---
title: "Introduction"
url: https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/cli/v1/export-and-import-projects/introduction/
description: "Catalyst enables you to export a project including its configurations and code as a ZIP file, and import the ZIP file into any new project."
last_updated: 2023-04-19T10:02:07Z
service: All Services
type: general
---

# Export and Import Projects

### Introduction

Catalyst CLI provides the ability to perform IaC project export and import operations from the local environment. You can export a [Catalyst project](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/getting-started/catalyst-projects/), including the configurations of its components and its code, as an external ZIP file. You can then import the ZIP file as a new project into any Catalyst account.

A project export is done from its [active project directory](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/cli/v1/project-directory-structure/introduction/) in the local environment. When you export a project, the export ZIP file is created in a specific format in the same directory. You can only import a project if this ZIP file is in this standard format. The CLI also enables you to directly import any project from a local directory without having to export it first, through a pack command which generates an import-ready ZIP file.

The project export and import feature enables easy transfers of projects between data centers or between Catalyst accounts. It also enables easy access and testing of a project from an external environment, such as a GitHub repository. You can simply clone a Git repo containing a Catalyst project's components, generate its ZIP file to import it, and easily test the project. You can also easily perform these actions through a remote system, such as a CI system, or write scripts to automate these tasks.

Catalyst also provides you the option to import a project to just the Catalyst remote console, or to both the remote
console and the local environment.

> **Note:** You can also perform the IaC project export and import operations from the *General Settings* in the remote console. You can learn about it from the **[ IaC Settings help page ](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/getting-started/set-up-a-catalyst-project/iac-settings/)**.