Export Formats
The Archiver can export your collection data in several formats, ranging from simple spreadsheets to professional archival standards.
Available export formats
CSV (Comma-Separated Values)
A simple spreadsheet format. Each file in your archive becomes a row, with columns for title, date, description, document type, people, places, and other metadata.
Best for: Opening in Excel, importing into databases, basic data analysis.
Available on: All plans including free.
JSON
A structured data format used by developers and data analysts. Contains all the same information as CSV but in a hierarchical, machine-readable format.
Best for: Developers building integrations, data analysis with programming tools.
Available on: All plans including free.
EAD3 (Encoded Archival Description)
A standard XML format used by archival institutions worldwide. EAD3 encodes your entire Fonds hierarchy — including Fonds, Sub-fonds, Series, and the files within them — in a format that other archival systems can import.
Best for: Sharing collections with libraries, archives, and museums; importing into ArchivesSpace, AtoM, or similar systems; long-term digital preservation.
Requires: A structured Fonds with Accessions assigned to it.
Available on: Paid plans only.
BagIt
A packaging standard widely used for transferring digital collections between institutions. A "bag" contains your files plus a manifest file that lists every file and its checksum (a unique fingerprint used to verify the files haven't been corrupted).
Best for: Transferring a complete digital collection to another institution; long-term digital preservation.
Available on: Paid plans only.
ArchivesSpace JSON
A format specifically designed for import into ArchivesSpace — a popular open-source archival management system used by universities and large archives.
Best for: Users who use or plan to use ArchivesSpace alongside The Archiver.
Available on: Paid plans only.
Finding Aid (PDF)
A human-readable document describing your collection — who created it, what it contains, and how it's organised. Finding Aids are the standard way archives communicate the contents of their collections to researchers.
Best for: Sharing with researchers, publishing on your website, formal archival documentation.
Available on: Paid plans only.
How to export
- Go to Accessions (for a single accession) or Fonds (for a structured export)
- Click the Export button (or use the ⋮ menu → Export)
- Select your desired format
- Click Download
Large exports may take a few seconds to generate. You'll receive a download link when it's ready.