# Flat

Set `Flat` to `True` to use the `Flat` XML format. In this format, all category nodes are represented at the same level as each other, regardless of their position in the hierarchy. Their hierarchy position is specified by explicitly specifying their parents by ID, rather than by their position in the XML structure.

NOTE: Micro Focus does not recommend the `Flat` format for normal use, because it lacks the inherent error-proofing of the hierarchical format. If the structure of the XML is the same as the structure of the category hierarchy, you cannot write XML that maps to a cyclic category hierarchy, or to one that is not valid.

If you have set the MultipleParentsAllowed configuration parameter to `True` in the `[Category]` section of the configuration file, CategoryExportToXML exports categories in a flat XML structure, even if you set `Flat` to `False`.

Actions: | CategoryExportToXML CategoryImportFromXML CategoryReplaceFromXML
Type: | Boolean
Default: | False
Example: | `Flat=True`
See Also: |

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