Importing an Existing Library

Before you import

Use a portable Nostos export when moving between installations. Do not copy an application’s database or storage folders directly between self-hosted and hosted Nostos.

For a self-hosted → hosted move:

1. create a portable Nostos export from the source installation;
2. sign in to hosted Nostos;
3. let Nostos finish preparing the new hosted library;
4. choose Import an existing Nostos library on first run;
5. select the portable export;
6. let Nostos validate and import it before continuing.

Empty destination required

The current portable import supports an empty destination library only. It does not merge two existing libraries or replace existing content implicitly.

Import safety

Nostos checks that the export is supported and complete before applying it to the destination library.

If an import cannot complete safely, Nostos rejects it rather than leaving you with a partially imported library.

What happens to the source

Importing does not change or delete the source library. Keep the original self-hosted installation or its export until you have verified the hosted library to your satisfaction.

What moves

A portable export is designed to preserve supported:

• books, bibliographic information, and source media;
• reading progress, ratings, favorites, reviews, and timestamps;
• collections and collection membership;
• notes, concepts, and links between them;
• Writing Studio documents and folders;
• supported reading and assistant preferences.

Account details, billing information, credentials, and deployment-specific settings are not part of your portable library.

For the full portability model, see Import & Export.