Business Directory Plugin (CMBD) - Import and Export With JSON And CSV

Import and Export

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Business Directory Plugin allows you to import and export the directory listings content to either JSON or CSV files. 

What is This Feature

Exported WordPress business directory content includes every field of the items, even custom ones. Handling this data with external programs is useful for quick editing or to backing it up while making sure it can then be accessed from another location easily. 

Learn more about these two formats through their Wikipedia articles: JSON and Comma-separated Values (CSV).

To use this feature, navigate to Admin Dashboard → CM Business Directory Pro → Import/Export.

JSON Import and Export

The WordPress Business Directory content can be stored, exported, and imported back using a JSON file.

• Download Backup - Download the existing file from the last backup to your computer. If you want the latest content please do a backup first before downloading.
• Backup to JSON - Do a backup operation (without downloading). File will be saved at a specified URL.
• Export to JSON - Download the actual content to the JSON file.
• Import from JSON - Import a file which was saved using the JSON format. This is useful for moving your directory listings between servers or to restore an old copy.

CSV File Import/Export

CSV, or comma-separated values, are files that can be read by either Text Editors or Spreadsheet Editors, such as Microsoft Excel and Numbers. It is recommended to handle them as tables by opening them with a Spreadsheet Editor.

• Export to CSV - Download the existing file from the last backup to your computer.
• Import from CSV (1) - Import a file with the WordPress Business Directory content which was saved using the CSV format. This is useful for moving your directory listings between servers or to restore an old copy. Note: "post_title" and "post_content" fields are required, so, please, do not remove them from CSV while import.
• Import from CSV (2) - Import a file with the business annual data which was saved using the CSV format.

The plugin provides a sample file that you can download to test importing.

Notes on format:

• Files should be UTF-8 encoded (not UTF-8 BOM, ANSI, Unicode or others!)

• If you use MS Excel, please remember that by default it can't save proper CSV format (comma-delimited) - see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article
• All the fields which can contain commas must be enclosed in quotes! (To be 100% safe, enclose each field in quotes)
• The only mandatory fields are Title (post_title) and Content (post_content)

Example

File: You can download the example file: Business Directory sample file

Image: This is an excerpt of the file, with the first eight columns visible only.

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