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Loading and Saving Documents in Termboard ​

Termboard provides flexible options for loading and saving your models, ensuring data persistence, portability, and collaboration. Understanding these options is crucial for managing your work effectively.

Loading Documents ​

Loading a document in Termboard allows you to access previously created or shared termboard projects. You have several methods, each suited for different scenarios:

1. Load from Browser Storage (Quick Access) ​

  • File > Load

    This option loads a document that was previously saved directly within your web browser's local storage. This is the quickest way to resume work on a project without needing to manage files.

    Important Considerations:

    • Browser-Specific: Documents saved this way are tied to the specific browser and profile you used to save them.
    • Data Persistence: To prevent data loss, **do not clear "Cookies and site data" for Termboard.com in your browser settings. Clearing this data will permanently delete all documents saved using this method.
    • Convenience: Ideal for personal use and quick access to ongoing projects on the same device.

2. Open from File (JSON - Preferred for Archiving & Sharing) ​

  • File > Open File > JSON

    This is the preferred method for opening Termboard documents that you have saved as a JSON file. JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight data-interchange format that captures the complete state of your Termboard document, including:

    • All terms and their properties
    • All relations and their types
    • Term positions on the canvas
    • Colors and styling
    • Any other configuration specific to your board

    Use Cases:

    • Secure Storage: Save your data to a location you control (e.g., your computer's hard drive, cloud storage).
    • Sharing: Easily share your entire Termboard document with colleagues or collaborators.
    • Version Control: Create distinct versions of your document by saving different JSON files.

3. Open from File (Excel - For Bulk Operations) ​

  • File > Open File > Excel

    Similar to opening a JSON file, this option allows you to load Termboard data from an Excel spreadsheet. Like a JSON file it captures the full visual state. The excel file is particularly handy if you want to perform:

    • Bulk Updates: Edit multiple terms or relations outside of Termboard (e.g., changing definitions, adding properties) and then re-load.

4. Import Data (Terms and Relations Only) ​

  • File > Import > *

    These import options are designed for bringing in terms and relations from external sources or from documents previously exported via Termboard's Export function.

    Key Distinction from "Open File":

    • Data Scope: Imports typically only include terms and relations. They do not include visual attributes such as term positions, colors, or other board-specific configurations.
    • Starting Point: Useful for populating a new Termboard document or adding data to an existing one without overwriting the visual layout.

    Further Information: For detailed information on the supported import formats and their specific requirements, please refer to import and export

Saving Documents ​

Saving your Termboard document ensures that your work is preserved and can be accessed later or shared with others.

1. Save to Browser Storage (Quick Save) ​

  • File > Save

    This command saves the current state of your Termboard document directly into your web browser's local storage. It's the most convenient way to quickly save your progress.

    Important: As mentioned under the "Load from Browser Storage" section, ensure you do not clear your browser's "Cookies and site data" for Termboard.com to prevent losing this saved data.

2. Save to File (JSON & Excel - Recommended for Persistence) ​

  • File > Save File > JSON
  • File > Save File > Excel

    These options allow you to download your Termboard document as a file to your local computer or network drive. JSON is the recommended method for long-term storage, sharing, and version control.

    • JSON: Saves the complete Termboard document, including terms, relations, positions, colors, and all other visual and structural attributes. This is the most comprehensive save option.
    • Excel: Also saves the complete Termboard document.

    This is useful for data management outside of Termboard, for example, for bulk editing or for integrating with other tabular data sources. The Excel file will contain columns corresponding to term properties and relation definitions.

3. Export Data (Terms and Relations Only) ​

  • File > Export > *

The Export functions are designed to extract specific subsets of your Termboard data, primarily terms and relations, into various formats. Please refer to import and export

Backup Your Documents ​

  • File > Backup

    This feature creates a zip file containing all your Termboard documents saved in your browser's local storage. Each document inside the zip file is saved as a JSON file. You can then open any of these individual JSON files later using File > Open File > JSON. This is a great way to create a comprehensive backup of all your work.

Copy a Document ​

  • File > Copy to New

    Use this command to create an exact duplicate of your current Termboard document. This is handy if you want to create a new version of your project without changing the original, or if you want to start a new project based on an existing one's structure.

Example files ​

  • File > Load Examples

    Opens one of the provided examples so you can explore the features of Termboard