Open, view, and print a deadlock file in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)
Applies to: 
SQL Server
Azure SQL Database
Azure SQL Managed Instance
When SQL Server Profiler generates a deadlock, you can capture and save the deadlock information to a file. After you've saved the deadlock file, you can open it in SQL Server Management Studio to view it or print it.
Open and view a deadlock file
On the File menu in SQL Server Management Studio, point to Open, and then select File.
In the Open File dialog box, select the .xdl file type in the Files of type box. You now have a filtered list of only deadlock files.
Print a deadlock file
On the File menu in SQL Server Management Studio, point to Open, and then select File.
In the Open File dialog box, select the .xdl file type in the Files of type box. You now have a filtered list of only deadlock files.
Select the deadlock file you want to print, and select Open.
On the File menu, select Print.