Supported Import and Export Formats

Every file format Kanvas accepts on import and produces on export, with detection rules, limits, and what each format keeps.

Import 🔗

Kanvas accepts the extensions .yml, .yaml, .json, .tar, .tar.gz, .tgz, .gz, and .zip. Detection is by content and takes the first match in the order below.

Order	Format	Extensions	Detected when	Notes
1	Meshery design	`.yml` `.yaml` `.json`	The schema version is a supported design version	Lossless round trip of a design file export
1	Meshery design as OCI image	`.tar` `.tgz` `.tar.gz` `.zip`	The archive’s layers contain a design file	Only the first design is taken. Other layer files are ignored. No design file means failure.
2	Kubernetes manifest	`.yml` `.yaml`	One or more valid Kubernetes documents	Multi-document files work. Unknown kinds are kept as generic objects.
3	Helm chart	`.tgz` `.tar.gz` `.gz` `.tar` `.zip`	A valid packaged chart	An uncompressed `.tar` is reported as needing gzip. No values overrides.
4	Docker Compose	`.yml` `.yaml`	Converts as a Compose file	The result is Kubernetes components.
5	Kustomize	`.yml` `.yaml` (kustomization), or an archive containing `kustomization.yaml`	The project builds	Archive must contain every referenced file.

If nothing matches, the import fails and lists why each format was rejected. The interface shows only the generic failure message.

Import sources 🔗

Source	Supported	Limits
Local file in the import dialog	Yes	One file at a time. No size limit in the client.
Single-file http or https URL in the import dialog	Yes	16 MiB body, 5 redirects, 10 second connect, 30 second request. Internal addresses are refused.
Drag or paste on the canvas	Yes	One design per file. Images and `.txt` files become canvas objects, limited to 500 KB on every plan.
Catalog clone or open	Yes	Public or published designs only.
Files and folders in a repository connected through the GitHub integration	Yes	One private design per valid file.
Git clone URL, Helm repository URL, `oci://` reference, directory, or pasted text	No
RAR and 7Z archives	No	The drop check lets them through and the import fails.

Export 🔗

Output	Keeps layout, annotations, metadata	Re-importable	Notes
Design file (YAML)	Yes	Yes, lossless	Downloads as `<design name>.yml`.
Design (OCI image)	Yes	Yes	Archive of an OCI image. Push it with a registry tool.
Kubernetes manifest	No	Resources only	Plain Kubernetes YAML.
Helm chart	No	Resources only	`.tar.gz` chart archive.
Embeddable JavaScript module	Canvas snapshot	No	Static snapshot for web pages. See Embed Designs.
View as JSON	Not applicable	No	Operator mode only. Downloads as `<view name>.json`.

The canvas screenshot (a PNG picture, not a design file) is a separate action. See Canvas Actions. Not available: Docker Compose export, SVG image export, export of an earlier version, and per-format export options. The catalog’s light and dark snapshot images are produced by an automated workflow after publishing and are not user exports.

Format by operation 🔗

Format	Import	Export
Meshery design (YAML or JSON)	Yes	Yes (YAML)
Meshery design (OCI image)	Yes	Yes
Kubernetes manifest	Yes	Yes
Helm chart	Yes	Yes
Docker Compose	Yes	No
Kustomize	Yes	No
JavaScript embed	No	Yes