Export boards

When you’re ready to share a board outside Corkulous, export it in the format that fits the job — a print-ready PDF, a PNG image, plain text, an interactive web page, the native .corkulous format, structured data for automation, or a Mermaid flowchart. This page shows you how to export and what each format is best for.

How to Export from the App

1. Open the document menu: Tap the menu icon next to your board name.
2. Select “Send a Copy” (called Export on iPhone): This reveals all export format options. On Mac, the same formats are also under File › Export in the menu bar.
3. Choose your format: Pick PDF, PNG, TXT, Board (.corkulous), ZIP, HTML/ZIP, Web Archive (iPhone and iPad), JSON, or Mermaid.
4. Select the export region: For PDF, PNG, and Board exports, export the entire board or just the current visible area. For PNG exports, you can also enable a transparent background. The other formats always export the whole board.
5. Save or share: On Mac, save the file locally. On iPad and iPhone, use the share sheet to send via AirDrop, email, save to Files, or other destinations.

Export Formats

PDF

A high-quality vector document, perfect for printing and professional sharing.

• Scales to any size without losing quality
• Link previews remain clickable
• Text is selectable and searchable
• Best for: Printing, presentations, archiving, email attachments

PNG

A high-resolution image file of your board.

• Supports transparent backgrounds
• Great for embedding in other documents or websites
• Best for: Social media, presentations, quick sharing

TXT (Plain Text)

Extracts all text content from your board.

• Includes text from notes, cards, labels, shapes, and tasks
• Useful for searching or copying content elsewhere
• Best for: Text extraction, accessibility, content backup

Board (.corkulous)

The native Corkulous format for sharing with other users.

• Preserves everything: items, styles, media, and layout
• Recipients can open and edit the board in Corkulous
• Drag and drop the file into Corkulous to import it
• Best for: Sharing with colleagues, templates, device transfers

ZIP

A complete archive with board data and all media files.

• Includes all photos, videos, audio, and PDFs as separate files
• Lets you access individual media files without Corkulous
• Best for: Complete backups, extracting media, archival

HTML/ZIP

An interactive web page viewable in any browser, packaged as a ZIP archive.

• Exported as a ZIP containing the board HTML plus a media folder
• Works in any web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
• Included local media can be viewed offline; external links and remotely referenced content may still need a connection
• Link previews remain clickable
• Best for: Universal web sharing, cross-platform viewing, archival

Note: HTML exports include a second file named BoardName_viewer.html. Open the viewer for zoom controls (Fit/%, +/-), quick pan/drag navigation, and keyboard shortcuts. For the raw board HTML without viewer chrome, open BoardName.html directly.

Web Archive (iPhone and iPad)

A Safari Web Archive in single-file format (.webarchive).

• Single file with all media embedded; no folder to manage
• Opens in Safari on Mac, and previews in the Files app on iPhone and iPad
• Included local media can be viewed offline; external links and remotely referenced content may still need a connection
• Best for: Apple ecosystem users, easy single-file sharing, Safari presentations

Note: Web Archive (.webarchive) is Safari-only. For maximum compatibility across all browsers and platforms, use HTML/ZIP instead.

On Mac: The Mac app doesn’t offer Web Archive, because macOS warns that it can’t verify a web archive saved by an App Store app. Use HTML/ZIP, or export a web archive with the command line tool (corkulous export "Board Name" --format html --archive webarchive).

JSON

A structured data format for automation and development.

• Complete board structure in machine-readable format
• Compatible with AI tools and automation workflows
• Can be used to recreate boards via the CreateBoardFromJSON shortcut action
• Best for: Automation, AI analysis, and developers. JSON can reference external media; keep the referenced files or a native-board archive for a complete backup.

Mermaid

A plain-text Mermaid flowchart (.mmd) of your board’s items and connections.

• Each item becomes a node labeled with its text; long labels are shortened, and shapes map to the closest Mermaid shape
• Strings and lines become links between nodes, drawn as arrows when the line has an arrowhead, with line labels included
• Photos, sketches, videos, audio, PDFs, files, and link previews appear as labeled placeholders such as [IMAGE] or [LINK]; the media itself isn’t included
• Nodes are arranged in rows that follow the board’s layout
• Open it in a Mermaid editor, or paste it into a mermaid code block in Markdown tools that render Mermaid, such as GitHub
• Best for: Diagrams in documentation, wikis, and code repositories

Additional Command Line Formats

The Command Line Tool (Mac only) also supports:

Format	Description
Markdown	Human-readable text format for documentation and note-taking apps

Tip: On Mac, use the command line for batch exports: corkulous export "Board Name" --format markdown

Quick Reference

Tips

• Transparent backgrounds: Use PNG with transparency for overlaying on other content.
• Current view export: Export just the visible area for focused snapshots.
• Batch export via Shortcuts: Use the Export Board shortcut action to automate exports.
• Large boards: PNG files can be very large for big boards; consider PDF instead.
• JSON for AI: Export as JSON to analyze your board with AI tools or recreate it programmatically.
• Safari users: On iPhone and iPad, Web Archive is perfect for single-file sharing within the Apple ecosystem.
• Cross-platform: Use HTML/ZIP when sharing with non-Safari users.

See also: Managing Boards for other ways to work with your boards.

Sharing and Privacy

An export can contain board text, contact details, links, and media. Review it before sharing or uploading it to an AI service. Exported files are separate copies; changing or deleting the original board does not revoke access to a copy already sent to someone else.