---
title: "Use the service page to serialize, update, and revert a database"
slug: "use-the-service-page-to-serialize-update-and-revert-a-database"
abstract: "The Sitecore service page enables you to serialize, update, or revert a database, serialize a set of items, or update a tree of items."
---
# Use the service page to serialize, update, and revert a database

You use the Sitecore service page for any serialization actions on the whole database. You can use these actions both for the default and for the YAML serialization format.

<details>
<summary><h2>Manage a database</h2></summary>

You can use the Sitecore service page to manage a database.

To use the service page to serialize, update, or revert a whole database:

1. In your browser’s address bar type: `http://<web_site>/sitecore/admin/serialization.aspx`
2. On the **Serialize and revert databases** page, in the **Select databases** section, select one or more databases to serialize, update, or revert.
3. Click **Serialize <selected> databases**, **Update <selected> databases**, or **Revert <selected> databases** to perform the corresponding action on the database.

</details>

<details>
<summary><h2>Serialize a pre-configured set of items</h2></summary>

If you do not need to serialize the whole database, you can serialize a pre-configured set of items.

### Configure a set of items

You specify a predefined set of items as XML nodes in any included (path) configuration files using `include` and `exclude` entries.

The `include` entry defines the paths to the items that will be serialized including all their subitems. The `include` entry can use the following attributes:

- database — the database name.
- path — the path to the root item.

The `exclude` entry defines the items that will not be serialized. The `exclude` entry can use the following attributes:

- path — the path to the item.
- id — the item ID.
- templateid — the template ID of the item.
- template — the template name of the item.

The example below shows how to serialize all the subitems of the `Content` item in the `Master` database except for the items under the `Home` item and those items that are based on the `Sample` item template:

```xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<configuration>
  <sitecore>
    <serialization>
      <default>
        <include database="master" path="/sitecore/content">
         <exclude path="/sitecore/content/Home"/>
             <exclude template="Sample item"/>
         </include>
       </default>
    </serialization>
  </sitecore>
</configuration>

```

### Serialize a set of items

When you have configured a set of items you can serialize it.

To serialize a preconfigured set of items:

1. In your browser’s address bar type: `http://web_site/sitecore/admin/serialization.aspx`
2. On the **Serialize and revert databases** page, in the **Serialize databases** section, click **Serialize preconfigured**.

</details>

<details>
<summary><h2>Update a tree of items</h2></summary>

The Sitecore serialization service page lets you update a tree of items without using the Content Editor.

To update a tree of items:

1. In your browser’s address bar type: `http://web_site/sitecore/admin/serialization.aspx`
2. On the **Serialize and revert databases** page, in the **Update** section, enter the path to the parent item in the file system.
3. Click **Update specific path**.

</details>