Create Change Set using package.xml

Hello Folks!
Today I would like to show you, how to generate Change Set metadata content, based on package.xml.
Let’s assume, that you have a repository with all changes that you made on the environment, but the client’s politics requires Change Sets to move content from sandbox to production. We have a problem! You have a lot of apex classes, objects, LWC components, etc. and now you need to select all of them in Change Sets UI. It can be painful, but no worries. We have a solution for it!
Let’s begin!

Step 1: Create Outbound Change Set

Before we fill our ChangeSet with metadata content, we need to create it.
Go to your sandbox, Setup > Outbound Change Sets, and create a new one.
Copy your Change Set’s name, will be needed later.

Step 2: Adjust your code and package.xml

Go to your repository, or wherever you have org’s metadata, and modify the package.xml file with the following line [3] and [4] (optional)

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Package xmlns="http://soap.sforce.com/2006/04/metadata">
    <fullName>TestChangeSet</fullName>
    <description>Change Set Description</description>
    <types>
        <members>TestApexClass</members>
        <name>ApexClass</name>
    </types>
    <types>
        <members>testLwcComponent</members>
        <name>LightningComponentBundle</name>
    </types>
    <version>49.0</version>
</Package>

Important! Create .zip with all changes.

Step 3: Log in to Workbench

Firstly go to Workbench and log in to the sandbox where you created ChangeSet in the first step.

Secondly, go to migration > Deploy and upload your .zip file created in step 2 and check Auto Update Package.
Finally, Click Next and Deploy.

Step 4: Enjoy your Change Set with uploaded metadata!

Consideration!

• Make sure that your ChangeSet doesn’t exceed approximately 5,000 components.
• Change Set’s names are not unique! Be sure that during the upload with workbench you have only one Change Set with the full name used in package.xml
• After you upload a ChangeSet, its status becomes closed, and you can’t make changes to its component

Was it helpful? Check out our other great posts here.

Resources

• https://help.salesforce.com/articleView?id=changesets.htm&type=5
• https://help.salesforce.com/articleView?id=changesets_about_outbound.htm&type=5