If you can connect only with the browser, then use the following syntax (example is about exporting a workflow, but with necessary adjustments it works for any item):

http://yourservername/do.ashx?cmd=config&name=wf_continuetaskcopyflow

Then, save your export to a XML file. To save from the Chrome browser, press Ctrl+S and then replace the name do.htm with the appropriate file name and .xml extension.

Open the file in an XML editor capable to reformat it. If you open it in Notepad++, you need to use XML Tools plug-in, Pretty Print with line breaks.

Then, if you want, you can use the compare plug-in in Notepad++ or in the software of your choice.