Data Export and Import Guide¶

This guide covers exporting your beehive inspection data for external analysis and importing existing data into the application.

WORK IN PROGRESS -- UPDATES COMING SOON

Advanced import/export features are being developed, including bulk import capabilities and enhanced export formats. Documentation will be updated as new functionality becomes available.

Export Options¶

The application provides multiple export formats to suit different analysis needs:

JSON Export¶

Purpose: Complete data preservation with full structure and relationships

What's Included: - Complete inspection metadata - Photo analysis results (EXIF, color analysis, AI results) - Weather data correlations - Your annotations and notes - Session groupings and associations - Timestamp information

When to Use: - Backing up your complete dataset - Moving data between application installations - Preserving all metadata relationships - Advanced analysis requiring structured data

CSV Export¶

Purpose: Flattened data format for spreadsheet analysis and external tools

What's Included: - Essential metadata in tabular format - Date, location, weather data - Color analysis results - Basic photo information - Inspection notes and ratings

When to Use: - Analysis in Excel, Google Sheets, or similar tools - Statistical analysis and graphing - Sharing data with others who don't use the application - Creating reports for beekeeping associations

How Export Currently Works¶

JSON Export Process¶

Access Timeline Dashboard: Navigate to the Timeline view
Locate Export Options: Look for "Save as JSON" or export buttons
Choose Export Type:
Complete dataset: All inspections and photos
Filtered data: Only selected date ranges or inspections
Select Save Location: Choose where to store the JSON file
Confirm Export: Verify the export completed successfully

CSV Export Process¶

Access Data Management: Available through main interface or export menu
Select CSV Export: Choose the CSV export option
Configure Columns: Select which data fields to include (if option available)
Download File: Save CSV to your preferred location
Verify Contents: Open in spreadsheet software to confirm data

Data Import Capabilities¶

JSON Import¶

Current Functionality: - Load previously exported JSON files - Restore complete inspection sessions - Merge with existing data (where supported) - Maintain all metadata relationships

Import Process: 1. Access Timeline Dashboard: Go to Timeline view 2. Find Import Option: Look for "Load JSON" button 3. Select File: Browse to your saved JSON file 4. Verify Import: Check that data appears correctly in timeline 5. Review Data: Confirm all inspections and photos loaded properly

Bulk Photo Import (Under Development)¶

Coming Soon

Advanced import features being developed:

Folder import: Import entire directories of photos
EXIF batch processing: Process multiple files simultaneously
Smart grouping: Automatic inspection session creation
Duplicate detection: Avoid importing the same photos twice
Progress tracking: Monitor import status for large batches

Data Structure and Formats¶

JSON Data Structure¶

The JSON export contains hierarchical data:

{
  "inspections": [
    {
      "date": "2024-03-15T10:30:00",
      "location": {"lat": 40.7128, "lng": -74.0060},
      "photos": [
        {
          "filename": "hive1_spring.jpg",
          "metadata": {...},
          "analysis": {...},
          "weather": {...}
        }
      ],
      "notes": "Spring inspection - healthy hive",
      "tags": ["spring", "healthy", "inspection"]
    }
  ]
}

CSV Data Structure¶

The CSV export flattens data into rows:

Date	Filename	GPS_Lat	GPS_Lng	Temperature	Dominant_Color	Notes
2024-03-15	hive1.jpg	40.7128	-74.0060	15.5	#D4A017	Healthy

Best Practices for Data Management¶

Regular Backup Strategy¶

Export Frequency: - Export JSON after each inspection session - Weekly or monthly CSV exports for analysis - Before major application updates or changes - When switching devices or installations

Storage Organization: - Create dated backup folders - Use descriptive filenames (e.g., "beehive_data_2024_spring.json") - Store backups in multiple locations (local + cloud) - Document export dates and contents

Sharing with Others: - CSV format for non-technical users - JSON format for other application users - Include documentation explaining data structure - Consider privacy implications of location data

Version Control: - Keep track of data export versions - Note any manual edits made to exported files - Document source and processing dates - Maintain change logs for important datasets

Working with Exported Data¶

Excel/Spreadsheet Analysis¶

CSV Data Tips: - Date columns may need formatting adjustment - GPS coordinates can be used with mapping tools - Color data is in hex format (#RRGGBB) - Weather data uses metric units (Celsius, mm, km/h)

Common Analyses: - Seasonal trends in hive conditions - Weather correlations with inspection findings - Color analysis patterns over time - Inspection frequency and timing patterns

External Tool Integration¶

GIS Mapping: - Use GPS coordinates for location mapping - Overlay weather data on maps - Visualize apiary locations and conditions

Statistical Software: - Import CSV into R, Python pandas, or SPSS - Perform correlation analyses - Create advanced visualizations - Build predictive models

Troubleshooting Export/Import Issues¶

Common Export Problems¶

Export File Not Created: - Check file permissions in target directory - Verify sufficient disk space - Try different export location - Check browser download settings

Incomplete Data in Export: - Ensure all photos have finished processing - Wait for weather data to load completely - Verify AI analysis has completed (if enabled) - Check session state before exporting

Common Import Problems¶

JSON Import Fails: - Verify JSON file structure is valid - Check file wasn't corrupted during transfer - Ensure file size isn't too large for browser - Try importing smaller datasets

Missing Data After Import: - Confirm import process completed successfully - Check that data appears in all relevant views - Verify photo files are accessible - Reload application if data doesn't appear

Performance Considerations¶

Large Dataset Handling: - JSON exports of many inspections can be large - Consider exporting date ranges rather than complete history - Allow extra time for large imports to complete - Monitor browser memory usage during operations

This guide covers current export and import capabilities. As bulk upload and advanced data management features are developed, this documentation will be expanded to include new functionality and best practices.