You can export a dictionary to a ZooZL file. A ZooZL file contains all the files from a dictionary (text, videos, and pictures), all packed into a single file. ZooZL files have names with a .zoozl extension. 

When the whole dictionary is packed into a single ZooZL file, it makes it easier to move the dictionary to another computer or store it for long-term archiving.

You might want to export a dictionary to a ZooZL file for any of three reasons:

• To save a snapshot of the dictionary at a particular point in time (for backup or long-term archiving).
• To copy the dictionary to another computer and import it into SooSL on that computer.
• To publish the dictionary in SooSL Web.

When you export a dictionary, you can control what people can do with it. You can let people make changes or you can let them only read it.

How to export a dictionary to a ZooZL file

First:

• Open the dictionary in SooSL Desktop.
• If you want to export the dictionary to an external device (USB stick or external hard drive), connect it to your computer.

Then, click Tools > Export dictionary. You will see this dialog:

In the upper left, there is a list of possible folders (directories) where you can save the exported ZooZL file. Choose the folder where you want to save it. On the right, you will see what ZooZL files are already in that folder. This special dialog only shows ZooZL files that came from the same dictionary project, not all the ZooZL files in the folder. 

The dialog shows the title the dictionary had when it was exported. (This is what you see in the main title bar and in About Dictionary. It is not the ZooZL file name.) If there is more than one ZooZL file there, you may see the same dictionary title more than once, but they will be different versions in different ZooZL files (with different file names). 

If you want to see more details about a specific file, select it and look at the bottom of the dialog. You will see information about the current dictionary (the one you currently have open and want to export) and about the selected ZooZL file. The information includes each dictionary's title, the version, and when it was last modified. You can compare the two and decide if you want to replace the existing file.

You can see even more information about each ZooZL file, including its file name, in detail view.

Next, choose a file name for the new ZooZL file. You can do this in three ways:

• By default, SooSL suggests a file name in "ZooZL file:" that is based on the dictionary's Project ID.
• You can click one of the ZooZL files that are listed in the upper right. Its file name will appear in "ZooZL file:". Do this only if you want to replace the current ZooZL file with a new one.
• You can type a new file name after "ZooZL file:". 
• The file name can be anything you want. This is useful if you export the same dictionary several times. The dictionary's project ID will stay the same, and so will the title (unless you've changed it in About Dictionary). However, each exported ZooZL file must have a different file name. 
• It helps if you keep the ZooZL file name similar to the dictionary title, but they don't have to be exactly the same.
• It helps to include the date in the file name, so you know when you exported the dictionary. We suggest you do it as yyyy-mm-dd, e.g. 2022-02-02, so that files are kept in date order.

Next, set the permissions for the export.

• If you want to import the dictionary on another computer and make changes, or allow other people to make changes, choose "Signs can be added and changed". 
• If you don't want to let other people make changes, choose "People can only view signs, not change them". This makes the dictionary "read-only". Other people will only be able to read it and study it.

Caution: SooSL uses a simple means to lock a dictionary as "read-only". A clever person can break the lock easily. If you want to share the dictionary and want to be sure that people won't change it, publish it on the SooSL website.

Finally, click and wait.  It can take several seconds or minutes to copy all the dictionary's files into the ZooZL file. When it is done, you will see this message:

Click .

After you export the dictionary, you can: 

• Save it as a spare copy (backup) of your dictionary. If you saved it on an external device, store it in a safe place. You may also want to make additional spare copies (backups) of the ZooZL file on separate devices or in cloud storage.
• Send it to someone to use on a different computer. They need to import it into SooSL first before they can use it. If both you and they want to make changes to it, see the special instructions on how to work together on a dictionary project.
• Publish it in SooSL Web.

Detail view

When you are deciding where to save the ZooZL file in the Export Dictionary dialog (above), if you want to see more information about the ZooZL files that are already saved, click Detail View in the top-right corner of the dialog. 

This view shows more information:

• Dictionary title: the title of the dictionary. 
• Icons that show if it is unlocked so people can change it, or if it is locked so people can only read it
• ZooZL file name: the name of the ZooZL file that contains an exported dictionary.  
• If you want to replace an old ZooZL file, use the same file name. 
• If you want to keep the old files and make a new one, choose a new file name. 
• Project version: the version (if any) of the dictionary in the file
• Size: how big the ZooZL file is
• Date Modified: when the ZooZL file was exported

Saving ZooZL files in network (LAN) locations

The Export Dictionary dialog is special for SooSL, to make it easier to find where to export ZooZL files. However, it isn't as complete as a normal file dialog. 

• You may find it helpful to use the Locate (Dictionary) Directory dialog.
• If you want export a dictionary to another computer on your local network, see this topic.

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