Application Definitions
Application definitions tell AppProfileSafe which registry entries and files belong to a specific application. Each definition is an XML file in the AppDefinitions folder and is the foundation for every export and import operation.
How Definitions Work
Each application definition is stored as a single XML file (e.g. Firefox.xml) in the AppDefinitions folder. A definition contains four types of entries:
| Entry Type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
RegKey |
A registry key to be backed up recursively (all subkeys and values) | HKCU\Software\Mozilla\Firefox |
RegValue |
A specific registry value (single key + value name) | HKCU\Software\Mozilla\Firefox\Launcher:browser.startup.homepage |
Folder |
A directory to be backed up recursively (all files and subfolders) | %APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles |
File |
A single file to be backed up | %APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\profiles.ini |
Paths support Windows environment variables such as %APPDATA%, %LOCALAPPDATA%, and %ProgramData%. These are resolved at runtime during export and import.
Creating Definitions
You can create application definitions in several ways:
- GUI Editor — Use the structured editor with the registry browser, file browser, and .reg file import. Click Create New in the Export window.
- Manual XML — Write the XML file directly following the schema format (
urn:appprofilesafe:app:v1).
All definitions are validated against the XSD schema (AppProfileSafe.App-v1.0.0.xsd) when saved and when loaded for export.
Topics in This Section
- What Is an Application Definition? — Detailed explanation of the XML structure, namespaces, and entry types
- Creating & Editing Definitions (GUI) — Step-by-step guide for the structured editor, registry browser, .reg import, and clipboard paste
- Fixing Invalid Definitions — How to repair definitions that fail schema validation using the raw XML editor
Next Steps
Once your definitions are ready, proceed to:
- How to Create a Backup (GUI) — Run your first export using your definitions
- Export via CLI — Automate exports from the command line