---
schema_version: "1"
id: ba75e3725157620d350a4643ae719ffdf16b0f0bf75763816a9bc9c704a83b9a
title: Basic Structure of the XMD JSON File
collection: developer
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/developer/current/en-us/analytics/bi_dev_guide_xmd/guides/concept/bi-xmd-json.md
canonical_url: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/analytics/bi-dev-guide-xmd/guide/bi-xmd-json.html
source_site: developer.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: ad0cc507ac21f0798f604fdb451a73b1be6ae9137c2111702c05d9d07432209f
products:
  - Analytics Extended Metadata (XMD) Developer Guide
  - analytics
---

# Basic Structure of the XMD JSON File

The XMD file is in JSON format. It contains a block of parameters for each dataset field. This design makes it easier to debug specific field behavior and maintain consistent syntax usage, and it streamlines the generation process. XMD doesn’t support empty strings.

The file uses this structure.

```nolang
{
  "dataset": {},
  "dates": [],
  "dimensions": [],
  "derivedDimensions": [],
  "measures": [],
  "derivedMeasures": [],
  "organizations": [],
  "showDetailsDefaultFields": []
}
```

The `dataset` field specifies the dataset to which the XMD applies. CRM Analytics sets and maintains this parameter internally. Do not modify it.

For descriptions of the fields, see [Extended Metadata (XMD) Reference](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/analytics/bi-dev-guide-xmd/reference/bi-xmd-reference.md). To learn how to structure and format the XMD parameters for different purposes, see the [use cases](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/analytics/bi-dev-guide-xmd/guide/bi-xmd-formatting-dataset-fields-and-values.md).