Save, open & back up

Tasks writes three kinds of file to your own storage. In the app's words: "zenith deviations live in your own storage — .zts (a sky), .ztd (a node) and .zbak (a full backup)."

While you work, each sky is kept as its own file in the app's own storage on the phone. These three are the copies you save out.

#Where the buttons are

• settings › "files": "save this sky (.zts)", "open a sky, a node or a backup", "back up everything (.zbak)".
• The "file" button, bottom right of the main screen, opens a "files" sheet with "save this sky to a file (.zts)", "open a sky, a node or a backup" and "back up everything (.zbak)".
• The skies page: "open a sky from a file", and "save as a file (.zts)" on each sky.
• A task's edit sheet: "⇪ export (.ztd)". See Links, pins & export.

#Save one sky

Tap "save this sky (.zts)". Android's save screen opens with the sky's name filled in. Tasks says "saved this sky to a file", or "couldn't write that file".

#Back up everything

Tap "back up everything (.zbak)". Android's save screen opens with the name "zenith-tasks-backup.zbak"; pick where it goes. You see "backed up every sky & your settings".

The tutorial sky and demo skies stay what they are: the backup marks each one, and restoring brings it back as the tutorial or a demo sky. See The tutorial sky & demo content.

#Open a file

Three ways in:

• settings › "files" › "open a sky, a node or a backup" — Android's file picker opens
• tap the file in a file app
• share the file to Tasks from another app

What happens depends on the file:

• A sky opens as a new sky beside yours — always one of your own, never the tutorial or a demo sky: "opened “‹name›” as a new sky". With 3 of your own skies already open (the tutorial and demo skies don't count) and no Gold: "3 skies can be open at once — close one, or unlock zenith gold for more". From the skies page, the Gold offer opens instead.
• A node is added to the sky on screen: "added the node “‹name›” to this sky". Every task in it gets a new id, so you can add the same node twice. The undo pill can take it back.
• A backup never overwrites anything. Each sky in it comes back as a new sky under "saved on this phone" on the skies page, and your settings are put back: "restored 2 skies (under saved on this phone) and your settings". Then open the skies you want from the skies page. If it can't be read: "couldn't read that backup".

An older .ztd that holds a whole sky still opens as a sky. A backup from an older Tasks, holding one sky, comes back as a saved sky named "backup".

A backup never switches on "allow destructive actions", "let ask the sky place calendar commitments", or a switch on settings › "places & privacy". Each stays as it is on this phone unless the backup has it off.

#A file that isn't for Tasks

• Another Zenith app's file: "that file is for “‹app›”, not zenith tasks".
• Anything else: "not a zenith tasks file".

#See also.

The skies page · Links, pins & export · Open & closed skies · Tasks words