# Convervative changes on XML project files?
**URL:** https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/convervative-changes-on-xml-project-files/1385
**Category:** Discussion
**Created:** [November 25, 2009, 8:57am UTC](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/convervative-changes-on-xml-project-files/1385 "2009-11-25T08:57:10Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@deleted\_user](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/u/deleted_user)
#### Post date: [November 25, 2009, 8:57am UTC](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/convervative-changes-on-xml-project-files/1385/1 "2009-11-25T08:57:10Z")
Hi!
We use FinalBuilder at work, and we are facing some serious issues due to the formatting of the XML project files: some (minor) changes seem to re-format or modify the XML way too much, which then later creates unsolvable conflicts during a merge of the project file to other branches. Is there a way to force FinalBuilder in a more "conservative" mode of changing the project file to avoid this? Or are we doing something wrong in the first place?
Thanks!
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### Author:  [@deleted\_user](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/u/deleted_user)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2009, 12:58pm UTC](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/convervative-changes-on-xml-project-files/1385/2 "2009-11-30T12:58:57Z")
My company is facing a similar issue due to the merging of final builder 6 projects between branches. Our issue is that we add new elements/groupings in one branch and we start to move things around which just cause major issues when merging back. Does anyone know of a merging utility out there specifically for final builder projects? It appears that all of the object tags have a xmlid so it must be possible to have a smarter merge out there.
Is it best practice to include sub projects for steps so merging is easier? Any suggestions would be great.
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### Author:  [@Vincent](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/u/Vincent)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2009, 9:56am UTC](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/convervative-changes-on-xml-project-files/1385/3 "2009-11-30T09:56:22Z")
We try to minimise the changes to the project file when saving, however if you move actions around, add groups etc, then there is not much else that can be done, the xml reflects the hierarchical nature of the finalbuilder project.