Legendplugins

Import & Export

Manage bulk link operations, migrate from other plugins, and backup your data with LegendLinks import/export features.

Export Links

Export all your links to a CSV file for backup, analysis, or migration.

How to Export

  1. Go to LegendLinks → Settings → Import/Export tab
  2. Click "Export Links" button
  3. CSV file downloads automatically
  4. Save file for backup or analysis

Export Format

CSV Columns:

  • Title
  • Slug
  • Target URL
  • Redirect Type
  • Categories
  • Tags
  • Status (Active/Inactive)
  • Click Count
  • Unique Clicks
  • Created Date
  • Last Modified

File Details:

  • Format: CSV (Comma-Separated Values)
  • Encoding: UTF-8
  • Delimiter: Comma
  • Headers: First row contains column names

Use Cases

Backup:

  • Regular backups of all links
  • Store off-site for safety
  • Version control for link changes

Analysis:

  • Open in Excel/Google Sheets
  • Analyze link performance
  • Generate reports
  • Identify patterns

Migration:

  • Export before major changes
  • Move to different site
  • Share with team members

Import Links

Import links from a CSV file to bulk create or update links.

How to Import

  1. Go to LegendLinks → Settings → Import/Export tab
  2. Click "Choose File" or "Browse"
  3. Select your CSV file
  4. Choose import options
  5. Click "Import Links"

Import Options

Skip Duplicates

  • Description: Don't import links with existing slugs
  • Use Case: Safe import, won't overwrite existing links
  • Result: Only new links are created

Update Existing

  • Description: Update links if slug already exists
  • Use Case: Update existing links with new data
  • Result: Existing links are updated, new ones created

Create New

  • Description: Always create new links (may create duplicates)
  • Use Case: Force import all links
  • Result: All links imported, even if duplicates

Required CSV Format

Minimum Required Columns:

  • Target URL (required)
  • Slug (optional, auto-generated if missing)

Optional Columns:

  • Title
  • Redirect Type
  • Categories
  • Tags
  • Status
  • Link Attributes

CSV Format Example

Title,Slug,Target URL,Redirect Type,Category,Tags,Status
Summer Sale,summer-sale,https://example.com/sale,301,Promotions,seasonal,Active
Product Review,product-review,https://example.com/review,301,Reviews,affiliate,Active

Import Validation

Automatic Checks:

  • ✅ Valid URLs (must start with http:// or https://)
  • ✅ Valid slugs (lowercase, hyphens, no spaces)
  • ✅ Valid redirect types
  • ✅ Existing categories/tags are matched
  • ✅ New categories/tags are created if needed

Error Handling:

  • Invalid rows are skipped
  • Error report shows which rows failed
  • Valid rows are imported successfully

Migration from Other Plugins

From Pretty Links

  1. Export links from Pretty Links (if available)
  2. Convert format to LegendLinks CSV format
  3. Map columns:
    • Pretty Links slug → Slug
    • Pretty Links URL → Target URL
    • Pretty Links name → Title
  4. Import into LegendLinks

From ThirstyAffiliates

  1. Export from ThirstyAffiliates
  2. Convert to LegendLinks format
  3. Map affiliate URLs to Target URL
  4. Import into LegendLinks

Manual Migration

  1. Export from old plugin (if possible)
  2. Open in spreadsheet application
  3. Rearrange columns to match LegendLinks format
  4. Save as CSV
  5. Import into LegendLinks

Best Practices

Export Regularly

  • Frequency: Weekly or monthly
  • Purpose: Backup and version control
  • Storage: Keep multiple versions

Import Safely

  • Test First: Import small batch to test format
  • Backup First: Export current links before importing
  • Verify Results: Check imported links after import
  • Review Errors: Fix any validation errors

CSV Formatting

  • Use UTF-8 encoding: Prevents character issues
  • Include headers: First row should have column names
  • Validate URLs: Ensure all URLs are complete
  • Check slugs: Verify slug format before importing

Data Cleanup

  • Before Import: Clean data in spreadsheet
  • Remove duplicates: Check for duplicate slugs
  • Validate URLs: Ensure all URLs are accessible
  • Format consistently: Use consistent date formats, etc.

Troubleshooting

Import Fails

  • Check CSV format: Must match export format
  • Verify encoding: Must be UTF-8
  • Check file size: Large files may timeout
  • Review errors: Error report shows issues

Missing Data After Import

  • Check import options: May have skipped duplicates
  • Review error report: See which rows failed
  • Verify CSV format: Ensure all columns present
  • Check validation: Invalid rows are skipped

Export Issues

  • Check file permissions: Ensure download allowed
  • Try different browser: Browser may block download
  • Check file size: Very large exports may timeout
  • Contact support: If issue persists

Format Errors

  • Use spreadsheet app: Excel/Google Sheets for editing
  • Save as CSV: Not Excel format
  • Check delimiters: Must be commas
  • Verify encoding: UTF-8 required

Advanced: Custom Import Scripts

For advanced users, you can create custom import scripts using the REST API:

Endpoint: POST /wp-json/linkmaster/v1/links

Example:

// Pseudo-code example
const links = [
  {
    title: "Link 1",
    slug: "link-1",
    target_url: "https://example.com",
    redirect_type: "301"
  }
];

links.forEach(link => {
  fetch('/wp-json/linkmaster/v1/links', {
    method: 'POST',
    body: JSON.stringify(link)
  });
});

Next Steps

Need help? Check our FAQ or contact support.