Export & Backup¶

Export your shopping lists for backup, sharing, or migration to other apps.

Export Formats¶

ShopSync supports multiple export formats:

Exporting a Single List¶

Via List Options¶

1. Open the list
2. Tap ⋮ (more options)
3. Select Export
4. Choose format
5. Select destination

Quick Export¶

Long-press a list → Share → Choose format

Exporting All Lists¶

For complete backup:

1. Go to Settings → Data & Backup
2. Tap Export All Lists
3. Choose format (JSON recommended)
4. Select destination
5. Wait for export to complete

Enable automatic weekly backups in Settings → Backup → Auto Backup

Import Options¶

From File¶

1. Go to Settings → Data & Backup
2. Tap Import
3. Select file (JSON, CSV, or TXT)
4. Review import preview
5. Confirm import

Merge vs Replace¶

When importing:

• Merge: Add to existing lists
• Replace: Delete all and import
• Skip Duplicates: Don't import existing items

Format Details¶

JSON Format¶

Complete backup with all metadata:

{
  "lists": [
    {
      "id": "list_123",
      "name": "Grocery List",
      "created": "2024-01-15T10:30:00Z",
      "items": [
        {
          "id": "item_456",
          "name": "Milk",
          "quantity": 2,
          "unit": "gallons",
          "checked": false,
          "category": "Dairy",
          "price": 4.99,
          "notes": "Organic whole milk"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

CSV Format¶

Spreadsheet-compatible:

List Name,Item Name,Quantity,Unit,Category,Price,Notes,Checked
Grocery List,Milk,2,gallons,Dairy,4.99,Organic whole milk,false
Grocery List,Bread,1,loaf,Bakery,3.49,,false

Plain Text¶

Simple format:

Grocery List
============
- [ ] Milk (2 gallons) - $4.99
- [ ] Bread (1 loaf) - $3.49
- [x] Eggs (1 dozen) - $5.99

Hardware List
=============
- [ ] Hammer
- [ ] Nails (box)

Cloud Backup¶

Firebase Backup¶

Automatic backup to your Firebase account:

1. Settings → Data & Backup
2. Enable Cloud Backup
3. Choose backup frequency
4. All lists sync automatically

Google Drive Integration¶

Export to Google Drive:

1. Export list or all lists
2. Choose Google Drive as destination
3. Select folder
4. Files auto-organize by date

Scheduled Backups¶

Set up automatic backups:

1. Settings → Data & Backup → Auto Backup
2. Enable auto backup
3. Set frequency (Daily, Weekly, Monthly)
4. Choose destination (Local, Drive, Dropbox)
5. Set retention (Keep last 5, 10, or 30 backups)

Sharing Exports¶

Share as Link¶

1. Export list
2. Choose Share Link
3. Select recipient
4. Set expiration (1 day to never)
5. Send

Print-Friendly Export¶

1. Export as PDF
2. Enable Print Layout
3. Choose page size
4. Add checkboxes
5. Print or save

Privacy & Security¶

Encrypted Exports¶

For sensitive lists:

1. Enable Encrypt Exports
2. Set password
3. Export as usual
4. Share password separately

Data Removal¶

Exported files contain:

✅ List names and items
✅ Quantities and prices
✅ Notes and categories
✅ Timestamps

❌ No personal information
❌ No account details
❌ No location data

Troubleshooting¶

Export Failed¶

• Check available storage space
• Ensure write permissions granted
• Try smaller batch sizes
• Check file format support

Import Failed¶

• Verify file format is correct
• Check file isn't corrupted
• Ensure file size under 10MB
• Try different import mode

Missing Data¶

• Ensure you exported complete backup (JSON)
• Check file wasn't edited externally
• Verify import completed successfully
• Contact support if data critical

Best Practices¶

Regular Backups¶

• Export weekly to Google Drive
• Keep multiple backup copies
• Test restore occasionally
• Archive old exports

Migration¶

When switching devices:

1. Export all lists as JSON
2. Transfer file to new device
3. Import on new device
4. Verify all data present
5. Delete old exports securely

Sharing with Others¶

• Use PDF for printable lists
• CSV for collaborative editing
• TXT for quick shares
• Encrypted for sensitive data

Always export a backup before:

- Updating the app
- Changing devices
- Deleting many items
- Importing from another source

See also: Settings | Sharing