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Importing and Exporting Templates

Email templates can be exported to a file and imported back into Outreach. This is useful for backing up templates, sharing them between campaigns, or restoring a previous version.

File Types​

Each editor experience uses its own file type for export and import:

EditorFile extensionExample filename
Design Editor.or_design_templatemarch-promo.or_design_template
Code Editor.or_code_templatemarch-promo.or_code_template

The file extension is set automatically when you export and is used by Outreach to identify the template type on import.

Exporting a Template​

  1. Open the campaign wizard on the Template step.
  2. Click the Export button in the toolbar.
  3. The template is saved to your device as a file with the appropriate extension (.or_design_template or .or_code_template).

What Is Included in the Export​

ElementIncluded?
Email body contentYes
Sender settings (From, Reply-to, Subject)Yes
Variables and test data valuesYes
Completed attachmentsYes
Attachments still uploadingNo
Failed attachmentsNo

Exporting While Attachments Are Uploading​

If any attachment is currently uploading when you click Export, Outreach warns you that in-progress uploads will not be included in the exported file. You can choose to continue (exporting without those files) or cancel and wait for uploads to finish.

Importing a Template​

  1. Open the campaign wizard on the Template step.
  2. Click the Import button in the toolbar.
  3. Select a template file from your device.
  4. If the import is successful, all content, variables, and attachments are restored.

Editor Type Matching​

Templates can only be imported into the same editor type they were exported from:

Exported fromCan import into Visual?Can import into Code?
Design Editor (.or_design_template)YesNo
Code Editor (.or_code_template)NoYes

If you attempt to import an .or_design_template file while using the Code Editor (or vice versa), the import is rejected and an error notification is shown.

warning

You must be in the correct editor before importing. If you need to switch editors, do so first (note that switching editors clears existing body content). Then import the matching template file.

What Happens on Import​

  • The email body content is replaced with the imported template content.
  • Sender settings (From, Reply-to, Subject) are restored from the file.
  • Variables and test data values are restored.
  • Attachments from the exported file are restored in the Attachments tab, marked to indicate they were imported from a previous export.
  • Any existing content in the editor is overwritten by the import.

Invalid Files​

If the selected file is not a valid Outreach template (e.g. wrong format, corrupted, or an unrecognised file type), the import is rejected with an error and no changes are made to the current template.

Common Scenarios​

Backing Up Before Switching Editors​

If you want to try the other editor without losing your current work:

  1. Export your current template.
  2. Switch to the other editor (this clears the body content).
  3. If you want to go back, switch to the original editor and import the saved file.

Reusing a Template Across Campaigns​

  1. Create and finish your template in one campaign.
  2. Export the template.
  3. Create a new campaign and choose the same editor type.
  4. Import the saved template file.
  5. Make any adjustments needed for the new campaign.

Sharing Templates Between Users​

Export files can be shared with other users in your organisation. The recipient must:

  1. Be in the campaign wizard on the Template step.
  2. Have the same editor type selected as the one used to create the export.
  3. Click Import and select the shared file.