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Backup, Restore, Export & Import

Protect your data with built-in backup and restore, and move data in and out of Nareli with export and import.

Overview

Nareli v1.2.0 introduced built-in tools for backing up, restoring, exporting, and importing your data. All operations run locally and never transmit data to external servers.

Backup - save a snapshot of your settings and data to a file
Restore - load a previously saved backup to recover your data
Export - extract your data in portable formats for use outside Nareli
Import - bring data from external sources into Nareli

Data export requires the Business plan (€12/mo per seat). Backup and restore are available on all plans. See Subscription & Billing for plan details.

Creating a Backup

The Backup page lets you create a full snapshot of your Nareli data and settings with a single click.

Open the Backup page from the sidebar or Settings

Click "Create Backup" to start the process

Choose a location to save the backup file

Wait for the backup to complete - a confirmation appears when done

Includes all clients, projects, tasks, time entries, and settings
Backup files are self-contained and portable
Create backups regularly before major changes or updates
Time Machine also backs up your database files automatically

Backup files are stored locally. Keep copies in a safe location such as an external drive or cloud storage.

Restoring from a Backup

Use the Restore page to load a previously created backup and recover your data.

Open the Restore page

Select the backup file you want to restore

Review the backup contents and confirm the restore

Nareli replaces your current data with the backup contents

Restoring replaces your current data. Create a fresh backup of your current state before restoring an older one.

Exporting Data

Export your data in portable formats for invoicing, record-keeping, or migration to other tools.

Open the Export page

Select what to export (time entries, tasks, projects, etc.)

Choose the export format

Save the exported file to your desired location

CSV export for spreadsheet compatibility
PDF export for professional reports and invoicing
All exports are generated locally - no data leaves your machine

PDF and CSV exports require the Business plan. See Reports for more on generating formatted reports.

Importing Data

The Import page helps you bring data into Nareli from external sources or previously exported files.

Open the Import page

Select the file to import

Map the imported fields to Nareli's data structure

Review the preview and confirm the import

Supports importing from common formats
Preview imported data before committing
Duplicate detection helps avoid creating redundant entries

Always review the import preview carefully. Imported data is added alongside your existing data, not merged.

Manual Database Backup

For advanced users, you can also back up by copying the database files directly.

local.db contains all your business data (clients, projects, tasks, time entries)
cache.db contains temporary data (Slack cache) and can be safely deleted
Time Machine includes these files automatically
Use a database browser to inspect database contents

# Back up your data manually
cp ~/Library/Application\ Support/Nareli/local.db ~/Desktop/nareli-backup.db

# Back up both databases
cp ~/Library/Application\ Support/Nareli/local.db ~/Desktop/nareli-local-backup.db
cp ~/Library/Application\ Support/Nareli/cache.db ~/Desktop/nareli-cache-backup.db

Quit Nareli before copying database files to ensure consistency. The built-in Backup page is the recommended approach for most users.