FAQ: Exporting and importing data

Can I create HTML pages for my own website?

In the Pro version you can export your collection to HTML pages.
Use menu File | Export to | HTML

Choose the folder to store the HTML files and images and customize the layout using the Templates.

More information on Templates and how to personalize these can be found on the Templates pages.
Once you have exported the HTML files, you'll need to upload (FTP) them to the server that hosts your website.

Can I import an existing database into the software?

Yes, this is possible in the Windows editions of our software only and it is limited to a fixed set of fields.

Importing using a text file
If you have a text file, where the fields are delimited, you can use this to import from.

For Windows users, there is the Import feature available on the File | Import from Text menu*. You most likely will have to use an export feature from your other database (to text, or CSV).

For Mac users, Sorry, but text importing is not currently available

Both on Windows as well as the Mac you can (after importing) retrieve more information from the online sources. You can do this with the Edit | Update Items Automatically menu.

You will find an example in the screenshot on the right, of a Music Collector import on Windows. This should give you an idea of the import in general.

Importing other databases
For some database formats, we have developed a complete import.

Movie Collector for Windows : import from DVD Profiler as well as My Movies.
You will find the functionality in the menu File | Import from ....

The Mac software (Movie-, Music- and Book Collector) can import an existing database from Collectorz on Mac, or it can import an XML export from a Windows version of our software.

* For older versions released before 2006-12-12 you will find this option on the add screen - using the import button)

Can I export my data to Excel?

Yes, the data from your database can be exported and used in Excel. You will need a Pro license for this.

Use the menu File | Export to |Text. Choose which fields you would like to export through the Fields button.

Choose a filename for the export, and use the file extension .csv (so for example "exports.csv".

Start Excel, and open the csv file you saved. Excel will place the fields properly into columns.

You can not import the data back into our software.

Can I modify the Details HTML page?

Yes, the Details HTML page can be customized by choosing one from the details template tab on the export to html screen. You can also adjust an existing template or download a user submitted XSL template. You can download and install these templates for free.