Export data

Exporting data lets you take information out of Anchorline in a clear, usable form.

Exports are designed to reflect what actually happened, not just a flattened snapshot.

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What exporting gives you

When you export data from Anchorline, you get a representation of a log and its contents at a point in time.

Depending on the log type, this may include:

• Current state
• Recorded events
• Item details
• Relationships and structure

Exports are meant for review, backup, analysis, or use in other tools.

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Exporting a log

Exports are done one log at a time.

This keeps exports focused and predictable. Each exported file represents a single timeline and its derived state.

You choose what to export based on what you need: the current view, the history, or both.

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Balanced log exports

For balanced logs, exports typically include:

• Anchors
• Event history
• Derived balances

This makes it possible to analyze money flow, reconcile totals, or archive activity without losing context.

Balances in the export are always the result of recorded events, not manually entered totals.

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Collection log exports

For collection logs, exports typically include:

• Items
• Item attributes
• Item history
• Links to other items or logs

This preserves item identity and change history instead of collapsing everything into a single row.

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What exports are not

Exports are not meant to be round-trip edits.

Changing exported data and re-importing it is not how corrections are made. Corrections should always be recorded inside Anchorline so history remains intact.

Exports are for visibility and portability, not direct mutation.

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When to export

Common reasons to export include:

• Auditing or review
• Sharing data with others
• Analysis in external tools
• Creating backups

Because exports reflect recorded history, they remain meaningful even as the system grows.

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A useful expectation

If you can explain something using the timeline, it can be exported.

Anchorline exports favor clarity and traceability over convenience, just like the rest of the system.