Copy content between websites and environments
Important
Classic CMS reached end-of-life in January 2025 and is no longer receiving feature updates or bug fixes. You should [migrate to Spire CMS](../../End user docs/spire-cms/get-started-with-spire-cms/migrate-from-classic-cms-to-spire-cms.mdx).
Use the Import/Export Content option in Classic CMS to transfer content between websites and environments, such as to promote content created in a sandbox environment to your production environment.
Note
If you are working with subsites, ensure the subsite exists in both environments before migrating any content.
You need a role of ISC_ContentAdmin, ISC_Admin, ISC_Implementer, or ISC_System to access this functionality.
Export content
Export the content from one website in its entirety and import it into another website.
Note
The export file includes page variant rules, but the export does not include experiments, and this functionality does not support linked content.
- Access the CMS by clicking the Site Preview button in the Primary Navigation header.
- Select the website from which you want to export content. The website opens in a new browser tab.
- Click the Show CMS icon in the upper left corner.
- Click the Toggle Content Tree icon to open the Content Tree.
- Hover over the Debug icon in the lower left corner and select Import/Export Content. The Import/Export Content window appears.
- Select the Export option.
- Select the Only published check box if you only want to export current or future published content.
- Click Continue. A progress indicator appears while the system exports the content.
- Verify the zip file (that includes the exported content in JSON format) with the website name followed by _Content_yyyymmdd appears in your local Downloads directory once the export completes.
Import content
This step lets you select an exported zip file for import into a website.
- Access the CMS by clicking the Site Preview button in the Primary Navigation header.
- Select the website from which you want to export content. The website opens in a new browser tab.
- Click the Show CMS icon in the upper left corner.
- Click the Toggle Content Tree icon to open the Content Tree.
- Hover over the Debug icon in the lower left corner and select Import/Export Content. The Import/Export Content window appears.
- Select the Import option.
- Click the Choose File button to search for and select the exported zip file.
- Click Continue. A warning message appears.
- Click Continue again. A progress indicator appears while the system imports the content.
- Confirm you receive a message when the process completes and the system refreshes the CMS tree.
Restore copied content
You can restore copied content to its original state from an Import/Export Content action in Classic CMS if you copied the content in error or the process failed. The restored content comes from a backup created during a content import.
- Access the CMS by clicking the Site Preview button in the Primary Navigation header.
- Select the website from which you want to export content. The website opens in a new browser tab.
- Click the Show CMS icon in the upper left corner.
- Click the Toggle Content Tree icon to open the Content Tree.
- Hover over the Debug icon in the lower left corner and select Restore Content. The Restore Content window appears.
- Select All Websites or a specific website to restore from the drop-down list.
- Click Continue. A warning message appears.
- Click Continue again. A progress indicator appears while the system restores the content.
- Confirm you receive a message when the process completes and the system refreshes the CMS tree.