, and for a published element it creates a new draft. Properties from the file replace those of the same name; anything maintained only in Bpanda is retained. If a relation between two of its elements is missing from the file, Bpanda removes it.

## The result dialog [#the-result-dialog]

After the import, **ArchiMate® XML import completed** appears. It first lists what could **not** be imported, followed by the elements and relations that were imported successfully. Common reasons for a rejection:

- The **element type is not activated in the Process Space**. See [Defining Architecture Settings](/en/architecture/architecture-settings).
- The element **has no type** (`xsi:type`) or the type is not defined in ArchiMate®.
- The **relation is not permitted between these two types**. Which relation is permitted where is governed by ArchiMate® 3.2. See [Linked Architecture Elements and Relation Types](/en/architecture/manage-linked-architecture-elements).

The system provides these messages in English.

**One case aborts the entire import:** if the document assigns the same identifier more than once, **nothing** is imported. An identifier must be unique within the file.

If the upload or the parsing already fails, Bpanda reports **Uploading the ArchiMate® XML file failed** or **Importing the ArchiMate® XML file failed** respectively.

See also: [Exporting the List as ArchiMate® XML](/en/architecture/find-architecture-elements#exporting-the-list-as-archimate-xml), [Creating and Publishing Architecture Elements](/en/architecture/create-architecture-elements), [Architecture](/en/architecture)