# Export\\Import Issue (I think)...

**URL:** <https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/t/export-import-issue-i-think/38050>\
**Category:** Scrivener for macOS\
**Tags:** bug\
**Created:** [October 26, 2017, 5:57pm UTC](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/t/export-import-issue-i-think/38050 "2017-10-26T17:57:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![NamoNakiMichi](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/n/f1d935/32.png) [@NamoNakiMichi](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/u/NamoNakiMichi)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2017, 5:57pm UTC](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/t/export-import-issue-i-think/38050/1 "2017-10-26T17:57:26Z")

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I don’t know if this is a bug, or if this is just the way Scrivener was designed, but I am puzzled. 😠

Recently a project that I’ve been working on went corrupt. So I had to export everything and then re-import it into a new project. Sounds simple, right…? WRONG… When I import everything, I still have to MANUALLY place everything back in the places that they were in, in the original project… which has turned into a laboriously slow process… Did I do something wrong, or is just the way it was designed…?

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**Author:** ![kewms](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/user_avatar/forum.literatureandlatte.com/kewms/32/15720_2.png) [@kewms](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/u/kewms)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2017, 7:06pm UTC](https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/t/export-import-issue-i-think/38050/2 "2017-10-26T19:06:06Z")

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The “wrong” thing was to export and re-import. Once you do that, the individual component files are just files. Scrivener has no knowledge of what the structure should be.

If a project becomes corrupt, alternatives include:

- Restoring from a backup. Scrivener’s automatic backups can be found by going to Scrivener -\> Preferences -\> Backups and clicking the button to open the backup folder in Finder.

- Using the Import Scrivener Project option from the File -\> Import menu. This will preserve whatever structure information Scrivener is able to extract from the damaged project.

- Drag and drop the files from the old project to a new one.

- Email our support address for assistance. We can help you figure out exactly what’s wrong with the project and the best way to resolve the issue. [literatureandlatte.com/suppo … tion-email](http://www.literatureandlatte.com/support.php#section-email)

Katherine