Export, edit, and import an Ontology

Ontology schema definitions are stored in a JSON file ↗. An Ontology JSON file can be exported and edited with a code editor or text editor before being imported back into Foundry. This import/export functionality enables two workflows for advanced users:

• If you prefer to make Ontology edits in code, you can bypass the Ontology Manager interface by exporting the Ontology JSON file, editing the JSON file directly in a code editor or text editor, and then importing the modified Ontology JSON file back into the platform.
• If you’d like to copy the working state of one Ontology to another Ontology, you can export the Ontology’s current state as a JSON file and then import the copied JSON back into the platform (making any desired changes to the JSON in a code editor).

Export

You can export your Ontology working state by selecting the Advanced settings page from the application’s home page and then selecting Export.

Import

You can import a previously exported Ontology working state by selecting the Advanced settings page from the application’s home page and then selecting Import. You will be prompted to choose an Ontology file from your local drive.

Next, select Import, which will recreate the entire working state from the JSON file in the application. You will see the number of changes made in the file that need to be saved in the application header.

Troubleshooting

Error: OntologyMetadata:UnreferencedRuleSets

If you receive the error OntologyMetadata:UnreferencedRuleSets, you are trying to import an Ontology working state with conditional formatting rules that are not defined in that Ontology and cannot be transferred over. You will need to delete the conditional formatting rules from the Ontology working state before importing.