Copy, Export, Import & Delete Links

Overview

Fastr Publications gives you a set of tools for managing the links and widgets inside a publication — without rebuilding them by hand. From the Manage Publication menu you can copy links and widgets across variants, export your links to a spreadsheet, import links in bulk, and delete links and widgets to tidy up a page. This article walks through each of these four options.

For reordering or deleting pages, see Manage Publication.

Accessing these options

Locate the publication you want to work with. Hover over the publication tile, click the three dots in the bottom-right corner, and select Manage Publication from the menu.

1. Copy Links and Widgets Across Variants

This option helps you migrate the links and widgets you have already built from one variant to another — for example, from your mobile layout to desktop, or vice versa — so you don't have to rebuild them for each device.

2. Export Links

Export generates a CSV or Excel file containing all of the links and widgets currently used in the publication. This is useful for reviewing your links, sharing them with your team, or editing them in bulk before re-importing.

3. Import Links

Import lets you upload a CSV or Excel file of links into your publication. Click Import and select the file you want to upload. The file must match the standardized template format — you can download the template directly from this option, fill it in, and then import it.

After you select your file, the panel displays all of the details of the import so you can review everything before it is applied.

Note: Imports only work when your file follows the downloadable template exactly. If a column is renamed or missing, the import may fail or map links incorrectly, so start from the template each time.

4. Delete Links

Delete Links removes links and widgets from your publication so you can clean up a page. You will be presented with three options, each removing a different set of objects:

1. Links only – Deletes the invisible link rectangles created by PDF import or link tooling. All other widgets keep their links.
2. All widgets with a link – Deletes all links, plus any other widget on the page images that carries an open-URL or go-to-page click action — including hand-drawn ones.
3. All overlaid objects – Deletes every overlaid object and link on the page images (all widgets, links, groups, and boolean shapes). The page images themselves are never deleted.

Note: Deleting All overlaid objects is irreversible. If you might need these links again, use Export Links to save a copy before you delete.

FAQs

1. What file format does Import Links require?
   • Answer: A CSV or Excel file that matches the standardized template. You can download the template from the Import Links option, fill it in, and import it back.
2. What is the difference between "Copy Links and Widgets Across Variants" and "Copy Links to Publication"?
   • Answer: "Copy Links and Widgets Across Variants" moves links between the device layouts (variants) of the same publication, while Copy Links to Publication copies links and widgets between different publications. See the Copy Links to Publication article for more.
3. Which Delete Links option should I use?
   • Answer: Use Links only to clear imported link rectangles while keeping your widgets, All widgets with a link to also remove any clickable widgets, and All overlaid objects for a full reset of everything placed on the page images. Remember that All overlaid objects cannot be undone.
4. When should I use "Copy Links to Publication" vs. "Link Import/Export"?
   • Answer: If you want to export links from Publication A and import them into Publication B after making some updates, first use Copy Links to Publication to copy the links from Publication A to Publication B. Then export the links from Publication B, make your changes, and re-import them into Publication B. Directly exporting from Publication A and importing into Publication B isn't the intended workflow.

If you have any follow-up questions or need further assistance, please feel free to reach out to us at support@getfastr.com