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Import and Export

Lifebook can import individual files, folders, photo album folders, calendar files, and Lifebook backup files. It can export both a backup data file and readable documents.

On this page: Import from Menu · Drag and Drop · Duplicates · Import Progress · Trial Limit · Restore Backup · Export Backup · Export as Document · Import Calendar

Import From the Main Menu

Open the import menu in the main menu.

Import menu open from the main menu

The import menu offers file import, folder import, and image collection import.

Import Files

Import Files lets you select multiple supported files.

Imported documents become text entries. Lifebook extracts readable text from the document and uses the file name as the entry title. Images embedded inside documents are not imported as separate image entries.

Supported text document extensions:

.doc, .docx, .txt, .rtf, .pdf, .odt

Supported image extensions:

.bmp, .jpg, .gif, .jpe, .jpeg, .jfif, .tif, .tiff, .png, .heic, .heif

Lifebook includes HEIC and HEIF import support. Installing the Microsoft HEIF Image Extensions package can still improve Windows preview behavior outside Lifebook.

Supported video extensions:

.mp4, .avi, .mpg, .mpeg, .wmv, .mov, .mkv

Supported audio extensions:

.mp3, .m4a, .wav, .wma, .aac

Import Folder

Import Folder lets you choose one or more folders. Lifebook scans them for supported files and imports the files it can use.

If more than 50 files are selected for import, Lifebook shows a large-import confirmation.

Import Image Collections

Import Image Collections scans selected folders for valid collection folders containing supported image/video files and imports each collection as a photo album.

If more than 50 collections are selected, Lifebook shows a large-import confirmation.

Drag and Drop Import

Drag supported files or folders onto the main window to import them.

Drag and drop is ignored while:

  • An import is already running.
  • The welcome message is open.
  • A trial message is open.
  • Settings is open.
  • An overlay is open.

Duplicate and Unsupported Files

Lifebook skips files that are already imported. If every selected file is skipped or unsupported, Lifebook shows a message explaining that no files were found for import.

Documents larger than the app can import, corrupt files, and unsupported media formats may also be skipped.

Import Progress and Cancel

During imports, the status bar shows progress and the current file or folder. Cancellable imports show a Cancel button.

Canceling an import stops the current import process. Depending on the import type, already imported entries may remain or temporary imported data may be cleaned up.

Trial Import Limit

In trial mode, Lifebook imports only up to the remaining 50-entry limit. If you select more entries than the trial allows, Lifebook tells you how many will be imported and offers a purchase option when available.

Import Lifebook Backup

Open Settings, then use Import in Manage Data.

This imports a Lifebook data export file.

Warning

Importing a backup overwrites all current entries. Export a backup first if you want to keep the current data.

If imported entries point to files that are missing on your computer, Lifebook can ask whether to remove those missing entries.

Export Lifebook Backup

Open Settings, then use Export in Manage Data.

This copies the Lifebook data file to a .lifebook export file. Use this for backup and restore.

Export Entries as Documents

Open Settings, then choose Export As Text File.

The export dialog lets you choose:

  • Date range: From and To
  • Entire period
  • Output format
  • Whether to include images

Supported export formats:

  • PDF document (.pdf)
  • Word document (.docx)
  • Text document (.txt)

When images are included, export includes text, image, and photo album entries. Text export cannot contain images, so the image option is disabled for .txt.

After a successful export, Lifebook shows the export location and can open the export folder in Explorer.

Import Calendar Files

Open Settings, then choose Import Calendar.

Supported calendar extensions:

.ics, .vcs

Calendar events become text entries. Lifebook uses the event summary as the title, the event description as the text content, and the event start date as the entry date.

Duplicate calendar events already in Lifebook are skipped.

See also: Settings · Troubleshooting · Adding Entries