Bring in a file or words
Two ways to bring writing in from a file. An entry file, a journal file or a part of a journal — from someone else, or your own from another phone — is combined with what is here; that is journal gold (Gold). A plain text or markdown file becomes a new entry, free.
A file to open
Every entry, journal, template or pack file you open lands on one page, "a file to open". It says what is inside before anything is brought in.
Get there
- Open the file from Files, a download or a message, and choose Zenith Journal.
- Share the single file to Zenith Journal.
- settings › "files" › "bring one in" › "⇑ bring one in", then pick it. Settings closes first, so the page isn't hidden under it. Without journal gold the heading reads "bring one in ✦ gold", with "✦ locked by gold — opening entries and journals other people send you".
What it says
- Its name, then "reading what is in it…".
- What it is: "an entry · first frost · 3 files · 2 MB", "a journal · <name> · 14 entries · …", "a part of a journal, from an older version of the journal", or "perhaps a template or an effect pack". An older words-only file adds "an older file: its pictures and other files did not travel with it".
- "this couldn't be read" — with only "never mind".
Without journal gold — "✦ gold", and why: "opening entries and journals from a file is part of journal gold. your own backups are always free." or "installing templates and effect packs is part of journal gold.". Then "✦ see what gold opens" and "never mind". Nothing is brought in.
With journal gold
- "bring it in" — for an entry, a journal or an older part. Under it: "anything already here is combined with what arrives — the newest save of each part stays, nothing is written over a locked journal, and a journal here that is closed, put away or locked takes nothing new from it." It says "bringing it in…", then "brought in · 3 entries · 1 journal · 2 combined with what was here" or similar. When a journal here took nothing new, it ends with why, such as "· “the garden year” is closed, so 1 new entry stayed out". A journal opens on its own page, an entry in the reader. If it fails: "that file couldn't be brought in".
- "install it" — for a template or pack. See Templates & effect packs (Gold).
- "never mind" — leaves, bringing nothing in.
Bringing in never replaces. An entry already here is combined with the one arriving, and whichever wording loses is kept in that entry's history. A journal already here keeps what it holds and gains what the file adds — unless it is closed, put away or locked; then it gains nothing new.
There is no undo. Entries that came in can go to the burn pile one by one.
Bring in words
settings › "files" › "bring in words" › "⇑ bring in a text or markdown file", then pick it. The welcome's "bring in a text or markdown file" takes you here too.
"a heading makes a page, a blank line makes a paragraph, and a first line that is only a date (2026-09-14) files it on that day. nothing is invented."
It says "reading it…", then what came in, or "that file couldn't be read as words". The new entry is not opened. Free — it is your writing.
Words or pictures shared from another app
Words, pictures, a pdf or a video shared from another app land on "something arrived" instead. See Something arrived — sharing into the Journal.
Ask the sky
Picking a file is always yours. Once a file is on "a file to open", ask the sky can say what it holds, and bring it in or install it, as the page's buttons do — with journal gold. See What the sky can do — design, screens, settings & more.
See also.
Files — back up & bring back · Share a journal (Gold) · Templates & effect packs (Gold) · Something arrived — sharing into the Journal