Basic Exporters

After you are satisfied that your conversation simulates properly, there are numerous export options to get your conversations into the hands of programmers, producers, or designers.  The available exporters will be displayed when selecting the File | Export menu option.

Chat Mapper Package (CMPKG):  This export option is only available for commercial license holders and allows the author to export the Chat Mapper project and all associated media files to a compressed archive suitable for sharing.  Another author may import the package file and view all of the media originally used.

As Chat Mapper 1.3/1.5 Project:  Exports to a Chat Mapper project file (CMP) that is compatible with Chat Mapper version 1.3 or version 1.5 respectively.

Project As XML:  This is probably the most versatile export option because the resulting file contains all aspects of the project including assets, dialogue, and conditions in a human-readable and computer-readable plain-text XML format.

This option is only available to license holders.

Project As JSON:  JavaScript Object Notation data is ubiquitous in HTML and online applications.  Exporting to this format will format the Chat Mapper project data suitable for loading directly into JavaScript.

This option is only available to license holders.

Screenplay as RTF File:  Exports the script (as shown in the script view tab) to an RTF file, which includes formatting and font selections that can be opened and edited by word processors, such as Microsoft Word.

This option is only available to license holders.

Project Data to Excel:  Exports all of the data in the entire project, including all custom asset fields, to an XLSX file, which can be opened by Microsoft Excel.  This data may be edited and then imported later to update the project.

Dialogue Graph as PDF / JPEG / PNG Image:  Exports the entire dialogue tree as a PDF, JPEG, or PNG image shown exactly as displayed in the software.

Custom Exporters

If purchasing a Commercial license, you may write your own exporters using the Chat Mapper Exporter Development Kit that is provided as a download at the time of license purchase.  Any custom exporters will also be displayed at the bottom of the exporters list.

Basic Importers

Currently there are two available importers, each of which require a license to use.  The available importers will be displayed when selecting the File | Import menu option.

Chat Mapper Package (CMPKG):  Using this import option and selecting a Chat Mapper package file will decompress all project assets to the "Imported Projects" folder in "My Documents" and open the project.

Project Data from Excel:  Project data from an Excel file will be imported into the currently open Chat Mapper project.  Only existing assets will be updated.  It is not possible at this time to create new assets from importing an Excel file.

New Project from XML:  Project data from an XML file will be imported into a new Chat Mapper project.  This can be used to start a new Chat Mapper project from a 3rd party tool that exports to the Chat Mapper XML format, or from a previously exported Chat Mapper project.

NOTE: This import option only works well if the XML was created with the "export empty fields" option enabled and with all custom asset fields exported.