Exporting Content
The Export feature in iContentForge allows you to download your generated articles as a CSV (Comma-Separated Values) file. This is essential for data portability, enabling you to create backups, deliver content to clients, or prepare articles for bulk upload into other content management systems or SEO tools.
You can export articles from any project. The export is filtered to include only the articles currently visible in your project's article list, based on your selected status filters (e.g., Draft, Ready, Published).
How to Export Articles
- Navigate to your desired Project.
- Go to the Pages section.
- (Optional) Use the status filters at the top of the article list to narrow down the articles you wish to export (e.g., only "Ready" articles).
- Click the Export button located in the top-right corner of the article list.
- Your browser will automatically download a CSV file named
export_[PROJECT-NAME]_[TIMESTAMP].csv.
Location of the Export button in the Pages list
The export process includes all articles matching your current view and filters. To export a specific subset, apply the relevant filters (like a single keyword group or status) before clicking Export.
CSV Export Fields
The generated CSV file contains a comprehensive set of columns for each article, providing all necessary data for external use.
| Column Name | Description & Format |
|---|---|
id | The unique internal ID of the article within iContentForge. |
title | The full title of the generated article. |
slug | The URL-friendly slug derived from the title. |
status | Current article status: draft, scheduled, queued, generating, ready, published, or error. |
keyword | The primary target keyword the article was generated for. |
keyword_group | The name of the keyword group this keyword belongs to. |
meta_title | The generated meta title (title tag) for SEO. |
meta_description | The generated meta description for SEO. |
content | The full HTML body content of the article. |
featured_image_url | The URL of the AI-generated or uploaded featured image. |
word_count | The approximate word count of the article content. |
read_time | The estimated read time in minutes. |
created_at | Timestamp (ISO 8601) when the article was first created. |
published_at | Timestamp (ISO 8601) when the article was published to your CMS. Empty if not published. |
cms_url | The live URL of the article on your connected CMS (e.g., WordPress). Empty if not published. |
cms_id | The ID of the post/page within your connected CMS (e.g., WordPress Post ID). |
Export File Format & Handling
The export file is a standard UTF-8 encoded CSV. Special characters and HTML within fields (especially the content column) are properly escaped for CSV compatibility.
Important for Spreadsheet Software: When opening the CSV file directly in applications like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, the HTML tags in the content column may not render correctly and can sometimes disrupt formatting. For best results:
- Import the CSV: Use your spreadsheet application's data import wizard, specifying UTF-8 encoding and proper delimiter handling.
- Use a Text Editor: For simply viewing or processing the raw data, use a dedicated code or text editor (like VS Code, Sublime Text, or Notepad++).
Common Use Cases
Bulk Upload to Other Platforms
Use the exported CSV to prepare content for migration or upload to other blogging platforms, custom CMS builds, or content databases that accept CSV imports. The structured fields map easily to common database columns.
Data Backup and Archiving
Regularly export your projects to maintain an independent, offline backup of all your generated content, including metadata and HTML.
Client Content Delivery
For agencies, the CSV provides a clean, deliverable package of ready articles for client review. Clients can easily view titles, keywords, and the full HTML content.
SEO Analysis and Auditing
Export your published articles to analyze SEO elements like meta titles, descriptions, and word counts in bulk using spreadsheet formulas or external SEO audit tools.
Next Steps
- Learn how to organize your content before export: Managing Pages & Statuses
- Understand the full article generation workflow: Generating Articles
- Explore automatic publishing options: CMS Connectors & Publishing