Import from SimplyPlural
Already using SimplyPlural? Export your data as JSON and import it into Patchwork in a few steps. Your members, categories, and fronting history come with you.
About SimplyPlural
SimplyPlural is a web and mobile app for plural system management. If you’ve been using it to track your members and fronting, Patchwork can read its JSON export format directly. You don’t need to re-enter anything manually.
Exporting from SimplyPlural
Open Settings
In the SimplyPlural app or website, navigate to Settings.
Find the Export option
Look for Export Data or Export System in the settings menu. The exact location varies by app version.
Download the JSON file
Choose JSON as the export format. Save the file somewhere you can find it on your computer — your Downloads folder is fine.
File size: If your system has profile images stored in SimplyPlural, the export may be large. Member images are stored as URLs in the export, not embedded, so file size is usually under 1 MB even for large systems.
Importing into Patchwork
Open the Import screen
In Patchwork, navigate to Settings → Import or use the Import button on the Members screen if you have no members yet.
Select your export file
Use the file picker to locate the JSON file you downloaded from SimplyPlural.
Review and confirm
Patchwork shows a summary of what will be imported: number of members, categories, and history entries. Confirm to proceed.
Wait for completion
The import runs immediately. For large systems (100+ members, years of history) it may take a few seconds. A confirmation message appears when done.
What Transfers
| Data | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Member names | ✓ Full | Emoji in names preserved exactly. |
| Pronouns | ✓ Full | Imported as-is into the pronouns field. |
| Profile image URLs | ✓ Full | Patchwork loads images from the same URLs. If a URL breaks later, the image disappears. |
| Categories | ✓ Full | Category names and hierarchy are preserved. Emoji labels are retained. |
| Fronting history | ✓ Full | All switches with timestamps are imported. Duration is recalculated by Patchwork. |
| Hidden / private members | ✓ Full | Privacy flags map to Patchwork’s Hidden toggle. |
| Custom fields | ~ Partial | Free-text custom fields are imported as notes. Structured custom field types (dropdowns, colours) are flattened to plain text. |
| Member colours | ✗ Not imported | Patchwork does not currently use per-member colour theming. |
| Polls and votes | ✗ Not imported | SimplyPlural-specific feature with no Patchwork equivalent. |
| Automations | ✗ Not imported | SimplyPlural-specific feature with no Patchwork equivalent. |
After Importing
Once the import completes, take a few minutes to review your data:
- Check that all members imported with correct names and pronouns.
- Verify category structure looks right in the sidebar.
- Open the fronting history and confirm recent entries are present.
- Set the Notifications Allowed toggle for each member as preferred — these default to on after import.
- Mark any members as Hidden if they prefer more privacy.
Importing twice: If you import the same SimplyPlural export more than once, duplicate members may be created. Import only once. If you need to re-import, delete the existing members first or use a fresh install.