# Import and export

Bring models in from Archibara JSON, IcePanel or Mermaid, and take them out as JSON, draw.io, Mermaid, images, reports or CSV.

## Import a workspace

Every import creates a new workspace in your current team; existing workspaces are never changed.

1. On the **Workspaces** page, select **Import workspace**.
2. Drag your file onto the drop zone or select **Choose file**. Archibara recognises the format by itself.
3. Check the **Workspace name**.
4. Select **Import and open**.

Importing needs the team role Owner or Administrator. The number of imports per month and the largest accepted file depend on the team's plan; the dialog tells you when a file is over the limit. Files can be at most 16 MB.

| Format | File | What you get |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Archibara JSON | `.json` exported from Archibara | An exact copy of the workspace: model, views, layouts, catalogs, records and flows |
| IcePanel model export | `.json`, optionally with the diagram's `.svg` | The model, plus diagram positions when you add the SVG |
| Mermaid flowchart | `.mmd`, `.mermaid` or `.txt` | Objects and connections arranged in one view |

## Archibara JSON round trip

The JSON export is the complete, editable backup of a workspace. Export it with **Export**, **Semantic model (JSON)** and **Download file**, and import it on any Archibara account to continue editing. It contains the model, every view with its saved coordinates, the catalogs, records and flows. It does not contain members, invitations, MCP keys, share links or snapshot history.

## Import from IcePanel

Archibara reads IcePanel's model JSON export, and can also use the SVG export of one of its diagrams to restore the layout.

1. In IcePanel, export the model as JSON and, if you want positions, the diagram as SVG, both from the same version.
2. In **Import workspace**, choose the JSON file.
3. Optionally add the SVG under **Diagram SVG (optional, up to 4 MB)**.
4. Read the preview report and select **Import and open**.

What is imported:

- Objects, connections, technologies, tags, statuses and owning teams become Archibara objects and connections.
- Each IcePanel domain becomes an Archibara domain with its own landscape view.
- Without an SVG, views get a generated layout. With the SVG, card positions and sizes, group frames, and connection routes and label positions that can be matched safely are restored. Cards and fonts use Archibara's own styling.
- Objects are matched to the SVG by their names. If a name is missing or ambiguous, the preview lists it and the import waits until you fix it. Routes that cannot be matched are listed too; they use generated routes instead.
- Flows, tag colours and other IcePanel-only details are kept as archive notes in the workspace's records rather than recreated.

Keep your original exports. After the import, use Archibara JSON for later round trips.

## Import from Mermaid

Archibara imports Mermaid flowcharts that start with `flowchart` or `graph` and a direction, for example `flowchart LR`. Other Mermaid diagram types are rejected. A file that contains exactly one fenced `mermaid` code block also works.

- Each node becomes an object of kind **Custom**; change kinds afterwards in the inspector.
- Each subgraph becomes a parent object of the nodes inside it.
- Edge labels become connection descriptions. A label that ends in square brackets, such as `Sends orders [HTTPS]`, sets the technology too.
- Dotted edges become **Asynchronous** connections, other arrows **Synchronous** ones, and lines without an arrow get the **Custom** interaction style.
- The new workspace is relaxed and has one view, **Imported Mermaid**, arranged automatically.

## Export

Select **Export** in the toolbar, choose a **File format** and select **Download file**. Everyone who can open a workspace, Viewers included, can export it. Diagram formats export the diagram that is open; if changes are still saving, the dialog waits for them.

| File format | What you get |
| --- | --- |
| **Semantic model (JSON)** | The whole workspace, ready to import into Archibara again |
| **Editable diagram (.drawio)** | The current diagram as editable shapes, frames and connections for diagrams.net, with saved positions and sizes; changes made there do not sync back |
| **Mermaid diagram** | The current diagram as Mermaid text; exact positions are not kept |
| **Diagram as PNG** | An image of the whole current diagram |
| **Diagram as SVG** | A vector image of the whole current diagram; not an editable backup |
| **Architecture report (Markdown)** | A text report of the entire workspace model, without images |
| **Printable architecture report (HTML)** | A standalone report of the model with an image of the current diagram; use your browser's print command to save it as PDF |

For draw.io, PNG, SVG and HTML you can choose the **Style** (**Glacier** or **Lumen**) and the **Colour mode** (**Light** or **Dark**). They start with the style and mode you are using. Images always show the whole diagram, whatever your zoom, and never include your current selection or highlights.

For the two reports, tick the presales records you want to include under **Records to include (optional)**.

## Export objects as CSV

To get a spreadsheet of objects, open the explorer's **Model** tab, select **Open model browser**, filter the **Table** as you like and select **Export filtered objects (CSV)**.

## Copy context for an AI assistant

The workspace menu offers **Copy context for AI**, and cards, connections and views offer **Copy reference for agent** or **Copy view reference**. These copy a short reference that an AI client connected through [MCP](/docs/mcp-and-ai/) can open in your model.