Import/export functionality

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  qwerty5432 · Member · Mar 23, 2015 at 2:31 pm

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  Does a private imported wordpress site stay private when it’s been imported?

  Trying out the import/export functionality, I just exported and imported private site in wordpress.com.

  It’s important to me that the imported site remains private when the import is done. As the import takes 24 hours I don’t want to sit in front of the computer all night constantly refreshing my account…

  Thanks!

  The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)

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  kokkieh · Staff · Mar 24, 2015 at 10:16 am

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  Hi there. Importing doesn’t affect any of your settings, no. I have a private test/backup blog and I regularly import content to it from my main blog. I’ve never had issues with content becoming visible during the import.

  Note that if the site you’re exporting from is also private, your media files might not transfer correctly. I’m afraid I don’t have a link to confirm this, but I saw it mentioned once in a forum thread. If that happens, you’ll have to re-upload the media files manually.

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  qwerty5432 · Member · Mar 25, 2015 at 5:59 pm

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  Thanks for the information. Funny that this information isn’t supplied when performing an action. It feels like importing a file into a black hole…

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  kokkieh · Staff · Mar 25, 2015 at 6:43 pm

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  Honestly, you’re the first person I’ve seen asking this particular question. I’ve never even thought of it myself, assuming that if the site is private it’s private. This is in no way meant to imply your question is unreasonable, but I simply think no support section is so comprehensive as to cover every conceivable user question or concern. That’s why a forum like this is so valuable – the support docs are augmented by user and staff experience, to help in cases like yours.

  The importer does get stuck sometimes. If that happens, you can let me know right in this thread.

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  qwerty5432 · Member · Mar 26, 2015 at 8:25 am

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  I think what I miss is a more elaborate import feedback message telling you what’s gonna happen… Something like

  import process started… when completed….your imported wordpress blog [name] will be available on the [url]. ..An import file is designed to completely describe the (original) blog including settings… read more about import here… [url]

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  kokkieh · Staff · Mar 26, 2015 at 8:40 am

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  If I had to guess, I’d say they are probably trying to have the actual user interface as uncluttered as possible, especially as the support docs already more or less cover this.

  But I’ll tag this for staff so they can see your feedback. I know they’re usually open to suggestions to make the interface more user-friendly.

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  rachelmcr · Member · Mar 26, 2015 at 11:11 am

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  Hi there,

  Thanks for the feedback! You can learn more about how exports and imports work in our Export and Import guides. Notably, when you export a site you’re exporting the content but not all of the site’s settings, theme, etc. So when you import that content into a new site, you’re getting the content — not an exact copy of the original blog the content came from.

  I’ll pass along your feedback to the team currently working on our importers. I know they’re interested in improving that import interface, but as kokkieh mentioned some of the details about how exactly imports work can be found on our support site even if they aren’t incorporated into the importer itself. Please let me know if I can do anything more to help! :)