Introduction

• Import and Export of Layouts enable sharing of layouts between users.  The exported files are an xml file, for example exported_layout_jd_3.9.8_Compact_Files_Layout_v3.9.xml.
• Import and Export of CSS files is to facilitate making changes to the appearance of the items in the layout.  The exported files are a css file, for example jdownloads_custom.css.

1. jdownloads_fe. css which is the main styling of the front end; - this file is liable to be reset on every jDownloads update
2. jdownloads_fe_rtl.css which is used when a RTL language is in use;
3. jdownloads_buttons.css which styles the buttons;
4. jdownloads_custom.css which is specific to your site and is not changed by jDownloads;
5. jdownloads_modules.css which is used with most jDownloads modules.
   
   NOTE: All of the CSS files, except jdownloads_custom.css, are liable to be reset on every jDownloads update.

• Import is uploading to your site,
• Export is transferring from your site to your local device, that is downloading.

Control Panel

The main control panel is shown opposite. Note that the Actions and Export buttons are greyed out, that is they are inactive at this point

Below this is the Layout type selection bar. It also gives access to the CSS files. These are discussed later.

Accessing Import and Export facilities

To access the import and export facilities go to the , then click on .

Next click on and then scroll down toand click on it.. 
This takes you to the Main Layouts Header Bar as shown below. This has Import and Export CSS buttons and an Import Layout button.  Note that at this stage there is no Layout Export button!

Main Layouts Header Bar

The image below is the 'Individual Layout type' bar ..  It also gives access to the CSS files.
If you click on say the Downloads section it will show the list of the eleven Download layouts, a small section of these is shown below. 
Also the button in the  'Individual Layout type' bar becomes highligted.

Initially the main control bar at the top shows as below. Note that the Actions and Export Layout buttons are disabled.
To activate these click on one of the 'boxes' at the left of the layout name The Actions and Export buttons are now enabled as shown below.

Notes (i)The layout files are exported and imported as '.xml' files because they have multiple sections. 
(ii)The css files are exported and imported as type '.css' files.

Activate a Layout

To select a layout just Click on the 'box' to the left of its name
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Also when a layout is selected  then  thebecome active   and when clicked shows the available actions  
Basically these are (i) tomake the layout the active one , (ii) to check it in if it has been modified or (iii) to delete that layo

Export a Layout

In this example we will export the Downloads layout 'Compact Files Layout v3.9'.  So  select the relevant layout, which in this example is , When a layout is selected  then  thebecome active   and when clicked shows the available actions  
Basically these are (i)make the layout the activeone , (ii) to check it in if it has been modified or (iii) to delete that layout.
click on the button from the Main Layouts Header Bar. 

Import a Layout

Click on the button on the Main Layouts Header Bar.
This then shows the Import Layout Panel as illustrated opposite.  Use the Browse button to locate the relevant xml file. 

Click on the Browse button to find the xml file, and then click on the Import Layout button. 

After clicking on the Browse button and locating the relevant xml file the screen would look something like that opposite. So click on the Import Layout button.

Export a CSS file

Clicking on the  button on the header bar Layout Control panel, the Layout Export page will be shown.

After some explanation about the five CSS files there will be a Select pulldown, as shown opposite' and an button.  In this example it is the jdownloads_custom.css file that is selected as illustrated below.

Next click on the button next to the  button. This will open up a standard download sequence in your browser so that you can save the exported css file to a location of your choice. 

In this example the name of the exported file is jdownloads_custom.css

Import a CSS file

Clicking on the  button, which is only available in the Layout Selection Panel, will take you to the import css page.

After some explanation about the five CSS files there will be the import as illustrated opposite.  Use the Browse button to select the particular file to upload from your device to your site, then click the  button. Here jdownloads_custom.css has been selected

Note that jDownloads makes several checks on the validity of the selected file.

The picture opposite shows a view of the web site files before the import occured.

Note that jDownloads also supports the  w3schools (opens in a new tab/window) w3.css file.  This is a modern CSS framework with built-in responsiveness. It supports responsive mobile first design by default, and it is smaller and faster than similar CSS frameworks.

If the upload is successful then the new file will be in the directory and the previous file will have been renamed.

In this example the renamed file is "jdownloads_custom.css.backup.1"
If another upload of a "jdownloads_custom.css" file occurs then there will another backup file, this time called "jdownloads_custom.css.backup.2".

If the upload is not successful then an error message is returned and the directory remains unchanged.