Reuse Setup from a Previous Conference
Export a conference's configuration as a file and import it into a new edition instead of starting from scratch.
Running a new edition of the same conference? Export the previous edition's setup as a file, then import it into the new conference — tracks, forms, phases, decision types, website content, and registration setup all carry over.
What Transfers
The setup file is split into sections you can pick individually, on both the export and import side:
| Section | What it contains |
|---|---|
| General Settings | Visibility and feature flags, notification defaults, upload size limit, committee email intro/signature |
| Decision Types | Built-in and custom decision types |
| Default Forms | Conference-level default submission and review form fields |
| Tracks & Phases | Track structure (including sub-tracks) with review settings, phases, per-track forms, and compliance rules |
| Website | Public page layout settings and page content |
| Registration | Registration form and registration types |
What never transfers
The file contains configuration only. Deadlines and dates, submissions, reviews, registrations, people (chairs, reviewers, committee), uploaded images, and billing/payment settings are never included. Imported phases arrive with empty deadlines for you to fill in.
Export the Setup
- In the previous conference, go to Conference Settings → Setup Export & Import
- Untick any sections you don't want to share — all are included by default
- Click "Export Setup" — a
.jsonfile downloads
Import Into the New Conference
- In the new conference, go to Conference Settings → Setup Export & Import
- Click "Choose Setup File" and select the exported
.jsonfile - A preview shows which conference the file came from and which sections it contains — untick anything you don't want to apply
- Click "Import Setup" and confirm
Importing overwrites
Imported sections replace the new conference's current configuration for those sections — importing Tracks & Phases replaces the entire track structure, including its forms and phases. Import is only available while the conference has no submissions, and the Tracks & Phases section is blocked once reviewers or track chairs have been added.
After Importing
A few things need fresh input in every edition:
- Set submission, review, and revision deadlines — they always import empty
- Re-upload the website banner image, if you use one
- Invite your committee — chairs, track chairs, and reviewers are never carried over
See also: Create Tracks, Configure Conference Forms, Set Up Registration