Import/Export

Export courses for backup or transfer, and import courses from JSON files. The import/export feature preserves all course data including sessions and materials metadata.

Exporting Courses

Export courses to JSON files for backup, migration, or sharing.

How to Export

Go to Classerna > Settings.
Click the "Import/Export" tab.
In the Export section, select a course from the dropdown.
Click "Export Course".
Save the downloaded JSON file.

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Export Interface

Screenshot of the Export section showing the course dropdown with a course selected and the "Export Course" button.

images/export-interface.png

What's Included in Export

Data	Included
Course title and content	Yes
Course excerpt	Yes
All course meta (pricing, delivery, capacity, etc.)	Yes
Registration questions	Yes
Waivers content	Yes
FAQs	Yes
Financial aid info	Yes
Email templates	Yes
Category and difficulty terms	Yes (names only)
Sessions with all metadata	Yes
Session materials metadata	Yes (but not files)
Featured image	URL only
WooCommerce product link	No
Enrolled students	No

Note: Actual files (documents, images) are not included in the export. Only the metadata (title, description, type) is preserved. You'll need to re-upload files after import.

Importing Courses

Import courses from JSON files. Imported courses are created as drafts with "Coming Soon" enabled so you can review before publishing.

How to Import

Go to Classerna > Settings.
Click the "Import/Export" tab.
Drag and drop a JSON file into the upload area, or click to browse.
The import processes automatically.
Click the link to edit the imported course.

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Import Interface

Screenshot of the Import section showing the drag-and-drop upload area with dashed border and upload icon.

images/import-interface.png

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Import Success

Screenshot showing a success toast notification "Course imported successfully!" with a link to edit the imported course.

images/import-success.png

After Import

Imported courses need some additional setup:

Edit the imported course.
Link a WooCommerce product for payment processing.
Upload actual files for any materials (placeholders were created).
Update dates if the sessions have past dates.
Verify categories and difficulty exist (created if needed).
Uncheck "Coming Soon" when ready.
Publish the course.

Important: Always review imported courses before publishing. Session dates, pricing, and content should be verified for accuracy on your site.

JSON Format

The export format is a structured JSON file. Understanding the format helps with manual editing or programmatic course creation.

File Structure

{
  "export_version": "1.0",
  "plugin_version": "1.2.2",
  "export_date": "2026-01-18 12:00:00",
  "course": {
    "title": "Course Title",
    "content": "<p>Course description HTML</p>",
    "excerpt": "Short description",
    "status": "publish",
    "meta": {
      "_course_coming_soon": "",
      "_course_price": "299",
      "_course_delivery_type": "hybrid",
      ...
    },
    "categories": ["Category Name"],
    "difficulty": ["Beginner"],
    "featured_image_url": ""
  },
  "sessions": [
    {
      "title": "Session 1: Introduction",
      "content": "Session description",
      "menu_order": 1,
      "meta": {
        "_session_date": "2026-03-01",
        "_session_start_time": "18:00",
        "_session_materials": [...]
      }
    }
  ]
}

Key Meta Fields

Meta Key	Description	Format
`_course_coming_soon`	Coming soon status	"1" or ""
`_course_is_free`	Free course flag	"1" or ""
`_course_price`	Display price	Number string
`_course_delivery_type`	Delivery method	"in-person", "online", "hybrid"
`_course_capacity`	Max enrollment	Number string
`_course_faqs`	FAQ items	Array of {question, answer}
`_session_date`	Session date	"YYYY-MM-DD"
`_session_materials`	Materials list	Array of material objects

Use Cases

Backup and Restore

Regularly export courses as backups. If something goes wrong, import the backup to restore your course.

Site Migration

Moving to a new WordPress installation? Export all courses from the old site and import them on the new site.

Course Templates

Create a well-structured course, export it, then import it as a starting point for similar courses. Modify the imported course as needed.

Multi-Site Distribution

Running courses on multiple sites? Create and perfect a course on one site, then export and import to other sites.

Seasonal Course Rollover

Offering the same course each semester? Export the course, update the dates in the JSON, and import for the new semester.

Tip: Store exported JSON files in a secure, backed-up location. Consider including the export date in the filename for easy identification.

Sample Import File

A sample course JSON file (sample-course-import.json) is included with the plugin. Use it to:

Test the import functionality
See the expected JSON format
Use as a template for creating courses programmatically

Find the sample file in your plugin directory at wp-content/plugins/classerna/sample-course-import.json.