Three Ways to Import
When you import a .zip backup into 12scribe, the app does not simply overwrite everything. Instead, it offers three import strategies so you stay in control of what happens to your existing data. Each strategy handles duplicates and conflicts differently, letting you choose the safest approach for your situation.
Before any data is written, 12scribe verifies the archive integrity using the manifest checksum embedded during export. If the file was corrupted or tampered with, the import stops and you are notified. This ensures you never end up with partial or broken data in your library.
The three strategies are Merge, Replace, and Update Existing. Read the sections below to understand which one fits your use case.
Merge: Add New, Skip Duplicates
Merge is the safest and most commonly used strategy. It adds any projects from the backup that do not already exist on your device and skips projects that are already present. No existing data is modified or deleted.
When to use Merge:
- You are restoring a backup onto a device that already has some projects
- You want to combine data from two devices without losing anything
- You received a backup from a colleague and want to add their projects alongside your own
Merge identifies duplicates by matching project IDs. If a project with the same ID already exists on your device, it is left untouched — even if the backup contains a newer version. If you need to update existing projects with newer data, use the Update Existing strategy instead.
Replace: Start Fresh from Backup
Replace deletes all current projects on the device and imports everything from the backup as a clean slate. This is the most destructive option and should be used with care.
When to use Replace:
- You are setting up a brand-new device and want an exact copy of your old library
- Your current data is corrupted or out of date and you want to revert to a known-good backup
- You intentionally want to discard all local changes and restore from the archive
After replacement, your library will match the backup exactly — same projects, same markers, same transcriptions. If the backup included audio files, those are restored as well. If it was a metadata-only backup, project data is restored but audio files will need to be re-synced from the cloud (Pro subscribers) or re-recorded.
Update Existing: Refresh Changed Items
Update Existing is a middle ground between Merge and Replace. It does three things:
- Updates changed projects — If a project exists both on your device and in the backup, and the backup version is newer, the local copy is updated to match the backup.
- Adds new projects — Projects in the backup that do not exist on your device are imported, just like Merge.
- Leaves unchanged projects alone — If the local version is the same as or newer than the backup version, nothing happens to that project.
This is the best strategy when you have been working on two devices without cloud sync and want to bring them into alignment. It intelligently compares timestamps and only applies changes where the backup has newer data.
Update Existing never deletes projects. If your device has a project that does not appear in the backup, it stays untouched. Only projects that exist in both places and differ are updated.
Preview Before Import
No matter which strategy you choose, 12scribe shows a preview screen before any changes are applied. The preview tells you exactly what will happen:
- Projects to add — New projects that will be imported from the backup
- Projects to update — Existing projects that will be overwritten with newer backup data (Update Existing strategy only)
- Projects to skip — Duplicates that already exist and will not be changed
- Projects to delete — Local projects that will be removed (Replace strategy only)
- Audio files — Whether the backup contains audio and how much storage the import will require
Review the preview carefully before tapping Confirm Import. Once confirmed, the import runs in the background and a progress indicator shows the status. You can continue using the app during import, though it is best to avoid editing projects that are being updated.