# Import and export table collections

> Export a table collection to a file, such as JSON, and import the result back.

Export a table collection to a file, such as JSON, and import the result back.

Use the **Resource Tables** window to hand content to translators or to move a collection between projects. You can export collections to the following formats:

| **Format**        | **Description**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **JSON**          | Contains every table in the collection in one file. Best for moving collections between projects.                                                                                                                                                             |
| **Character Set** | Export only. This file contains the distinct characters that appear in the selected tables. You can use this file for the [Font Asset Creator](/engine/6000.7/manual/uitoolkits/uielements/uie-work-with-text/uie-font-asset/uie-font-creator-properties.md). |
| **CSV**           | One row per key, one column per locale, plus comment columns. Opens in any spreadsheet viewer. Requires the `com.unity.localization` package.                                                                                                                 |
| **XLIFF**         | XML Localization Interchange File Format, the exchange format most translation tools accept. Requires the `com.unity.localization` package.                                                                                                                   |

> **Note:**
>
> When the `com.unity.localization` package is installed, collections with a configured Google Sheets extension can also synchronize through the same menus.

When you export a collection to a file format, the output file contains the following information:

* JSON files contain the keys, IDs, Smart flags, values, and variants. Comments and other metadata are not exported.
* CSV files contain the keys, IDs, Smart flags, values, and comments. Variants are not exported.
* XLIFF files contain the keys, IDs, and values. Smart flags, variants, and comments are not exported.

JSON exports omit entries flagged **Exclude entry from editor export**. Refer to [Localization tables](/engine/6000.7/manual/localization/translations/tables.md).

## Export a collection

To export a collection:

1. Open **Window** > **Localization** > **Resource Tables** and select the collection.
2. In the window's toolbar, select **Export**, then the format you want (for example, **JSON**), then a destination.

When you select the options **Character Set** or **XLIFF**, you can choose which tables to export. When you export to XLIFF, Unity combines the selected tables into one file for each language.

## Import a file

The import menu applies to the collection that you select in the window. For each format that that you can import with, you can select between two options:

* **Import** > `{Format}` (**Merge**) updates matching keys, adds new ones, and keeps everything else.
* **Import** > `{Format}` (**Replace**) makes the collection match the file and removes keys the file doesn't contain.

Where `{Format}` is the format you're importing, for example **JSON**.

Imports register as a single undo step. To roll one back, focus the **Resource Tables** window and select **Edit** > **Undo Import** `{Format}` (for example, **Undo Import JSON**), or press **Ctrl**+**Z** (macOS: **Cmd**+**Z**).

## Additional resources

* [Localization tables](/engine/6000.7/manual/localization/translations/tables.md)
* [Create and edit table collections](/engine/6000.7/manual/localization/translations/create-and-edit-table-collections.md)
* [Data file tables](/engine/6000.7/manual/localization/content-storage-and-loading/data-file-tables.md)