How to export structure without transactions?

[Fran_3]

 We have setup a gnucash file for 2018 and created all our customer and vendor accounts... plus customized the chart of accounts... and entered all the transactions to date.
Now we want to do 2017.
Is there a way to export the structure leaving the vendors, customers, and customized chart of accounts in place so we can begin populating for 2017.
Thanks for any help.
Fran3