Export, import and backups
Export any file to Word, PDF, Markdown, plain text or a spreadsheet, import documents from other apps, back up to Google Drive, and back up your whole library in the desktop app.
Your writing is yours, and getting it in and out of Studio should be easy.
Export
Open the file and use its file options (the sliders icon at the top left), or press Cmd+K and run Export….
| File | Formats | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Text file | Word (.docx), PDF, Markdown (.md), plain text (.txt) | Word and PDF use your writing font. |
| Manuscript | Word, PDF, Markdown, plain text | Options for chapter names, separators and the font. See Manuscripts. |
| Wiki | Word, Markdown, plain text | Whole wiki (Export Wiki) or one entry (right-click › Export). Other names and facts are included. |
| Outline | Plain text, Markdown | Indented by level, with notes and, if you like, linked file names and descriptions. |
| Card stack | Spreadsheet (.csv) | One row per card. |
| Grid | Spreadsheet (.csv) | Laid out roughly like the grid. |
Exports keep your words and their structure, not a pixel-perfect copy of Studio. Word keeps formatting best. On the web, PDF opens your browser's print window (choose Save as PDF); the desktop app saves the PDF directly. On mobile, export from the file menu (the sliders icon).
Import
Bring in .txt, .md, .docx and .rtf files as text files: click Import on the dashboard, or the upload icon in the drawer or on the mobile Files tab, and choose one or more files. Each becomes a text file named after the document, in the folder you're in. See Import documents.
Back up to Google Drive
With a Studio account, you can copy text files to your Google Drive.
- Open the account menu (the person icon) and choose Connect Drive (on mobile, Settings › Connect Google Drive). Follow Google's steps to allow access. In the desktop app this happens in your browser.
- Choose the Drive folder for backups: the gear menu's Change Folder.
Then back up:
- One file, now: Backup now in the file's options, or right-click it in the drawer and choose Backup to Drive. Select several files first to back them all up.
- Everything from your BYOK, automatically: turn on Backup Syncs to Drive in the gear menu or on the Devices page. Every text file that syncs from your BYOK is copied to Drive.
Back up your whole library
The desktop app can save your entire library (every project, file, manuscript, tag, Scratch Pad note, comment and version) to a single file: Account › Sync › Back up library…. Restore it on the same computer or a new one with Restore from backup…. See The desktop app.
Getting writing off your BYOK
Besides Wi-Fi sync, your writing can leave the BYOK by the microSD card or USB Disk Mode (as plain .txt files), or straight into the desktop app with Bring writing in. See Transferring your writing in the device manual.
Still stuck?
Send us a note from Contact Support, or choose Report Bug in Studio’s account menu so your app version comes along with it. For the device itself, see the BYOK device manual.