Export and Import Print Templates

Print Designer's File | Export function exports the active print template to a .json file. The File | Import function imports a previously exported print template into Designer. After importing a print template, you can modify and run it just as you would any other print template. Saving the print template makes you the owner of the imported template in ArcGIS.

You cannot host an exported print template locally and run the print from the .json file's URL.

Export and Import are most commonly used to copy print templates between portals or share print templates outside your organization.

In both cases, a print template that was created in one instance of Designer is copied to a different instance of Designer. Because of this, there are several issues you can encounter when importing a print template:

Follow the instructions for the following Export/Import tasks:

Copy Print Templates from One Portal to Another

You can use the Export and Import functions to copy print templates to a different portal. For example, you might want to copy your print templates from cloud Printing to on-premises Printing, or you might want to move your templates from one on-premises portal to another, possibly on a different server.

You can adapt the following method to copy print templates to a different instance of VertiGIS Studio Printing on the same portal. In this case, you would work with source and destination instances instead of source and destination portals.

To copy print templates from one portal (the source portal) to another portal (the destination portal):

  1. Source Portal:

    1. Sign in to Print Designer for the source portal.

    2. Export the print templates one at a time.

      To export a print template, open the template in Print Designer and click File | Export.

      Print Designer exports the active print template to a .json file.

  2. Destination Portal:

    1. Sign in to Print Designer for the destination portal.

    2. Import the print templates one at a time.

      To import a print template, click File | Import, select the .json file, and click Open.

    3. Save each print template.

      This creates ArcGIS items for the print templates.

    4. Preview each print to verify that they work as expected.

    5. If you want, share the print templates and configure applications to host the templates.

Share a Print Template with an Author Outside your Organization

The Export and Import functions can be used to share a print template with a print author outside your organization. This provides the outside author with a copy of the print template.

You can also use this method to share print templates with other authors within your organization.

To share a print template with an author outside your organization:

  1. You:

    1. Export the print template.

      To export a print template, open the template in Print Designer and click File | Export.

      Print Designer exports the active print template to a .json file.

    2. Send the .json file to the outside author via email or any other method that is convenient.

  2. Outside Author:

    1. Open Print Designer.

    2. Import the print template.

      To import a print template, click File | Import, select the .json file, and click Open.

    3. Save the print template.

      This creates an ArcGIS item for the print template.

    4. Preview the print to verify that it works as expected.

    5. If you want, share the print template and configure applications to host the template.