What export formats does SwiftPrep support?

SwiftPrep lets you export your campaign data in multiple formats. Use exports for backups, sharing content, or moving data to other tools.

Available Export Formats

JSON Export

What It Is

Complete campaign data in structured JSON format. This is your canonical backup format. Everything in machine-readable form.

What Is Included

• All entities (NPCs, locations, items, encounters, factions, plot hooks, session plans, player characters)
• All relationships
• All tags
• All custom fields
• Entity metadata (created date, modified date)

When to Use JSON

• Backups - Complete data preservation
• Migration - Moving to another computer
• Re-importing - Round-trip export and import

How to Export JSON

1. Go to Settings > Export
2. Select JSON
3. Choose scope:
   • Full campaign - Everything
   • Selected entities - Just what you have selected
4. Click Export
5. Save the .json file

[!TIP] Export to JSON weekly and before major sessions. Store backups on an external drive or cloud storage. Your campaigns are valuable.

JSON File Structure

{
  "campaign": {
    "name": "Campaign Name",
    "created": "2025-01-15T..."
  },
  "entities": {
    "npcs": [...],
    "locations": [...],
    "items": [...],
    ...
  },
  "relationships": [...],
  "tags": [...]
}

Markdown Export

What It Is

Human-readable text files formatted with Markdown. Perfect for reading, printing, or using in other apps that support Markdown.

What Is Included

• Entity content formatted as Markdown documents
• Headers, lists, and structure preserved
• Relationships listed as text
• No images (text only)

When to Use Markdown

• Reading offline - Nice formatted text
• Printing - Session prep printouts
• Sharing - Send content to players or other DMs
• Other tools - Import into Obsidian, Notion, or similar apps

How to Export Markdown

1. Go to Settings > Export
2. Select Markdown
3. Choose scope:
   • Full campaign - All entities as separate files
   • Selected entities - Just what you have selected
   • Single file - Everything in one document
4. Click Export
5. Save to folder (multiple files) or single .md file

Output Structure (Multiple Files)

Example Markdown Output

# Mira Thornwood

**Role:** Bartender at The Rusty Anchor

## Description
A weathered half-elf with knowing eyes and a scar across her left cheek...

## Personality
Patient and observant. She has heard every story and remembers most of them...

## Goals
- Keep her tavern running
- Protect her regulars from trouble
- Find out who is asking questions about her past

## Relationships
- Works at: The Rusty Anchor
- Friend: Captain Aldric (they served together)
- Informant for: Thieves Guild

CSV Export

What It Is

Tabular data format for spreadsheets. Export one entity type at a time with fields as columns.

What Is Included

• One entity type per export
• Standard fields as columns
• One row per entity
• Relationships as text references

When to Use CSV

• Spreadsheet analysis - Open in Excel or Google Sheets
• Bulk editing - Modify multiple entities externally
• Data analysis - Sort, filter, analyze your content
• Custom reports - Build your own views

How to Export CSV

1. Go to Settings > Export
2. Select CSV
3. Choose entity type (NPCs, Locations, etc.)
4. Configure options:
   • Include all fields - Every field, even empty ones
   • Include only filled fields - Skip empty columns
5. Click Export
6. Save the .csv file

Example CSV Output (NPCs)

Name,Role,Description,Personality,Goals
Mira Thornwood,Bartender,"A weathered half-elf...","Patient and observant...","Keep her tavern running"
Captain Aldric,Guard Captain,"Stern man in his fifties...","By the book, but fair...","Root out corruption"

PDF Export

What It Is

Formatted documents ready for reading or printing. Professional layout with headers, sections, and clean typography.

What Is Included

• Selected entities formatted as pages
• Clean typography and layout
• Table of contents for large exports
• Optional images if included in entities

When to Use PDF

• Session handouts - Give players location descriptions or NPC portraits
• Reference documents - Print your faction overview
• Archiving - Permanent record of campaign content
• Sharing - Send formatted content to others

How to Export PDF

1. Go to Settings > Export
2. Select PDF
3. Choose content:
   • Selected entities - What you have selected
   • Entity type - All NPCs, all locations, etc.
   • Session plan - A specific session with linked content
4. Configure options:
   • Include images - Add any attached images
   • Include relationships - List connections
   • Player-visible only - Exclude DM-only content
5. Click Export
6. Save the .pdf file

[!INFO] Use the "Player-visible only" option to create handouts that exclude your DM secrets. Perfect for location descriptions or NPC information you want to share.

Export Scope Options

When exporting, you can choose what to include:

Full Campaign

Everything in the campaign. Use for complete backups.

Selected Entities

1. Go to an entity list (NPCs, Locations, etc.)
2. Select entities using checkboxes
3. Go to Export and choose "Selected entities"

By Entity Type

Export all content of one type (all NPCs, all locations, etc.)

By Tag

1. Filter entities by tag
2. Select all visible
3. Export selected

Session Export

Export a session plan with all linked entities. Everything you need for one game session.

Backup Strategy

Recommended Approach

1. Weekly: JSON export of full campaign
2. Before major sessions: JSON export
3. Before system changes: JSON export
4. Store backups: External drive, cloud storage, or both

Restoring from Backup

1. Go to Settings > Import
2. Select SwiftPrep JSON
3. Choose your backup file
4. Import as new campaign or merge

Tips for Exports

For Sharing with Players

Use Markdown or PDF with Player-visible only option. This excludes your DM secrets.

For Other Apps

• Obsidian: Export Markdown, import folder into vault
• Notion: Export Markdown, import pages
• World Anvil: Manual copy from Markdown export
• VTTs: Currently one-way import; export to JSON for data safety

For Large Campaigns

• Use selective export rather than full campaign
• Export by story arc using tag-based selection
• Consider separate exports for active vs. archived content

Troubleshooting Exports

Export Takes Too Long

• Large campaigns with many images take longer
• Try exporting without images first
• Break into smaller exports by entity type

File Will Not Open

• JSON: Use a text editor or JSON viewer
• CSV: Ensure your spreadsheet app handles UTF-8 encoding
• PDF: Update your PDF reader

Missing Content in Export

• Check entity visibility settings
• Ensure entities are saved before exporting
• Relationships only export if both entities are included

Related Articles

• How do I import content from virtual tabletops?
• How do I import from Fantasy Grounds?
• How do I use SwiftPrep offline?
• How do I install SwiftPrep and launch it for the first time?