Export & Import

Skelenote lets you export your data to standard formats and import from other tools.

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Export Overview

Skelenote supports multiple export formats to suit different needs:

Format	Extension	Best For
Markdown	.md	Obsidian, Notion, Bear, Git repos
HTML	.html	Sharing, printing, email
JSON	.json	Complete backups, data migration
Plain Text	.txt	Simple text extraction
PDF	.pdf	Formal documents, archiving

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Export Formats

Markdown

The default export format. Produces standard Markdown files with YAML frontmatter that work with:

• Obsidian

• Notion (via import)

• Bear

• Any Markdown editor

• Git repositories

Example output:

---
id: abc123-def456
type: Task
status: in_progress
priority: high
due: 2024-01-15
created: 2024-01-01T10:00:00Z
updated: 2024-01-10T15:30:00Z
tags:
  - work
  - urgent
---

# Task Title

Your content here with formatting preserved.

Mentions become [[wiki-links]] that work in Obsidian.

Options:

• Include frontmatter - Adds YAML metadata at the top

• Include title - Adds the title as an H1 heading

---

HTML

Creates a self-contained HTML file with embedded styling. Perfect for:

• Sharing with non-technical users

• Printing from a browser

• Email attachments

• Offline viewing

The HTML export includes:

• Complete styling (no external CSS required)

• Proper typography matching Skelenote's aesthetic

• Responsive layout for different screen sizes

• All images embedded as base64 data

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JSON

Full backup format that preserves all metadata. Use this for:

• Complete data backups

• Migrating to another device

• Data analysis

• Programmatic access

JSON structure:

{
  "version": 1,
  "exportedAt": "2024-01-15T10:30:00Z",
  "objects": [
    {
      "id": "abc123-def456",
      "typeId": "built-in:task",
      "properties": {
        "title": "Finish report",
        "status": "in_progress",
        "priority": "high",
        "dueDate": 1705276800000
      },
      "content": "[{\"type\":\"paragraph\",...}]",
      "hasContent": true,
      "inboxed": false,
      "pinned": false,
      "createdAt": 1704067200000,
      "updatedAt": 1704931800000
    }
  ]
}

The JSON format includes:

• All object properties exactly as stored

• Rich text content in BlockNote JSON format

• System metadata (created, updated, pinned, inboxed)

• Version number for future compatibility

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Plain Text

Extracts content without any formatting. Useful for:

• Copying text to other applications

• Text analysis tools

• Accessibility needs

• Maximum compatibility

Plain text export strips:

• All formatting (bold, italic, etc.)

• Images and embeds

• Links (keeps link text only)

• Frontmatter metadata

---

PDF

Creates a professionally styled PDF document. Ideal for:

• Formal documentation

• Long-term archiving

• Printing

• Sharing as read-only

PDF options:

• Theme - Light or dark background

• Include title - Show title at the top

• Include metadata - Add type, dates, and properties

• Page size - A4 or Letter

PDF exports use Skelenote's typography and maintain visual fidelity with the app.

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Single Object Export

Export individual objects in any format.

How to Export

1. Open the object you want to export

2. Press Cmd+Shift+E or use the object menu (three dots)

3. Select your preferred format

4. Configure format-specific options

5. Choose save location

6. File saves as {title}.{ext}

Keyboard Shortcut

Platform	Shortcut
macOS	Cmd+Shift+E
Windows/Linux	Ctrl+Shift+E

---

Bulk Export

Export multiple objects at once to a ZIP archive.

How to Export

1. Open Settings (Cmd+,)

2. Go to Data section

3. Select export format:

   • Markdown ZIP - All objects as .md files

   • PDF ZIP - All objects as .pdf files

   • JSON Backup - Complete backup (single file)

4. Configure options:

   • Organize by type - Creates folders for each type

   • Include archived - Adds archived objects

   • Filter by type - Export only specific types

5. Click Export

6. Choose save location

7. Monitor progress indicator

ZIP Structure

With "Organize by type" enabled:

skelenote-export-2024-01-15/
├── attachments/
│   ├── image-abc123.png
│   ├── screenshot-def456.jpg
│   └── ...
├── tasks/
│   ├── finish-report.md
│   ├── call-client.md
│   └── ...
├── notes/
│   ├── meeting-notes-jan-10.md
│   └── ...
├── projects/
│   ├── q1-planning.md
│   └── ...
├── daily-notes/
│   ├── 2024-01-14.md
│   ├── 2024-01-15.md
│   └── ...
└── areas/
    ├── health.md
    └── ...

Without organization (flat structure):

skelenote-export-2024-01-15/
├── attachments/
│   └── ...
├── finish-report.md
├── call-client.md
├── meeting-notes-jan-10.md
└── ...

---

Progress Tracking

For large exports (100+ objects), Skelenote shows real-time progress:

Progress Phases

Phase	Description
Preparing	Counting objects, initializing export
Exporting	Converting each object to the target format
Compressing	Creating the ZIP archive
Complete	Export finished, file saved

Progress Indicator

The progress dialog shows:

• Current object being processed

• Progress bar (X of Y objects)

• Current phase

• Cancel button (stops export gracefully)

Tip: Large exports with many images take longer due to image processing. The "Exporting" phase shows which object is currently being converted.

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Attachment Handling

Images and file attachments are handled differently depending on the export format.

Markdown Export

Single object:

• Creates an attachments/ folder next to the .md file

• Copies images to the attachments folder

• Updates image links to relative paths: ![](./attachments/image.png)

Bulk export:

• Single shared attachments/ folder in the ZIP root

• Duplicate images are stored only once

• All objects reference the shared folder

HTML Export

• Images are embedded directly as base64 data URIs

• No external files needed

• Results in a fully self-contained HTML file

• Larger file size but maximum portability

PDF Export

• Images are embedded in the PDF

• Supports PNG, JPEG, GIF, and WebP formats

• Images are scaled to fit page width

• Original aspect ratios are preserved

JSON Export

• Image URLs are preserved as-is (not embedded)

• Local file:// URLs point to original locations

• Suitable for backup/restore on the same machine

• For cross-machine backups, use Markdown ZIP

What Gets Exported

Content Type	Markdown	HTML	PDF	JSON	Plain Text
Text content	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Formatting	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes (raw)	No
Images	Copied	Embedded	Embedded	URLs	No
Links	Wiki-links	Clickable	Clickable	Raw	Text only
Properties	Frontmatter	Header	Optional	Full	No
Mentions	Wiki-links	Links	Text	Raw	Text

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Backup Strategy

Recommended Approach

1. Weekly exports - Set a reminder to export weekly

2. Cloud storage - Save ZIPs to iCloud, Dropbox, or Google Drive

3. Version control - Optionally commit exports to a Git repo

Recovery Scenarios

Scenario	Solution
Device lost/broken	Restore from backup + re-enter Skeleton Key
Accidental deletion	Use Time Machine (in-app) or restore from backup
Corrupted data	Export provides clean Markdown as fallback

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Data Portability

Using with Obsidian

Exported files work directly in Obsidian:

1. Export from Skelenote

2. Extract ZIP to your Obsidian vault folder

3. Files appear with full formatting

Wiki-links ([[note-name]]) are compatible with Obsidian's linking.

Using with Git

For version-controlled notes:

1. Export to a Git repository folder

2. Commit changes

3. Push to GitHub/GitLab for cloud backup

# Example workflow
cd ~/my-notes-backup
unzip ~/Downloads/skelenote-export-*.zip
git add .
git commit -m "Backup: $(date +%Y-%m-%d)"
git push

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Import Overview

Bring your notes, tasks, and projects from other tools into Skelenote.

Access: Settings (Cmd+,) → Data → Import

Supported Sources:

Source	What it imports
Notion	Databases and pages via API
Obsidian	Vault folder with wiki-links
Markdown	Individual .md files

All imported objects arrive in your Inbox for triage.

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Import from Notion

Connect directly to your Notion workspace and import databases with intelligent type mapping.

Step 1: Create a Notion Integration

1. Go to notion.so/my-integrations

2. Click New integration

3. Name it (e.g., "Skelenote Import")

4. Select your workspace

5. Under Capabilities, enable:

   • Read content

   • Read user information (optional, for People properties)

6. Click Submit

7. Copy the Internal Integration Token

Step 2: Connect in Skelenote

1. Open Settings → Data → Import

2. Select Notion

3. Paste your integration token

4. Click Connect

Security note: Your token is never stored. It's only held in memory during the import session.

Step 3: Share Databases with Your Integration

In Notion, for each database you want to import:

1. Open the database page

2. Click ... (top right) → Connections

3. Select your integration

Only databases shared with your integration will appear in Skelenote.

Step 4: Select Databases

The import wizard shows all accessible databases with:

• Page count - How many items will be imported

• Auto-detected type - Skelenote's best guess (Task, Note, Project, etc.)

• Confidence indicator - How sure we are about the type mapping

Check the databases you want to import.

Step 5: Review Type Mapping

For each selected database, confirm or change the Skelenote type:

If Notion database looks like...	Skelenote suggests...
Has Status, Due Date columns	Task
Has meeting attendees	Meeting
Named "Projects" or similar	Project
Has Areas/Categories	Area
Everything else	Note

Click on a database to expand property mapping options.

Step 6: Property Mapping

Skelenote auto-maps Notion properties to Skelenote properties:

Notion Type	Maps to	Notes
Title	title/name	Object's main title
Rich Text	Text	Formatting preserved
Number	Number	Direct conversion
Select	Select	Options auto-created
Multi-select	Multi-select/Tags	Can map to tags
Date	Date	Converted to timestamp
Checkbox	Checkbox	Boolean values
Status	Select (status)	Task status mapping
URL, Email, Phone	Text	As plain text
Relation	@mention	Becomes mention in content
People	Skipped	Not currently mapped
Files & Media	Skipped	References only

Properties without a clear match are skipped by default. You can manually assign them or leave them skipped.

Step 7: Standalone Pages

Pages not in any database (workspace root pages) can be:

• Imported as Notes - They'll appear in your Inbox

• Skipped - Leave them in Notion

What Gets Imported

• Content - Headings, paragraphs, lists, code blocks, quotes

• Properties - Mapped according to your configuration

• Nested content - Toggle blocks, callouts, columns (flattened)

• Relations - Become @mentions linking to imported objects

Troubleshooting Notion Import

Issue	Solution
"Invalid token"	Regenerate token in Notion and reconnect
No databases shown	Share databases with your integration in Notion
Import stuck	Large workspaces take time; check progress indicator
Missing properties	Review property mapping; some types can't be mapped
Missing pages	Only pages in shared databases are accessible

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Import from Obsidian

Import an entire Obsidian vault with wiki-links, hashtags, and frontmatter preserved.

How to Import

1. Open Settings → Data → Import

2. Select Obsidian

3. Choose your vault folder

4. Preview detected files

5. Adjust type mappings if needed

6. Click Import

What Gets Converted

Wiki-links → @mentions

Obsidian's [[note-name]] links become Skelenote @mentions. After import, clicking a mention navigates to the linked object.

See [[Meeting Notes]] for details.

Becomes a mention that links to the "Meeting Notes" object.

Hashtags → Tags

Obsidian #tags become Skelenote Tag objects:

• #work → Tag named "work"

• #project/alpha → Tag named "project/alpha" (hierarchy preserved)

Tags are created automatically if they don't exist.

Frontmatter → Properties

YAML frontmatter is parsed into object properties:

---
type: Task
status: in-progress
priority: high
due: 2024-01-15
tags: [work, urgent]
---

Type Inference

Skelenote infers object types in this order:

1. Frontmatter type: field - Explicit type wins

2. Folder name - Files in /tasks/ become Tasks

3. Content patterns - Due dates suggest Task type

4. Default - Everything else becomes a Note

Folder pattern	Inferred type
/tasks/ or /todo/	Task
/projects/	Project
/areas/	Area
/people/ or /contacts/	Person
/meetings/	Meeting

Troubleshooting Obsidian Import

Issue	Solution
Broken wiki-links	Links match by file name (case-insensitive)
Duplicate file names	First match used; check preview
Large vault slow	1000+ notes take a minute; progress shown
Special characters	File names are sanitized automatically
Missing tags	Check if hashtags use valid format: #tag-name

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Import from Markdown

Import individual Markdown files with optional frontmatter.

How to Import

1. Open Settings → Data → Import

2. Select Markdown Files

3. Choose one or more .md files

4. Preview parsed content

5. Adjust types if needed

6. Click Import

What Gets Parsed

YAML Frontmatter:

---
title: My Note
type: Note
created: 2024-01-01
tags: [work, ideas]
---

# Content starts here

Title inference:

• Uses frontmatter title: if present

• Falls back to first H1 heading

• Otherwise uses filename

Type inference:

• Uses frontmatter type: if present

• Otherwise defaults to Note

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Import Tips

Best Practices

1. Start small - Import a test subset first to verify mappings

2. Review the preview - Check auto-detected types before importing

3. Clean up after - Review auto-created tags and merge duplicates

4. Process your inbox - Imported objects need triage like any other

After Importing

1. Check your Inbox for new objects

2. Review auto-created Tags (from hashtags or multi-select properties)

3. Verify @mention links resolved correctly

4. Archive or delete unwanted imports

Common Issues

Issue	Explanation
Duplicate objects	Import creates new objects, not merge with existing
Missing wiki-links	Links need exact file name match to resolve
Slow import	Large datasets take time; progress indicator shows status
Property mismatch	Some Notion types can't map directly; adjust or skip
Too many tags	Multi-select fields can create many tags; clean up after

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Frontmatter Reference

Exported YAML frontmatter includes:

Field	Description	Example
id	Unique object ID	abc123-def456
type	Object type name	Task, Note, Project
created	Creation timestamp	2024-01-01T10:00:00Z
updated	Last modified	2024-01-10T15:30:00Z
archived	Archive status	true or omitted
pinned	Pin status	true or omitted
(properties)	Type-specific	status, due, priority, etc.

Property Types

Skelenote Type	Frontmatter Format
Text	property: "value"
Number	property: 42
Date	property: 2024-01-15
Checkbox	property: true
Select	property: option-value
Relation	property: "[[Object Name]]"
Multi-relation	property: ["[[A]]", "[[B]]"]

---

Troubleshooting

Export is slow

Large vaults (1000+ objects) may take a minute. The progress bar shows status. PDF exports are slower than Markdown due to rendering overhead.

Images not appearing

For Markdown exports, check that the attachments/ folder was created alongside the .md file. For HTML and PDF exports, images should be embedded automatically.

File name conflicts

If multiple objects have the same title, files are numbered: note.md, note-1.md, etc.

Special characters in titles

Titles are sanitized for file systems. Characters like /, \, : become -.

Export format recommendations

Situation	Recommended Format
Backup for restore	JSON
Moving to Obsidian	Markdown ZIP
Sharing with others	PDF or HTML
Archiving projects	Markdown ZIP
Printing	PDF
Data analysis	JSON