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Sift User Guide

7. Sharing and Backups

An exported case is one file containing a copy of the case’s documents and saved work. It can serve as a backup or be opened in Sift on another computer.

Exporting does not send the case anywhere. The exported file stays in the location you choose.

Save a Backup or Shared Copy

These steps begin with the case open on Sources. A password is optional; this example shows a password-protected copy.

  1. Click Export Case. A window asks whether you want a password.

    Export Case circled in green.

  2. Type a password in Password (Optional).

    The password box circled in green.

  3. Type the same password in Confirm Password.

    Confirm Password circled in green.

  4. Click Choose Save Location…. A file-saving window opens.

    Choose Save Location circled in green.

  5. Choose a folder for the exported case.

    The save location circled in green.

  6. Click Save. Sift confirms when the case has been exported.

    Save circled in green.

The exported filename ends in .sift.7z. The password protects the contents of this file. Sift does not remember the password and cannot recover it for you.

Leaving both password boxes empty produces a file without password protection. Password protection on an exported file does not protect the working case inside Sift.

Open an Exported Case

These steps begin with no case open on Sources. The exported file needs to be available on this computer.

  1. Click Import Case. A file-selection window opens.

    Import Case circled in green.

  2. Select the exported case file ending in .sift.7z.

    An exported case file circled in green.

  3. Click Open. Sift opens the password window.

    Open circled in green with an exported case selected.

  4. Type the file’s password, if it has one. The box stays empty for a file without a password.

    The import password box circled in green.

  5. Click Import Archive. Sift adds the case to this computer and opens it.

    Import Archive circled in green.

Each person using Sift needs a valid license. A shared case does not include another person’s license key.

If the Case Name Already Exists

Sift offers a new name so that both cases can be kept. These steps preserve the existing case.

  1. Type a different name in Case Name.

    The name box in Case Name Already Exists circled in green.

  2. Click Import as New Case. Sift keeps the old case and adds the imported case under its new name.

    Import as New Case circled in green.

The separate Replace Existing Case… choice permanently removes the previous case from Sift. Its documents and saved work are replaced by the imported copy. This cannot be undone.

What a Backup Includes

The exported file is a copy made at the time of export. Later changes to the working case do not change an older backup.

A case can move between supported Mac, Windows, and Linux computers. If any documents show as pending after import, the document preparation steps make them searchable again.

A password-protected export becomes an ordinary working case when imported into Sift. The computer’s own security protections still matter.