> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.tipo.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.tipo.io/backup-and-restore-tipo/reference/how-it-works/export-file-format.md).

# Export file format

See what is inside an exported backup .zip file, how large exports are split, and how files are named.

When you download a backup, you get one or more .zip files. This page explains what is inside them, so you can open them, check them, or upload them again with **Restore from a file**. To create an export, see [Download a backup](/backup-and-restore-tipo/backups/backups/download/export-a-backup.md).

## What is inside a zip

Each zip file contains a folder for every data type you selected.

| Path in the zip               | What it holds                                                                                                                                                             |
| ----------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `{resource}/data.jsonl`       | The records for that data type, one per line. For example, `products/data.jsonl`.                                                                                         |
| `{resource}/files/`           | The binary files that belong to that data type, such as product images, collection images and files from Content > Files. Present only for data types that include files. |
| `themes/{themeId}/data.jsonl` | The record of one theme.                                                                                                                                                  |
| `themes/{themeId}/files/`     | The theme's files, kept in the same folder structure as the theme (assets, templates, locales and so on).                                                                 |
| `tipo-export-signature.json`  | A signature the app uses to check that the file was not edited.                                                                                                           |

On the export page, **Products**, **Collections**, **Files** and **Themes** show **Includes files**. These are the data types that add a `files/` folder.

## JSON Lines

The `data.jsonl` files use the JSON Lines format. Each line is one complete JSON record, for example one product. You can open them in a text editor or load them into a tool that reads JSON. Do not reformat them if you plan to upload the file again.

## The signature file

The signature file lets the app confirm that an exported file is genuine and unchanged. If you upload a file that is unsigned, or if you edited it or it came from somewhere else, the app shows this warning: "This file is not signed. If you edited the export, or it came from somewhere else, review what it will change before restoring."

## How exports are split

A large export is not one huge file. The app splits it into groups, and each group can be downloaded and restored on its own.

| Group label     | What it contains                             |
| --------------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| **Store data**  | All data types that have no files, together. |
| **Products**    | Products and their media.                    |
| **Collections** | Collections and their images.                |
| **Articles**    | Blog posts.                                  |
| **Files**       | Files from Content > Files.                  |
| **Theme {id}**  | One theme. Every theme gets its own zip.     |

When a group is large, it is split again into numbered parts. A part is closed when it reaches about 400 MB of uncompressed data, 15,000 entries or 150,000 data lines. Each part is a complete zip you can restore from by itself.

## File names

| When           | File name                                                                                                     |
| -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| A single file  | `backup-{id}.zip`                                                                                             |
| A single theme | `backup-{id}-theme-{themeId}.zip`                                                                             |
| Several files  | `backup-{id}-{group}-{number}.zip`, for example `backup-42-products-001.zip` or `backup-42-theme-123-001.zip` |

## Uploading a file again

You can restore from any exported zip. Select **Restore from a file** on the Backups page. See [Restore from a file](/backup-and-restore-tipo/restore/restore/restore-from-a-file.md).

* Only .zip files are accepted.
* The upload can be up to 200 MB. Each exported part stays within this limit.
* The app keeps an uploaded file for about 24 hours, so restore soon after you upload it.
* You can upload up to 5 files in 10 minutes.

## Next steps

* [Download a backup](/backup-and-restore-tipo/backups/backups/download/export-a-backup.md)
* [Use a download link](/backup-and-restore-tipo/backups/backups/download/use-a-download-link.md)
* [Restore from a file](/backup-and-restore-tipo/restore/restore/restore-from-a-file.md)