A MODX 3 Extra for importing and exporting elements and resources.

ModxTransfer provides an easy-to-use interface for exporting and importing MODX elements (Categories, Templates, Chunks, TVs, Snippets, Plugins) and Resources with their Template Variable values. Perfect for:

• Site migrations - Move content between MODX installations
• Backups - Export elements and resources to JSON files
• Starter kits - Package reusable templates and components
• Content staging - Move content from development to production

• Export all element types: Categories, Templates, Chunks, TVs, Snippets, Plugins
• Export resources with full hierarchy preservation
• Filter by category or template
• Include/exclude Template Variable values
• Include/exclude unpublished resources
• Automatic JSON file generation with download links

• Preview mode - see what will be created before executing
• Execute mode - create elements and resources
• Update existing elements option
• Automatic category and template assignment
• TV values imported including MIGX JSON data
• Resources imported as unpublished for review

• MODX Revolution 3.0+
• PHP 7.4+

1. Download or clone this repository
2. Copy core/components/modxtransfer/ to your MODX core/components/ directory
3. Copy assets/components/modxtransfer/ to your MODX assets/components/ directory
4. Create a Namespace in MODX:
   • Name: modxtransfer
   • Core Path: {core_path}components/modxtransfer/
   • Assets Path: {assets_path}components/modxtransfer/
5. Create System Settings:
   • Key: modxtransfer.core_path Value: {core_path}components/modxtransfer/
   • Key: modxtransfer.assets_url Value: {assets_url}components/modxtransfer/
6. Create a Menu item:
   • Lexicon Key: ModxTransfer
   • Action: index
   • Namespace: modxtransfer

Install via MODX Package Manager.

1. Go to Extras → ModxTransfer
2. Use the Export tab to export elements or resources
3. Use the Import tab to import from JSON files

1. Select which element types to export (Categories, Templates, Chunks, TVs, Snippets, Plugins)
2. Optionally filter by Category
3. Enter a filename
4. Click Export Elements
5. Download the generated JSON file

1. Enter Parent IDs (comma-separated) or leave empty for all
2. Set depth level
3. Optionally filter by template names
4. Choose whether to include TVs and unpublished resources
5. Enter a filename
6. Click Export Resources

1. Enter the file path (relative to MODX root, e.g., assets/exports/my-elements.json)
2. Click Preview Elements to see what will be created
3. Check "Update Existing" if you want to update elements that already exist
4. Click Import Elements to execute

1. Enter the file path
2. Enter the Parent ID where resources should be imported
3. Click Preview Resources to review
4. Click Import Resources to execute

Note: Resources are imported as unpublished so you can review them before publishing.

You can also use ModxTransfer programmatically:

// Export elements to file
[[!ModxTransfer?
  &action=`export`
  &type=`elements`
  &output=`file`
  &file=`my-elements.json`
]]

// Export resources
[[!ModxTransfer?
  &action=`export`
  &type=`resources`
  &parents=`5,10`
  &output=`file`
  &file=`my-resources.json`
]]

// Import elements (preview)
[[!ModxTransfer?
  &action=`import`
  &type=`elements`
  &file=`assets/exports/my-elements.json`
  &mode=`preview`
]]

// Import elements (execute)
[[!ModxTransfer?
  &action=`import`
  &type=`elements`
  &file=`assets/exports/my-elements.json`
  &mode=`execute`
]]

// Import resources
[[!ModxTransfer?
  &action=`import`
  &type=`resources`
  &file=`assets/exports/my-resources.json`
  &parentId=`5`
  &mode=`execute`
]]

{
  "meta": {
    "project": "My Project",
    "description": "MODX Elements Export",
    "created": "2025-12-16T12:00:00Z",
    "exported_types": ["categories", "templates", "chunks", "tvs", "snippets", "plugins"],
    "category_filter": ""
  },
  "categories": [
    {"name": "My Category", "parent": ""}
  ],
  "templates": [
    {"name": "tpl.MyTemplate", "description": "", "category": "My Category", "content": "..."}
  ],
  "chunks": [
    {"name": "myChunk", "description": "", "category": "My Category", "content": "..."}
  ],
  "tvs": [
    {
      "name": "myTV",
      "caption": "My TV",
      "description": "",
      "type": "text",
      "category": "My Category",
      "templates": ["tpl.MyTemplate"],
      "default": "",
      "elements": "",
      "display": "default"
    }
  ],
  "snippets": [
    {"name": "mySnippet", "description": "", "category": "My Category", "content": "<?php return 'Hello';"}
  ],
  "plugins": [
    {"name": "myPlugin", "description": "", "category": "My Category", "content": "<?php ...", "events": ["OnLoadWebDocument"]}
  ]
}

{
  "meta": {
    "project": "My Project",
    "description": "MODX Resources Export",
    "created": "2025-12-16T12:00:00Z",
    "count": 5
  },
  "resources": [
    {
      "original_id": 1,
      "pagetitle": "My Page",
      "longtitle": "My Long Title",
      "alias": "my-page",
      "description": "Meta description",
      "introtext": "Summary text",
      "menutitle": "Menu Title",
      "content": "<p>Page content...</p>",
      "template": "BaseTemplate",
      "parent": 0,
      "published": 1,
      "hidemenu": 0,
      "menuindex": 0,
      "searchable": 1,
      "cacheable": 1,
      "richtext": 1,
      "isfolder": 0,
      "tvs": {
        "myTV": "TV value",
        "myMIGX": [{"field": "value"}]
      }
    }
  ]
}

core/components/modxtransfer/
├── controllers/
│   └── index.class.php
├── docs/
│   ├── changelog.txt
│   ├── license.txt
│   └── readme.txt
├── elements/
│   └── snippets/
│       └── modxtransfer.snippet.php
├── lexicon/
│   └── en/
│       ├── default.inc.php
│       └── properties.inc.php
├── model/
│   └── modxtransfer/
│       ├── modxtransfer.class.php
│       ├── elements/
│       │   └── modxtransferelements.class.php
│       └── resources/
│           └── modxtransferresources.class.php
├── processors/
│   └── mgr/
│       ├── export/
│       │   ├── elements.class.php
│       │   └── resources.class.php
│       └── import/
│           ├── elements.class.php
│           └── resources.class.php
└── templates/
    └── mgr/
        └── home.tpl

assets/components/modxtransfer/
├── connector.php
├── css/
│   └── mgr/
│       └── modxtransfer.css
└── js/
    └── mgr/
        ├── modxtransfer.js
        ├── sections/
        │   └── home.js
        └── widgets/
            ├── export.panel.js
            ├── home.panel.js
            └── import.panel.js

Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request.

MIT License - see LICENSE for details.

Built with ❤️ for the MODX Community

See CHANGELOG.md for version history.