How to set automatic export of metadata with separate files for every dimension?

I can tell you one thing we do for our clients. We created a whole bunch of UD8 members that pull in all the metadata settings for each type of dimension in individual member formulas. We then make these into Cube Views that can be run at any time to show all the settings for each member (name, description, formula, text fields, etc). I've added these to a book for our clients that runs all the cube views and puts each dimension in its own tab. It's a little laborious to set up the first time (we have a standard set of custom items we've created we upload to every client's application), but it can then be run via a task scheduler of you like to pull whenever you like. 

You could use the exportxml functions to do this in a rule. However, you'll need to create rules to parse the XML to make them readable, or download to EXCEL as tables. Shameless Plug, the company I work for, has put out 11 utilities in PartnerPlace (one is Metadata Manager). Also, there is a free one by MindStream

Imports System
Imports System.Data
Imports System.Data.Common
Imports System.IO
Imports System.Collections.Generic
Imports System.Globalization
Imports System.Linq
Imports Microsoft.VisualBasic
Imports System.Windows.Forms
Imports OneStream.Shared.Common
Imports OneStream.Shared.Wcf
Imports OneStream.Shared.Engine
Imports OneStream.Shared.Database
Imports OneStream.Stage.Engine
Imports OneStream.Stage.Database
Imports OneStream.Finance.Engine
Imports OneStream.Finance.Database

Namespace OneStream.BusinessRule.Extender.ExportAppTypes

	Public Class MainClass

		'------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
		'Reference Code: XFR_ExportAppTypes
		'
		'Description:                   Executes application extracts and produces XML file with a date stamp.
		'                                         This run for Metadata now, looking into CubeViews
		'                                         The file is written to the application Groups/Admin/MetaDataCopy folder in the file share directory.
		'
		'Usage:                         Can be executed from Business Rule editor or run as part of a Data Management sequence.
		'                                             
		'Created By:                    DWang
		'
		'Date Created:                09-22-2026
		'------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
		Public Function Main(ByVal si As SessionInfo, ByVal globals As BRGlobals, ByVal api As Object, ByVal args As ExtenderArgs) As Object
			Try
				Select Case args.FunctionType
					Case Is = ExtenderFunctionType.ExecuteDataMgmtBusinessRuleStep
						'Get Configuration Settings
						Dim configSettings As AppServerConfigSettings = AppServerConfig.GetSettings(si)
						'Data Management extract location
						Dim folderPath As String = BRAPi.Utilities.GetFileShareFolder(si, FileShareFolderTypes.ApplicationIncoming, Nothing)
						folderPath = folderPath.Replace("Incoming", $"Groups/Administrators/MetaDataCopy/")						

						If Not Directory.Exists(folderPath) Then Directory.CreateDirectory(folderPath)
						'Full path and file name for extract
						Dim filePath As String = folderPath & "\MetadataEntity_" & DateTime.UtcNow.ToString("yyyyMMdd") & ".xml"
						'If file already exist
						If File.Exists(filePath) Then File.Delete(filePath)
						'Extract Options
						Dim xmlOptions As New XmlExtractOptions
						xmlOptions.ExtractAllItems = False
						'Extract dimensions
						Dim extractDict As New Dictionary(Of XmlExtractItemPk, Boolean)

						extractDict.Add(New XmlExtractItemPk(XmlExtractItemType.Dimensions), True)
						'Extract Entities Dims
						Dim dimList = BRApi.Finance.Dim.GetDims(si, dimtype.Entity.Id)
						Dim dimID As Integer
						For Each dimName In dimList
							dimID = BRApi.Finance.Dim.GetDimPk(si, dimName.Name).DimId
							extractDict.Add(New XmlExtractItemPk(XmlExtractItemType.Dimension, dimID), True)
						Next						
						'Execute the Metadata Extract
						Using dbConnFW As DbConnInfo = BRApi.Database.CreateFrameworkDbConnInfo(si)
							Using dbConnApp As DbConnInfo = BRApi.Database.CreateApplicationDbConnInfo(si)
								'Extract XML metadata to target location
								File.WriteAllText(filePath, MetadataExtract.ExtractXml(dbConnFW, dbConnApp, xmlOptions, extractDict))
							End Using
						End Using
						extractDict.Clear

						filePath = folderPath & "\MetadataAccount_" & DateTime.UtcNow.ToString("yyyyMMdd") & ".xml"
						'Extract dimensions						
						extractDict.Add(New XmlExtractItemPk(XmlExtractItemType.Dimensions), True)
						'Extract Account Dims
						dimList = BRApi.Finance.Dim.GetDims(si, dimtype.Account.Id)						
						For Each dimName In dimList
							dimID = BRApi.Finance.Dim.GetDimPk(si, dimName.Name).DimId
							extractDict.Add(New XmlExtractItemPk(XmlExtractItemType.Dimension, dimID), True)
						Next						
						'Execute the Metadata Extract
						Using dbConnFW As DbConnInfo = BRApi.Database.CreateFrameworkDbConnInfo(si)
							Using dbConnApp As DbConnInfo = BRApi.Database.CreateApplicationDbConnInfo(si)
								'Extract XML metadata to target location
								File.WriteAllText(filePath, MetadataExtract.ExtractXml(dbConnFW, dbConnApp, xmlOptions, extractDict))
							End Using
						End Using
						extractDict.Clear

						filePath = folderPath & "\MetadataFlow_" & DateTime.UtcNow.ToString("yyyyMMdd") & ".xml"
						'Extract dimensions						
						extractDict.Add(New XmlExtractItemPk(XmlExtractItemType.Dimensions), True)
						'Extract Account Dims
						dimList = BRApi.Finance.Dim.GetDims(si, dimtype.Flow.Id)						
						For Each dimName In dimList
							dimID = BRApi.Finance.Dim.GetDimPk(si, dimName.Name).DimId
							extractDict.Add(New XmlExtractItemPk(XmlExtractItemType.Dimension, dimID), True)
						Next						
						'Execute the Metadata Extract
						Using dbConnFW As DbConnInfo = BRApi.Database.CreateFrameworkDbConnInfo(si)
							Using dbConnApp As DbConnInfo = BRApi.Database.CreateApplicationDbConnInfo(si)
								'Extract XML metadata to target location
								File.WriteAllText(filePath, MetadataExtract.ExtractXml(dbConnFW, dbConnApp, xmlOptions, extractDict))
							End Using
						End Using
						extractDict.Clear

						filePath = folderPath & "\MetadataUD1_" & DateTime.UtcNow.ToString("yyyyMMdd") & ".xml"
						'Extract dimensions						
						extractDict.Add(New XmlExtractItemPk(XmlExtractItemType.Dimensions), True)
						'Extract Account Dims
						dimList = BRApi.Finance.Dim.GetDims(si, dimtype.UD1.Id)
						For Each dimName In dimList
							dimID = BRApi.Finance.Dim.GetDimPk(si, dimName.Name).DimId
							extractDict.Add(New XmlExtractItemPk(XmlExtractItemType.Dimension, dimID), True)
						Next						
						'Execute the Metadata Extract
						Using dbConnFW As DbConnInfo = BRApi.Database.CreateFrameworkDbConnInfo(si)
							Using dbConnApp As DbConnInfo = BRApi.Database.CreateApplicationDbConnInfo(si)
								'Extract XML metadata to target location
								File.WriteAllText(filePath, MetadataExtract.ExtractXml(dbConnFW, dbConnApp, xmlOptions, extractDict))
							End Using
						End Using
						extractDict.Clear

						filePath = folderPath & "\MetadataUD2_" & DateTime.UtcNow.ToString("yyyyMMdd") & ".xml"
						'Extract dimensions						
						extractDict.Add(New XmlExtractItemPk(XmlExtractItemType.Dimensions), True)
						'Extract Account Dims
						dimList = BRApi.Finance.Dim.GetDims(si, dimtype.UD2.Id)
						For Each dimName In dimList
							dimID = BRApi.Finance.Dim.GetDimPk(si, dimName.Name).DimId
							extractDict.Add(New XmlExtractItemPk(XmlExtractItemType.Dimension, dimID), True)
						Next						
						'Execute the Metadata Extract
						Using dbConnFW As DbConnInfo = BRApi.Database.CreateFrameworkDbConnInfo(si)
							Using dbConnApp As DbConnInfo = BRApi.Database.CreateApplicationDbConnInfo(si)
								'Extract XML metadata to target location
								File.WriteAllText(filePath, MetadataExtract.ExtractXml(dbConnFW, dbConnApp, xmlOptions, extractDict))
							End Using
						End Using
						extractDict.Clear

						filePath = folderPath & "\MetadataUD3_" & DateTime.UtcNow.ToString("yyyyMMdd") & ".xml"
						'Extract dimensions						
						extractDict.Add(New XmlExtractItemPk(XmlExtractItemType.Dimensions), True)
						'Extract Account Dims
						dimList = BRApi.Finance.Dim.GetDims(si, dimtype.UD3.Id)
						For Each dimName In dimList
							dimID = BRApi.Finance.Dim.GetDimPk(si, dimName.Name).DimId
							extractDict.Add(New XmlExtractItemPk(XmlExtractItemType.Dimension, dimID), True)
						Next						
						'Execute the Metadata Extract
						Using dbConnFW As DbConnInfo = BRApi.Database.CreateFrameworkDbConnInfo(si)
							Using dbConnApp As DbConnInfo = BRApi.Database.CreateApplicationDbConnInfo(si)
								'Extract XML metadata to target location
								File.WriteAllText(filePath, MetadataExtract.ExtractXml(dbConnFW, dbConnApp, xmlOptions, extractDict))
							End Using
						End Using
						extractDict.Clear

						filePath = folderPath & "\MetadataUD4_" & DateTime.UtcNow.ToString("yyyyMMdd") & ".xml"
						'Extract dimensions						
						extractDict.Add(New XmlExtractItemPk(XmlExtractItemType.Dimensions), True)
						'Extract Account Dims
						dimList = BRApi.Finance.Dim.GetDims(si, dimtype.UD4.Id)
						For Each dimName In dimList
							dimID = BRApi.Finance.Dim.GetDimPk(si, dimName.Name).DimId
							extractDict.Add(New XmlExtractItemPk(XmlExtractItemType.Dimension, dimID), True)
						Next						
						'Execute the Metadata Extract
						Using dbConnFW As DbConnInfo = BRApi.Database.CreateFrameworkDbConnInfo(si)
							Using dbConnApp As DbConnInfo = BRApi.Database.CreateApplicationDbConnInfo(si)
								'Extract XML metadata to target location
								File.WriteAllText(filePath, MetadataExtract.ExtractXml(dbConnFW, dbConnApp, xmlOptions, extractDict))
							End Using
						End Using
						extractDict.Clear

						filePath = folderPath & "\MetadataUD5_" & DateTime.UtcNow.ToString("yyyyMMdd") & ".xml"
						'Extract dimensions						
						extractDict.Add(New XmlExtractItemPk(XmlExtractItemType.Dimensions), True)
						'Extract Account Dims
						dimList = BRApi.Finance.Dim.GetDims(si, dimtype.UD5.Id)
						For Each dimName In dimList
							dimID = BRApi.Finance.Dim.GetDimPk(si, dimName.Name).DimId
							extractDict.Add(New XmlExtractItemPk(XmlExtractItemType.Dimension, dimID), True)
						Next						
						'Execute the Metadata Extract
						Using dbConnFW As DbConnInfo = BRApi.Database.CreateFrameworkDbConnInfo(si)
							Using dbConnApp As DbConnInfo = BRApi.Database.CreateApplicationDbConnInfo(si)
								'Extract XML metadata to target location
								File.WriteAllText(filePath, MetadataExtract.ExtractXml(dbConnFW, dbConnApp, xmlOptions, extractDict))
							End Using
						End Using
						extractDict.Clear

						filePath = folderPath & "\MetadataUD6_" & DateTime.UtcNow.ToString("yyyyMMdd") & ".xml"
						'Extract dimensions						
						extractDict.Add(New XmlExtractItemPk(XmlExtractItemType.Dimensions), True)
						'Extract Account Dims
						dimList = BRApi.Finance.Dim.GetDims(si, dimtype.UD6.Id)
						For Each dimName In dimList
							dimID = BRApi.Finance.Dim.GetDimPk(si, dimName.Name).DimId
							extractDict.Add(New XmlExtractItemPk(XmlExtractItemType.Dimension, dimID), True)
						Next						
						'Execute the Metadata Extract
						Using dbConnFW As DbConnInfo = BRApi.Database.CreateFrameworkDbConnInfo(si)
							Using dbConnApp As DbConnInfo = BRApi.Database.CreateApplicationDbConnInfo(si)
								'Extract XML metadata to target location
								File.WriteAllText(filePath, MetadataExtract.ExtractXml(dbConnFW, dbConnApp, xmlOptions, extractDict))
							End Using
						End Using
						extractDict.Clear

						filePath = folderPath & "\MetadataUD7_" & DateTime.UtcNow.ToString("yyyyMMdd") & ".xml"
						'Extract dimensions						
						extractDict.Add(New XmlExtractItemPk(XmlExtractItemType.Dimensions), True)
						'Extract Account Dims
						dimList = BRApi.Finance.Dim.GetDims(si, dimtype.UD7.Id)
						For Each dimName In dimList
							dimID = BRApi.Finance.Dim.GetDimPk(si, dimName.Name).DimId
							extractDict.Add(New XmlExtractItemPk(XmlExtractItemType.Dimension, dimID), True)
						Next						
						'Execute the Metadata Extract
						Using dbConnFW As DbConnInfo = BRApi.Database.CreateFrameworkDbConnInfo(si)
							Using dbConnApp As DbConnInfo = BRApi.Database.CreateApplicationDbConnInfo(si)
								'Extract XML metadata to target location
								File.WriteAllText(filePath, MetadataExtract.ExtractXml(dbConnFW, dbConnApp, xmlOptions, extractDict))
							End Using
						End Using
						extractDict.Clear

						filePath = folderPath & "\MetadataUD8_" & DateTime.UtcNow.ToString("yyyyMMdd") & ".xml"
						'Extract dimensions						
						extractDict.Add(New XmlExtractItemPk(XmlExtractItemType.Dimensions), True)
						'Extract Account Dims
						dimList = BRApi.Finance.Dim.GetDims(si, dimtype.UD8.Id)
						For Each dimName In dimList
							dimID = BRApi.Finance.Dim.GetDimPk(si, dimName.Name).DimId
							extractDict.Add(New XmlExtractItemPk(XmlExtractItemType.Dimension, dimID), True)
						Next						
						'Execute the Metadata Extract
						Using dbConnFW As DbConnInfo = BRApi.Database.CreateFrameworkDbConnInfo(si)
							Using dbConnApp As DbConnInfo = BRApi.Database.CreateApplicationDbConnInfo(si)
								'Extract XML metadata to target location
								File.WriteAllText(filePath, MetadataExtract.ExtractXml(dbConnFW, dbConnApp, xmlOptions, extractDict))
							End Using
						End Using
						extractDict.Clear

						filePath = folderPath & "\MetadataScenario_" & DateTime.UtcNow.ToString("yyyyMMdd") & ".xml"
						'Extract dimensions						
						extractDict.Add(New XmlExtractItemPk(XmlExtractItemType.Dimensions), True)
						'Extract Account Dims
						dimList = BRApi.Finance.Dim.GetDims(si, dimtype.Scenario.Id)
						For Each dimName In dimList
							dimID = BRApi.Finance.Dim.GetDimPk(si, dimName.Name).DimId
							extractDict.Add(New XmlExtractItemPk(XmlExtractItemType.Dimension, dimID), True)
						Next						
						'Execute the Metadata Extract
						Using dbConnFW As DbConnInfo = BRApi.Database.CreateFrameworkDbConnInfo(si)
							Using dbConnApp As DbConnInfo = BRApi.Database.CreateApplicationDbConnInfo(si)
								'Extract XML metadata to target location
								File.WriteAllText(filePath, MetadataExtract.ExtractXml(dbConnFW, dbConnApp, xmlOptions, extractDict))
							End Using
						End Using
						extractDict.Clear

				End Select

				Return Nothing
			Catch ex As Exception
				Throw ErrorHandler.LogWrite(si, New XFException(si, ex))
			End Try
		End Function
	End Class
End Namespace

The above was my adaptation of work done by ​@PeterFu , it should create snapshots with date-time stamp of each dimension on its own, except for Cube, Consol, Time, View,  Origin and IC, all of which are system defined. The snapshots will be saved in File Share \ Applications \ $appname \ Groups \ Administrators \ MetaDataCopy.

I’d set up a DM then set a task scheduler job.