Import/Export Issues

WayPresenter supports importing and exporting songs, media, themes, and other content. When an import or export does not go as expected, this guide will help you resolve the issue.

Common Import Errors

"Unsupported File Format"

This error appears when the selected file is not in a format WayPresenter recognizes. Double-check the file extension and ensure it matches one of the supported formats listed below. If the file was renamed manually, the extension may not match the actual content.

"File Could Not Be Read"

The file may be corrupted, locked by another application, or stored on a network drive that is not currently accessible. Try copying the file to your local hard drive and importing from there. If the file was downloaded from the internet, try downloading it again.

"Import Completed With Warnings"

This means the import was partially successful but some content could not be processed. Click View Warnings in the import summary dialog to see which items failed and why. Common reasons include missing metadata fields, unsupported characters in song titles, or embedded media that could not be resolved.

"Duplicate Content Detected"

WayPresenter checks for duplicates during import based on the song title and author. If a match is found, you are prompted to skip, overwrite, or keep both. Choose the option that best fits your situation:

• Skip: Keeps the existing version and ignores the imported one.
• Overwrite: Replaces the existing version with the imported one.
• Keep Both: Imports the new version alongside the existing one, appending "(imported)" to the title.

Supported Formats

Song Import Formats

Media Import Formats

Images (JPEG, PNG, WebP, BMP, GIF), videos (MP4, WebM, MOV, AVI), and audio (MP3, WAV, OGG) are all supported. See the Media Library documentation for detailed format information.

Theme Import Format

Themes use WayPresenter's proprietary .wptheme format, which bundles all settings, fonts, and embedded media into a single file.

File Encoding Issues

Text-based import files (plain text and XML) must use a supported character encoding. WayPresenter reads files in UTF-8 by default.

Symptoms of Encoding Problems

• Special characters (accented letters, curly quotes, em dashes) appear as garbled symbols or question marks.
• Song titles or lyrics contain unexpected characters like é instead of e with an accent.
• The import fails entirely with a parsing error.

How to Fix Encoding Issues

1. Open the file in a text editor that shows the current encoding (such as Notepad++, VS Code, or Sublime Text).
2. Check the encoding displayed in the status bar. If it shows something other than UTF-8 (e.g., Windows-1252, ISO-8859-1, or ANSI), convert it.
3. In most editors, use File > Save As or File > Set Encoding and select UTF-8.
4. Save the file and try the import again in WayPresenter.

If you are importing a batch of files with mixed encodings, WayPresenter's Tools > Batch Convert Encoding utility can convert an entire folder to UTF-8 before import.

Database Compatibility

When migrating content from another presentation application or from an older version of WayPresenter, database compatibility can be a concern.

Migrating From Another Application

WayPresenter supports direct import from ProPresenter 6 and 7 project files. For other applications, export your content in one of the supported interchange formats (OpenLyrics XML is the most widely supported) and import that file into WayPresenter.

Migrating From an Older WayPresenter Version

WayPresenter automatically upgrades its internal database when you install a new version. If you are importing a backup file created by a significantly older version, WayPresenter will attempt to upgrade the data during import. If the version gap is too large, you may see a compatibility warning. In that case:

1. Install the intermediate version of WayPresenter mentioned in the warning.
2. Import the backup into that version.
3. Export a fresh backup from that version.
4. Import the fresh backup into the current version.

Partial Imports

If only some items from a batch import are successful, the import summary dialog provides details on what was skipped and why.

Common Causes of Partial Imports

• Missing required fields: Songs without a title cannot be imported. Add a title to the source file and retry.
• Corrupt individual files: In a folder import, one bad file does not stop the rest. Check the skipped files individually.
• File size limits: Individual media files larger than 500 MB are skipped by default. Compress or optimize the file and try again, or increase the limit in Settings > Advanced > Import.

Export Options and Formats

Exporting Songs

1. Select one or more songs in the Song Library.
2. Click Export in the toolbar.
3. Choose the format:
   • OpenLyrics XML: Best for interoperability with other applications.
   • Plain text: Simple format suitable for printing or archiving.
   • WayPresenter format (.wpsong): Preserves all metadata, arrangements, and display settings. Best for backup or transfer to another WayPresenter installation.
4. Select a destination folder and click Save.

Exporting Themes and Media

• Themes: Right-click a theme in Settings > Themes and select Export. The .wptheme file includes all associated assets.
• Media: Select items in the Media Library, click Export, and choose a destination. Files are copied in their original format.

Backup and Restore

WayPresenter's backup feature captures your entire library — songs, scriptures, bookmarks, themes, settings, and media references — in a single file.

Creating a Backup

1. Go to File > Backup > Create Backup.
2. Choose whether to include media files (this increases the backup size significantly).
3. Select a destination folder.
4. Click Create. The backup is saved as a .wpbackup file.

Restoring From a Backup

1. Go to File > Backup > Restore Backup.
2. Select the .wpbackup file.
3. Choose whether to replace your current library entirely or merge the backup with your existing content.
4. Click Restore. WayPresenter will restart after the restore completes.

It is good practice to create a backup before every major update and to keep backups on an external drive or cloud storage location.