Export-StartLayout exports as JSON, not XML as suggested

[dantheman213]

Export-StartLayout says that it exports as XML but the output is actually in JSON. Subsequently, trying to import using Import-StartLayout command fails because it is not expected format.

Affected pages:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/startlayout/export-startlayout?view=windowsserver2022-ps

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/startlayout/import-startlayout?view=windowsserver2022-ps

OS: Windows 11 Pro

Version: 21H2

OS Build: 22000.1042

Experience: Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22000.1042.0

CLI output:

PS C:\Users\myuser\Desktop> Export-StartLayout -Path "file.xml"
PS C:\Users\myuser\Desktop> Import-StartLayout -LayoutPath ".\file.xml" -MountPath "C:\"
Import-StartLayout : The file C:\Users\myuser\Desktop\file.xml is not a valid layout file
At line:1 char:1
+ Import-StartLayout -LayoutPath ".\file.xml" -MountPath "C:\"
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    + CategoryInfo          : NotSpecified: (:) [Import-StartLayout], InvalidDataException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : System.IO.InvalidDataException,Microsoft.Windows.StartLayout.Commands.ImportStartLayoutComma
   nd

PS C:\Users\myuser\Desktop> cat .\file.xml
{"pinnedList":[{"packagedAppId":"Microsoft.WindowsStore_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App"}, ......

---

Document Details

⚠ Do not edit this section. It is required for learn.microsoft.com ➟ GitHub issue linking.

• ID: 3b2acb98-04c8-242f-8ee8-3c5150160eb5
• Version Independent ID: c1208227-6428-bee1-e2f3-0cda1f35dc1c
• Content: Export-StartLayout (StartLayout)
• Content Source: docset/winserver2022-ps/startlayout/Export-StartLayout.md
• Product: w10
• Technology: windows
• GitHub Login: @JasonGerend
• Microsoft Alias: jgerend

[scanum]

This repository is for PowerShell core documentation. You seem to be looking for support, which we can't provide here.

I suggest you try posting your issue with context in one of the available community support forums.

[dantheman213]

Well the documentation is correct because it's not working correctly as noted above. Your documentation says it outputs at XML format but the command actually exported as JSON.

[officedocspr5]

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