CLI-Supported Features for Export, Import, and Clone Operations

Contentstack CLI offers support for export, import, and clone operations, including Marketplace apps, module-wise imports, error handling, and Personalize project integration.
This guide outlines these features to help you manage content migration operations with flexibility and control.

Marketplace Apps

You can export/import public and private Marketplace apps into a stack using CLI commands.

Prerequisites

• Logged in to your Contentstack account
• Owner/Admin rights to export Marketplace apps
• Marketplace apps support enabled in the destination organization

Public Apps

If a public Marketplace app with a specific configuration already exists in the destination organization, you will be prompted with the following options during import:

• Update the app with the new configuration from the source organization.
• Skip updating the app configuration.

  Warning: Skipping may result in issues with imported content.

• Exit to cancel the entire stack import process.

Private Apps

If the imported app has the same name as an existing app in the destination stack:

• You will be prompted to rename the imported app.

Note: App names must be 3-20 characters long.

During the stack import:

• If acknowledged and confirmed, the listed private app(s) will be re-created and installed.
• If you cancel the app recreation, it may disrupt the import process of entries, content types, or global fields.
• To skip re-creation of private apps if they already exist, use the --skip-app-recreation flag.
  csdx cm:stack:import -k <<stack_ApiKey>> -d <<path_of_folder_where_content_is_stored>> --skip-app-recreation --yes

Error Handling

If an error occurs while importing a public or private app:

• You will be prompted to confirm whether to proceed.
  • If you choose not to proceed, the import stops.
  • If you choose to proceed, the import may still succeed but could affect entries, content types, or global fields.

Note: You cannot reuse any existing private apps during the import process.

Personalize and Entry Variants

When working with stacks that are synced with a Personalize project, certain modules and configurations are automatically handled during export and import operations:

Exporting

If the stack you're exporting is linked to a Personalize project, the following items will be exported:

• The associated Personalize project
• The following modules within the Personalize project:
  • Experiences
  • Audience
  • Attributes
  • Events
• Entry Variants (exported from the stack as part of entries)

Importing

If the content you're importing is associated or synced with a Personalize project, a new Personalize project will be created and linked to the new stack. Additionally, the items below will be imported into the target stack:

• The following modules within the Personalize project:
  • Experiences
  • Audience
  • Attributes
  • Events
• Entry Variants (imported into the stack as part of entries)

Options

• --personalize-project-name: (optional) Provide a unique name for the Personalize project.

Note: Variants and Personalize currently support only basic authentication.

Personalize and Entry Variants Limitation

The -a <alias> flag skips Personalize modules as they require an auth token for import and cannot be imported using a management token.