Install RuleMover and copy your first rules

RuleMover works in Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome on a computer. Installing takes about two minutes. You need the RuleMover zip file we emailed you after purchase.

What a copy looks like, from capture to results (sped up).

1. Install

Unzip the file into a folder you’ll keep. The browser runs RuleMover from that folder, so don’t delete it afterwards.
Open edge://extensions in Edge, or chrome://extensions in Chrome.
Turn on Developer mode. In Edge it’s in the left sidebar; in Chrome, at the top right.
Click Load unpacked and choose the unzipped folder.
Optional: pin RuleMover to the toolbar from the extensions menu (the puzzle-piece icon).

Until RuleMover is in the Edge and Chrome stores, the browser may remind you that a developer-mode extension is on. That’s expected; keep it on.

2. Capture rules from the first organisation

In Xero, open the organisation you’re copying from and go to Accounting › Bank rules.
Click the RuleMover button at the bottom right of the page, then Capture rules.
Tick the rules you want. They’re grouped into spend, receive and transfer rules.
Click Capture selected. RuleMover opens each rule in turn and reads it.

It’s done when the panel shows Copying from: [organisation] ([number] rules). Nothing in this organisation is changed.

3. Paste into the other organisation

Switch organisation with the organisation name at the top left of Xero.
Go to Accounting › Bank rules, open the RuleMover panel and click Paste rules here.
RuleMover reads this organisation’s accounts, tax rates, contacts, tracking and existing rules. This can take a minute or two.

4. Check the preview

Nothing is written yet. The panel shows what will be copied and anything that needs a decision:

Missing in this organisation lists every account, tax rate, contact, tracking option or bank account that doesn’t exist here. Pick a replacement once, under Replace everywhere with…, and it applies to every rule that uses it.
A contact that doesn’t exist yet can be created: tick Create contact, or choose an existing contact instead.
Tracking that doesn’t exist can be left blank with Leave tracking blank.
Run copied rules on sets which bank account the copied rules run on. Leave it on As captured to keep each rule’s own setting.
Each rule shows Ready, Needs attention or Will be skipped. Show details shows exactly what will be written. You can skip any rule.
A rule that already exists here with the same content is skipped, so you never get duplicates.

Copying between organisations on different Xero editions (for example US to Australia) works. The panel warns you, and you choose the tax rates to use.

5. Copy

Click Copy. RuleMover fills in Xero’s own rule form for each rule and saves it, about 20 seconds per rule.
Keep the Xero tab open and in front until it finishes. You can click Stop at any time.
If the copy is interrupted (a reload, a closed tab, Xero logging you out), click Paste rules here again. Rules already copied are skipped.

6. Read the results

Saved: RuleMover reopened the new rule and it matches the original.
Saved, check it: The rule was saved but something reads differently. The panel lists the differences; open the rule in Xero and fix it if needed.
Skipped: Not copied, with the reason: you skipped it, it already exists, or something was left unmapped.
Failed: Xero didn’t save it, with the reason. Nothing partial is left behind.

First time? Copy two or three rules, open them in Xero and check them. Then copy the rest.

Export to spreadsheet

After capturing, click Export to spreadsheet. You get a CSV with one row per rule line (client, export date, account code and name, tax rate, conditions), ready for Excel. Add a client code if you keep a library of rules from several clients.

Import from a spreadsheet

Open the organisation you want to fill, click Import spreadsheet and choose a CSV exported by RuleMover (you can edit it in Excel first, or combine exports from several clients). RuleMover checks every row, then you paste the rules as usual and see the preview before anything is saved. To import only some rules, delete the other rows first: rows hidden by an Excel filter are still saved in the CSV.

Step by step, with screenshots: export and import Xero bank rules with a spreadsheet.

Known limits

If RuleMover creates a contact for a rule and that rule then fails to save, the new contact stays in the organisation. Delete it in Xero if you don’t want it.
An organisation whose name contains “ – ” or “ | ” may not be recognised by the check that Xero is showing the right organisation. If RuleMover says it’s showing another organisation when it isn’t, tell us.
Xero changes its screens from time to time. If something stops working, email us and we’ll fix it.

Your data

Captured rules stay in your browser and are never sent to RuleMover or anyone else. To remove them, click Forget captured data in the panel, or remove the extension. See the privacy notice.

Help

Email hello@rulemover.com with what you clicked, what you expected and the rule involved. Please don’t send passwords or bank details.