{"versionId":"7aa586b3-d1f6-42cf-a13d-08df1462c296","articleId":"b747c568-6998-4964-99e5-08df145bf3e9","title":"Coming soon: Export and import assistant packages","tags":["Creating assistants","Using Theta Assist","All articles"],"content":"<html><head></head><body><p>Download an assistant as a portable package to move it to another instance, share it, or edit it as JSON. You can include knowledge files when the package meets the file limit.</p>\n<div data-type=\"panel-warning\">\n<p><strong>Important:</strong> Importing a package can change an existing assistant. Export a backup first, then review the imported settings before saving.</p>\n</div>\n<div class=\"mce-toc\">\n<h2>Quick links</h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#before-you-start\">Before you start</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"#download-a-package\">Download a package</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"#choose-what-to-include\">Choose what to include</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"#what-is-not-included\">What is not included</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"#choose-a-model-for-the-destination\">Choose a model for the destination</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"#import-a-package\">Import a package</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"#test-changes-safely\">Test changes safely</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"#check-after-importing\">Check after importing</a></li>\n</ul>\n</div>\n<h2 id=\"before-you-start\">Before you start</h2>\n<p>Make sure you have permission to edit the assistant and can save the package in an approved, secure location.</p>\n<ul>\n<li>Export a package before making significant changes.</li>\n<li>Do not include secrets, API keys, or passwords in assistant instructions or files.</li>\n<li>Check whether connected tools, integrations, and organisation-specific settings need to be configured again after import.</li>\n</ul>\n<h2 id=\"download-a-package\">Download a package</h2>\n<ol>\n<li>Open the assistant you want to copy or back up.</li>\n<li>Select <strong>Edit assistant</strong>.</li>\n<li>In the left-hand menu, under <strong>Publishing</strong>, select <strong>Package</strong>.</li>\n<li>Choose the package options you need.</li>\n<li>Select <strong>Download package</strong>.</li>\n<li>Save the <code>.zip</code> file in an approved location.</li>\n</ol>\n<p>Use a clear file name that identifies the assistant, version, and export date. For example: <code>customer-support-assistant-v2-18-sep-2026.zip</code>.</p>\n<h2 id=\"choose-what-to-include\">Choose what to include</h2>\n<h3>Package format</h3>\n<p>Select <strong>Package (.zip)</strong> to download a portable package. The package can carry the assistant and its knowledge files, so importing it can restore the assistant configuration and included knowledge files. Other attached files are included too.</p>\n<h3>Include knowledge files</h3>\n<p>Select <strong>Include knowledge files</strong> when you want to include the assistant’s knowledge files in the package.</p>\n<div data-type=\"panel-note\">\n<p>A package can include up to 100 knowledge files. If the assistant has more than 100 knowledge files, export the package without them.</p>\n</div>\n<p>When knowledge files cannot be included:</p>\n<ul>\n<li>The package still lists the knowledge files.</li>\n<li>After importing, the import process reports which files you need to upload to the new assistant manually.</li>\n<li>Upload those files to the imported assistant before relying on its knowledge responses.</li>\n</ul>\n<h3>View the package schema</h3>\n<p>Select <strong>Schema</strong> to download or view the package schema. Use the schema when you need to inspect or edit the package as JSON.</p>\n<h2 id=\"what-is-not-included\">What is not included</h2>\n<p>A package carries the assistant configuration. Some settings belong to the source instance and stay behind.</p>\n<table style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid #b7b7b7;\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #b7b7b7; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; padding: 2px;\">Setting</th>\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #b7b7b7; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; padding: 2px;\">What happens when you import</th>\n</tr>\n</thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #b7b7b7; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; padding: 2px;\"><strong>Credentials</strong></td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #b7b7b7; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; padding: 2px;\">MCP authentication, custom headers, API keys, and OAuth secrets are not included.</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #b7b7b7; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; padding: 2px;\"><strong>Tenant connections</strong></td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #b7b7b7; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; padding: 2px;\">Connections such as Business Central and Dataverse identify the source tenant, so their connection data is not included.</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #b7b7b7; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; padding: 2px;\"><strong>Sharing</strong></td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #b7b7b7; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; padding: 2px;\">An imported assistant starts private to the person who imported it.</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #b7b7b7; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; padding: 2px;\"><strong>MCP servers</strong></td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #b7b7b7; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; padding: 2px;\">Servers are matched by label. The destination instance must already have the server, or the assistant is imported without it.</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #b7b7b7; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; padding: 2px;\"><strong>Global skills</strong></td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #b7b7b7; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; padding: 2px;\">Global skills are matched by name. The assistant’s own skills are different: their bundles are included in the <code>.zip</code> package.</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #b7b7b7; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; padding: 2px;\"><strong>Provider IDs</strong></td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #b7b7b7; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; padding: 2px;\">Files are uploaded and indexed again during import. Search works, but the underlying provider IDs are different.</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #b7b7b7; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; padding: 2px;\"><strong>Certification</strong></td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #b7b7b7; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; padding: 2px;\">Certification is set by the destination tenant’s administrators and is not inherited.</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #b7b7b7; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; padding: 2px;\"><strong>History</strong></td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #b7b7b7; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; padding: 2px;\">Conversations, usage, favourites, and pins are not part of the assistant configuration.</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #b7b7b7; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; padding: 2px;\"><strong>Drive Sync</strong></td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #b7b7b7; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; padding: 2px;\">Drive Sync names folders in the source tenant’s Microsoft 365 environment. Review and configure it for the destination tenant.</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody>\n</table>\n<h2 id=\"choose-a-model-for-the-destination\">Choose a model for the destination</h2>\n<p>Under <strong>Model on the destination</strong>, choose how the imported assistant should select its model.</p>\n<table style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid #b7b7b7;\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #b7b7b7; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; padding: 2px;\">Option</th>\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #b7b7b7; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; padding: 2px;\">When to use it</th>\n</tr>\n</thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #b7b7b7; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; padding: 2px;\"><strong>Use the destination’s default model</strong></td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #b7b7b7; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; padding: 2px;\">Use this when moving or sharing an assistant with another instance. It is the most portable option because the assistant uses the model available in the destination.</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody>\n</table>\n<h2 id=\"import-a-package\">Import a package</h2>\n<ol>\n<li>Create a new assistant, or open the assistant you want to update.</li>\n<li>Select <strong>Edit assistant</strong>.</li>\n<li>Open the assistant’s <strong>Package</strong> settings.</li>\n<li>Select the option to import a package.</li>\n<li>Choose the exported <code>.zip</code> package.</li>\n<li>Review the imported settings and any reported knowledge files.</li>\n<li>Upload any knowledge files that were not included in the package.</li>\n<li>Reconnect required credentials and tenant connections.</li>\n<li>Check MCP servers, global skills, sharing, certification, and Drive Sync settings.</li>\n<li>Select <strong>Save changes</strong>.</li>\n</ol>\n<h2 id=\"test-changes-safely\">Test changes safely</h2>\n<ol>\n<li>Download a package from the current assistant.</li>\n<li>Create a separate test assistant.</li>\n<li>Import the package into the test assistant.</li>\n<li>Make and test your changes in the test assistant.</li>\n<li>Check responses, tools, permissions, integrations, and knowledge files.</li>\n<li>Download a package from the tested assistant when you are ready.</li>\n<li>Import the tested package into the production assistant, or apply the approved changes manually.</li>\n</ol>\n<p>Use clear names such as <strong>Customer support assistant – test</strong> and <strong>Customer support assistant – production</strong> to avoid editing the wrong assistant.</p>\n<h2 id=\"check-after-importing\">Check after importing</h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Instructions</strong> — confirm they are current and suitable for the new purpose.</li>\n<li><strong>Model</strong> — confirm the selected model is available in the destination instance.</li>\n<li><strong>Knowledge files</strong> — upload any files reported as not included in the package.</li>\n<li><strong>Credentials and tenant connections</strong> — reconnect and reauthorise them where required.</li>\n<li><strong>MCP servers and global skills</strong> — confirm matching servers and skills are available in the destination.</li>\n<li><strong>Sharing and certification</strong> — set these again for the destination tenant.</li>\n<li><strong>Drive Sync</strong> — review source folders and configure destination Microsoft 365 folders.</li>\n<li><strong>Schedules and automation</strong> — check jobs before they run.</li>\n<li><strong>Forms</strong> — check form fields, required settings, and submission instructions.</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>If an import does not work</h2>\n<p>Check that you selected a valid package file, have edit permission for the destination assistant, and have access to the required models, tools, MCP servers, and integrations. Keep the package file and note any error message before contacting your administrator or support team.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p></body></html>","description":"Download an assistant as a portable package to move it to another instance, share it, or edit it as JSON.","isMarkdown":false,"publishedOnUtc":"2026-09-18T05:03:20.8987195","modifiedOnUtc":"2026-09-18T04:55:08.2131805"}