Problem creating XML file

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  alisonanddon · Member · May 29, 2015 at 5:11 pm

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  Hello,

  I want to change my theme, but want to create an XML file of the entire blog before I do that.

  Three times I have tried to create the file and each time when I open it on my downloads there is a blank page with these words at the top:
  “This XML file does not appear to have any style information associated with it. The document tree is shown below.”
  There is no document tree or any other code.

  The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)

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  timethief · Member · May 29, 2015 at 9:53 pm

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  Themes are not included in export files. https://en.support.wordpress.com/export/ Are you clear on that?

  Themes are just “skins” on WordPress.COM hosted blogs. You can quickly and easily change themes on any WordPress.COM hosted blog to another one found here http://wordpress.com/themes/ and no data will be lost or negatively affected by the change. The only time you may have to do some work is if you are changing to a dramatically different theme and have done any CSS editing.

  Provided you are logged in as Admin under the same username account that registered the blog go to Dashboard > Appearance > Themes, Browse themes until you find one you like and click the “activate” or the “preview” link, or type in the name of the theme you want to use when it appears.

  After you change your theme all you need to do is go here Dashboard > Appearance > Widgets > Inactive Widgets and re-install them where you want them to appear. The widget contents and settings will be the same as they were prior to changing themes.

  Note that every theme will have a detailed theme description page with set up instructions and a live demo site page that you can consult. Here’s an example:
  https://wordpress.com/themes/twentyfifteen
  https://twentyfifteendemo.wordpress.com/

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  timethief · Member · May 29, 2015 at 9:56 pm

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  P.S. Just so you are clear on this WordPress.COM themes cannot be exported.

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  alisonanddon · Member · May 29, 2015 at 10:13 pm

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  Oh yes, I’m pretty sure I understand all this. I’ve created a second (test) blog just for the purpose of testing different themes, and have chosen the one I want, which is a premium theme. Since I’ll have to pay for it first will that affect the transfer at all? I’m assuming I’ll just be instructed step by step. When I do get to actually changing themes I’ll delete the test blog.

  I wanted to have a backup of my blog as it is before I begin the transfer to a different theme and this is what I’m having trouble with.

  I have read on the forums that the only way to make a backup of WP.com blog is to create the XML file as instructed under
  tools > export > download export file

  I don’t want to actually export it but just have it available to import back to my WP.com blog should anything go wrong.

  I’ve done this in the past and just saved it on my computer so that I’d have a XML document as a backup. I tried 4 times this morning to create an up-to-date XML document and it failed every time. This is what I’d like some help with please.

  Thanks so much,
  Alison

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  shawnajroberts · Member · May 29, 2015 at 10:23 pm

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  Hi there! It sounds like your site has gotten too big for your browser to handle the export. I can send you a download link instead. Can you confirm the address of the site you need the export of?

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  alisonanddon · Member · May 29, 2015 at 10:36 pm

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  Thanks so much.
  The site is http://www.alisonanddon.com

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  shawnajroberts · Member · May 29, 2015 at 10:44 pm

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  Thanks! I’ve just sent you an email with the download link. :)