Better Exports and Imports

This adds import/export functionality to WordPress, implemented the way we think it should be implemented.

Still under heavy development. Not production ready.

Some general principles

• Plugins and themes can add their own options/data into the export files, registering export and import functions.
• The export is in JSON format.
• We are sorting the keys and pretty printing the JSON, to get as readable diffs as possible between exports. (To make it easier to see what has happened on your site.)
• Support for WP-Cli.

How to add your own data to export files

Adding your own data to export files is simple and follow normal WordPress patterns.

Example:

function my_theme_options_export() {
    $data = array( 'background_color' => get_option( 'my_background' ) );
    return $data;
}

function my_theme_options_import($data) {
    update_option( 'my_background', $data[ 'background_color' ] );
}

if (function_exists( 'add_export_import' )) { // Only if plugin is active...
    add_export_import( 'my_theme_stuff', 'my_theme_options_export', 'my_theme_options_import' );
}

WP-Cli Commands

Exporting

To save the export JSON in a timestamped file:

wp betterexport export

To save the export JSON in a timestamped file (and overwrite if it already exists):

wp betterexport export --overwrite

To output the export JSON to stdout:

wp betterexport export --stdout

Importing

Pipe JSON into WP-Cli this way:

cat exportfile.json | wp betterexport import --stdin

HTTP/AJAX Exports

To make it easier to export from remote, i.e. automatic exports from your production environment, you can make exports with just a simple HTTP request. However, to enable this, you will have to add a BETTEREXPORT_HTTP_SECRET constant, and pass the same value in your request.

How to add BETTEREXPORT_HTTP_SECRET to your wp-config.php (before the "That's all, stop editing! Happy blogging." string):

define ( 'BETTEREXPORT_HTTP_SECRET', 'th15isAs3cr3t' );

Example, using command line HTTP client cURL, outputing an export JSON:

curl 'http://example.org/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=export&secret=th15isAs3cr3t'

Generic filters

• betterexport_export_filename - Filter for the export filename.

Users import/export

Filters (users)

• betterexports_users_logins_to_export - An array of user logins to export into export file. Use this filter to restrict which users to be exported.
• betterexports_users_logins_to_import - An array of user logins to import from an export file. Use this filter to restrict which users to be imported.