Import and Export

Flashcards World supports CSV import and export, making it easy to create cards in bulk, back up your data, and transfer content between platforms. Whether you are migrating from another flashcard app, building a large set in a spreadsheet, or simply keeping a backup of your study material, this guide covers everything you need to know.

Why Use Import and Export?

• Bulk creation -- Building a 200-card vocabulary set one card at a time is tedious. With CSV import, you can create all your cards in a spreadsheet and import them in seconds.
• Backup and safety -- Exporting your sets gives you a local copy of your data. If you ever need to delete your account or switch devices, your study material is safe.
• Collaboration -- Share a CSV file with classmates so everyone can import the same set. Combined with QR code sharing, you have multiple ways to distribute your cards.
• Migration -- Moving from another flashcard app? Export your data from that app as CSV, adjust the format if needed, and import it into Flashcards World.
• Editing in bulk -- Export a set, make changes in a spreadsheet (find-and-replace, reorder, add columns), and re-import the updated file.

CSV Format Overview

CSV (Comma-Separated Values) is a simple text format that any spreadsheet application can read and write. Each row represents one flashcard, and columns represent different fields.

Basic Two-Column Format

The simplest format uses two columns:

Column A (Front)	Column B (Back)
Bonjour	Hello
Merci	Thank you
Au revoir	Goodbye

• Column A is the Front of the card (term, question, or prompt).
• Column B is the Back of the card (definition, answer, or translation).

Multiple-Choice Format

If you want to include multiple-choice answer options in your import, you can add additional columns:

Column A (Front)	Column B (Correct Answer)	Column C (Option 2)	Column D (Option 3)	Column E (Option 4)
Capital of France?	Paris	London	Berlin	Madrid
Largest planet?	Jupiter	Saturn	Mars	Venus

• Column B is always the correct answer.
• Columns C, D, E (and beyond) are incorrect options (distractors) used in Multiple Choice mode.

If you do not include extra columns, the app will automatically generate distractors from other cards in the set during Multiple Choice study.

Encoding and Formatting Rules

• File encoding: Use UTF-8 encoding. This ensures special characters, accents, and non-Latin scripts (Japanese, Korean, Arabic, etc.) display correctly. Most modern spreadsheet apps default to UTF-8.
• Delimiter: Use commas as the column separator. If your text contains commas, wrap the cell in double quotes (most spreadsheet apps do this automatically when you save as CSV).
• Quotes: If your text contains double quotes, escape them by doubling them (""). For example: "He said ""hello"""
• Line breaks: Avoid line breaks within a single cell, as they can cause parsing issues in some cases.
• No header row required: The app treats every row as a card. If you include a header row like "Front, Back," it will be imported as a card, so remove it before importing.

How to Export Your Sets

Exporting creates a CSV file containing all the cards in a set (or your entire collection).

Exporting on Mobile (iOS and Android)

1. Open Flashcards World and navigate to your set list.
2. Open the side menu (hamburger menu or swipe from the left edge).
3. Look for the Export option.
4. Choose to export a single set or your entire collection.
5. The app generates a CSV file and opens your device's share sheet, allowing you to save the file, email it, or send it to a cloud storage service.

Exporting on the Web

1. Open the set you want to export.
2. Enter the Edit Set screen.
3. Look for the Export or Download CSV option.
4. The browser will download a CSV file to your default downloads folder.

What Gets Exported

• The front and back text of every card in the set.
• Multiple-choice answer options, if they exist.
• The set title is typically used as the filename.

Export Tips

• Regular backups -- Export your most important sets periodically, especially before making large edits or deleting your account.
• Open in any spreadsheet app -- The exported CSV can be opened in Excel, Google Sheets, Numbers, LibreOffice Calc, or any text editor.
• Use exports as templates -- Export an existing set, modify it in a spreadsheet, and re-import it as a new set. This is useful for creating variations of the same material.

How to Import Cards

Importing lets you create cards from a CSV file, saving you from manual data entry.

Step 1: Prepare Your CSV File

You can create your CSV file in any of these tools:

• Google Sheets -- Create your spreadsheet, then go to File > Download > Comma-separated values (.csv).
• Microsoft Excel -- Create your spreadsheet, then go to File > Save As and choose CSV (Comma delimited) as the file type. Make sure to select UTF-8 encoding if the option is available.
• Apple Numbers -- Create your spreadsheet, then go to File > Export To > CSV.
• Text editor -- For small sets, you can type the CSV directly. Each line is one card, with the front and back separated by a comma.

Example CSV content in a text editor:

Bonjour,Hello
Merci,Thank you
Au revoir,Goodbye
Comment allez-vous?,How are you?

Step 2: Import on Mobile

1. Transfer the CSV file to your device (via email, cloud storage, AirDrop, or USB).
2. Open Flashcards World.
3. Look for the Import CSV option in the side menu or set creation screen.
4. Select your CSV file from your device's file picker.
5. The app will parse the file and show you a preview of the cards.
6. Confirm the import. The cards will be added to a new set or an existing set, depending on the app's prompt.

Step 3: Import on the Web

1. Open the web app and navigate to your dashboard or the Edit Set screen.
2. Click the Import option.
3. Select your CSV file from your computer.
4. Review the preview and confirm the import.

After Importing

• Review your cards -- Quickly scroll through the imported cards to check for formatting issues, misaligned columns, or encoding problems.
• Set the language -- If you imported foreign language vocabulary, make sure to set the correct language for the front and back of the set. This ensures proper text-to-speech pronunciation.
• Start studying -- Your imported cards are immediately available in all study modes.

Troubleshooting Import Issues

Cards appear with strange characters

This is almost always an encoding issue. Make sure your CSV file is saved with UTF-8 encoding. In Excel, use "Save As" and choose "CSV UTF-8 (Comma delimited)" instead of plain "CSV."

Columns are misaligned

If your front and back text are ending up in the wrong fields, check:

• Are you using commas as delimiters? Some regions use semicolons by default in Excel.
• Does your text contain unescaped commas? Wrap those cells in double quotes.
• Is there a header row being interpreted as a card?

Import is creating blank cards

Check your CSV file for empty rows at the end of the file. Some spreadsheet apps add trailing empty rows. Open the file in a text editor and remove any blank lines at the bottom.

Special characters or accents are missing

Ensure your file is saved as UTF-8. This is especially important for languages with accents (French, Spanish, Portuguese), umlauts (German), or non-Latin scripts (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Hindi).

Best Practices

• Keep a master copy -- Maintain a master spreadsheet with all your cards. This makes it easy to update, reorganize, and re-import sets as needed.
• Use consistent formatting -- Stick to one format across all your CSV files. This reduces errors and makes bulk management easier.
• Back up before major changes -- Before deleting cards, merging sets, or making large edits, export the current version as a safety net.
• Combine with cloud sync -- Import and export handle local file transfers. For seamless multi-device access, make sure you are signed in so your cards sync to the cloud automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I import from Quizlet, Anki, or other flashcard apps?

If the other app supports CSV export, you can use that file with Flashcards World. Export your data as CSV from the other app, check that the columns match the expected format (front in Column A, back in Column B), and import it.

Is there a limit on how many cards I can import at once?

There is no strict limit, but very large files (thousands of cards) may take a moment to process. For best performance, consider breaking extremely large imports into batches of a few hundred cards each.

Can I import images via CSV?

CSV import handles text-based content. Images need to be added manually to individual cards after import.

Will importing overwrite my existing cards?

No. Importing adds new cards to your set. It does not modify or delete existing cards. If you want to replace a set entirely, delete the existing set first and then import the new version.