---
title: "Table import export"
slug: "table-import-export"
updated: 2026-01-08T18:23:16Z
published: 2026-01-08T18:23:16Z
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://support.tulip.co/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Table import export

Who can use this feature

          

Users on Enterprise plans and above.

## Export import diagram

Below is the entire transfer flow for Tulip Tables, Queries, and Aggregations. This document will provide a detailed explanation of this flow.

![image.png](https://cdn.document360.io/7c6ff534-cad3-4fc8-9583-912c4016362f/Images/Documentation/image%28878%29.png)

### Custom user fields and machine activity tables

The flow described below also applies to how custom user fields tables and machine activity field tables are exported and imported.

## Export

During the export process, the exported application or automation will include every table in use within that application. A table is considered in use if any of the following conditions are met:

- Shown in a “Table Record” widget
- Used in an input widget
- Shown in an interactive table
- Used in a trigger
- Used in an automation action
- Used in an automation event block
- Used in a filter for a table query, interactive table, or analysis widget
- Used as an input or output for a custom widget

If a field is archived, it will not be exported. If a field is archived but in use, the export will fail.

## Import

Archived Table Fields

Archived table fields will not be exported, and any references to those fields within applications will need to be remapped on import.

### Find a *same* table

To identify matching tables on import, we look for matching IDs. If a table with the same ID is found, we do not create a new table and rely on the existing one.

If the table in the importing site is archived, it will remain archived.

### For each table field

For each table field, we look for a matching field based on the column ID of that respective field.

If the data type of the matching field is different, the import will fail.

If the field is a linked record field, the linked table will be added to the list of dependencies for the import, and this flow will be repeated for that table.

![image.png](https://cdn.document360.io/7c6ff534-cad3-4fc8-9583-912c4016362f/Images/Documentation/image%28659%29.png)

## For each query

For each query in the imported table, we check if that query exists. If a matching ID is found, we verify that the configuration is identical (limit, sorting, and filtering) between the target and source.

If a matching query cannot be found, a new query will be created. If a matching query is found, but it is not identical to the target instance, a new query will be created with a new name.

![image.png](https://cdn.document360.io/7c6ff534-cad3-4fc8-9583-912c4016362f/Images/Documentation/image%28661%29.png)

Note: This does not apply to custom user fields or machine activity tables.

Updated Import/Export behavior as of r347/LTS15

Updates to Import/Export behavior reduce duplicates. **Table queries now import as a development version**. The table query will only import as a snapshot if the same query already exists and has a different configuration.

Previous behavior (which still exists in instances r329/ LTS14 and previous) imported snapshots as snapshots and development versions as development versions.

## For each aggregation

For each aggregation in the imported table, we check if that query exists. If a matching ID is found, we verify that the configuration is identical (operation, field) between the target and source.

If a matching aggregation cannot be found, a new aggregation will be created. If a matching aggregation is found, but it is not identical to the target instance, a new aggregation will be created with a new name.

![image.png](https://cdn.document360.io/7c6ff534-cad3-4fc8-9583-912c4016362f/Images/Documentation/image%28662%29.png)

Note: This does not apply to custom user fields or machine activity tables.

Updated Import/Export behavior as of r347/LTS15

Updates to Import/Export behavior reduce duplicates. **Table aggregations now import as a development version**. The table aggregation will only import as a snapshot if the same aggregation already exists and has a different configuration.

Previous behavior (which still exists in instances r329/ LTS14 and previous) imported snapshots as snapshots and development versions as development versions.

---

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