Contents
Import and export - Plugixa FAQ
Where this appears: the Import and Export buttons on the FAQs screen.
Most of this is free, which is worth stating because our own older documentation marked the whole feature as premium. JSON and CSV work in both directions in the free build. Only PDF export needs Pro.
Exporting
| Format | Tier | Use |
|---|---|---|
| JSON | Free | A lossless copy, for moving between installs |
| CSV | Free | A spreadsheet, for review or translation |
| PRO | A styled document, for printing or attaching |
JSON keeps everything: categories, order, nesting, custom field values, language and translation groups. It is what to use for a site move.
CSV flattens. It is the right choice when a person rather than a machine is going to read it, and the usual reason to reach for it is sending the set to somebody for review.
Importing
JSON and CSV, both free.
A CSV needs a question column and an answer column. Category, status and order are optional; anything missing falls back to a sensible default, which is a draft in no category rather than a published answer somewhere unexpected.
Imports add, they do not replace. Running the same file twice gives you two copies rather than an update, so import into a site you have a backup of, and check the result before running it again.
Moving a site
Export JSON from the old install, import it on the new one, then check the views. Views are not in the export, because a design that references fonts and colours is a different kind of thing from content; recreate them, or duplicate them from the shipped set.
Troubleshooting
| What you see | Why | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Everything imported as a draft | Status was missing from the CSV | Add a status column, or bulk publish afterwards |
| Duplicate answers | The file was imported twice | Imports add; delete the extras |
| Custom field values are missing | CSV flattens them | Use JSON for a lossless move |
| The PDF option is missing | It is a Pro feature | JSON and CSV remain available |
What to do next
Permalinks covers the page each answer gets.