# Export and Import

Source: https://help.malighting.com/grandMA2/en/help/key_export_and_import.html
This is grandocs, an unofficial mirror of MA Lighting documentation. For authoritative or safety-relevant information, cite the canonical page on help.malighting.com.

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## General Export and Import function

The export and import function is a tool to copy a part of the show file, and use it in another show. This may be an effect, a cue, a preset or something else.

Using the export and import function can be done, either by the **Command Line** or the Graphical User Interface **(GUI)**. 

The exported content stores in a .XML file. This is located in an importexport directory on the console, an USB stick in gma2/importexport and on an onPC solution it might be located C:\ProgramData\MA Lighting Technologies\grandMA\gma2\_V\_3.3\importexport.

## Export and import objects

Almost all objects from the showfile can be exported and imported. For example:

- Effects
- Macros
- Masks
- MAtricks
- Gobo bitmaps
- User Profiles
- Users
- Nodes
- Views
- Channels​
- Pages
- Presets
- Sequences
- Cues
- Executors
- Groups
- Filters
- Cameras
- Forms
- Timecodes
- ​Fixtures
- Screens

To export or import **Macros**, **Effects**, **Masks**, **MAtricks**, **Gobo Bitmaps**, **User Profiles** and **DMX nodes**, it is easier to use the GUI. For more information see the [Export by using user interface](/grandma2/key_ei_export_gui/) and [Import by using user interface](/grandma2/key_ei_import_gui/) topics.

To Import an image to the Image Pool, read more in the [Import images and video](/grandma2/key_image_import/) topic.

 

**Restriction:**\
It is not possible to export or import the show, or a part of the show to any other console format for example other manufactures consoles. To handle a ASCII file, see the [ASCII Show Read](/grandma2/key_backup_menu_ascii_show_read/) topic.

**Hint:**\
It is possible to open show files from a dot2 console directly on a grandMA2 console or onPC.

## Subtopics

- [Export by using command line](/grandma2/key_ei_export_commandline/)
- [Export by using user interface](/grandma2/key_ei_export_gui/)
- [Import by using command line](/grandma2/key_ei_import_commandline/)
- [Import by using user interface](/grandma2/key_ei_import_gui/)
- [Import predefined objects](/grandma2/key_ei_import_predefined/)