Import and Export Content from Another CMS to Contentful CMS

When moving content between content management systems (CMS), having a structured approach is essential. Let's break down the process into manageable steps that will help ensure a successful migration to Contentful CMS.

The first crucial step involves extracting all your content from your existing CMS. This foundation step requires careful attention to ensure no content is left behind.

What You Need to Know:

• Begin by identifying all content that needs to be migrated
• Ensure you have proper access and permissions to export data
• Plan your export strategy to include all necessary content types

After successfully exporting your data, it needs to be transformed to match your new system's requirements. This step is critical for ensuring compatibility.

Key Requirements:

• All files must be converted to JSON format
• Data structure needs to align with your content model
• Custom parsing may be required

Best Practice for Testing:

1. Create a content model in a test environment
2. Add some dummy content
3. Use the export tool to generate a JSON dump
4. Study the JSON structure carefully
5. Use this as a reference for developing your custom parser

The final phase involves importing your transformed content into the new system. You have two primary methods available:

Method 1: Using the Import Tool

• Designed for straightforward imports
• Handles bulk content transfers
• Suitable for most standard migration needs

Method 2: Content Management API Integration

The Content Management API:

• Offers more control over the import process
• Allows for creating and publishing entries iteratively
• Provides flexibility for custom implementation needs

Taking time to understand the JSON structure through test exports will significantly improve your migration outcomes.