Exporting and importing punch lists

Punch List uses a portable file format called .pnch to share punch lists between devices and team members. One file contains the entire punch list (project details, all items, all photos, and all metadata) so you can hand off a list with everything included.

Exporting a list

From the Lists screen:

1. Swipe left on the list you want to export, or tap the ... menu on the list detail screen
2. Choose Export
3. The system share sheet opens with a .pnch file ready to send
4. Pick any destination: Mail, Messages, AirDrop, Files, or any app that accepts attachments

Importing a list

When someone sends you a .pnch file:

1. Tap the file in Mail, Messages, or wherever you received it
2. Choose Open in Punch List (or tap the share icon and select Punch List)
3. Punch List launches and imports the list
4. The new list appears at the top of your Lists screen

Importing always creates a new list. It never merges into or overwrites a list you already have, so importing the same file twice gives you two copies.

Cross-platform compatibility

.pnch files work the same on iOS and Android. An iOS user can export a list and send it to an Android user who imports it, with all photos, notes, and metadata preserved.

Keep both apps up to date. Very old versions of the iPhone app (before 2.4) only read the first two photos on each item from a file sent by a newer app; updating and importing the same file again brings the rest across. Nothing is lost on the sender's side.

Three things people use export for

• Handing a list to the next person. The super walks the floor, exports, and the PM imports it to generate the report. Each person has a full copy; edits on one phone do not appear on the other, so agree who owns the list from that point.
• Backups. Your lists live only on your device. Before a new phone, a reinstall, or any device repair, export each list you care about and save the files to Files, Drive or email them to yourself. Deleting the app deletes every list on it, and reinstalling from the store does not bring them back.
• Reusing a walkthrough. Importing a file creates a new list with the same project details, labels and items. Teams that walk the same building every quarter keep last quarter's file and import it as the starting point for the next round.

What's inside a .pnch file?

A .pnch file is a self-contained bundle that includes:

• Project metadata (name, number, company, consultant, client, cover photo)
• Every item with all fields
• All photos at full resolution with any annotations you've drawn
• Custom field labels (if you've renamed any)

Nothing is left behind when you share a list.

When something goes wrong

"Export Failed. Couldn't prepare the export file." On iPhone and iPad versions before 2.13, a list name containing a / (for example "Lot 4/5" or "Stockwood 10/19") could not be turned into a file name. Update the app from the App Store (2.13 writes the file with a dash instead), or rename the list (Lists, Edit, tap the list, replace the slash with a dash or a space) and export again. Nothing else about the list changes. If the alert appears on a current version, or with a list name that has no slash, the device is most likely out of storage.

"File format is not supported" when opening a list from email. That message comes from Outlook's attachment preview, not from Punch List: Outlook cannot preview a .pnch, so the file never reached the app. Open the attachment, tap the ... menu, choose share or open in another app, and pick Punch List. If Punch List is not offered at all, a company mail policy is limiting which apps can receive work attachments; ask the sender to send the file to a personal address, or to send a PDF instead.

"Import Failed" inside Punch List. The file did not arrive intact or is not a Punch List export. Ask the sender to export it again and send it as an attachment rather than a link. If it keeps failing, forward the file to support@mypunchlistapp.com and we will check it.

Free account. Importing a .pnch file is a Premium feature. If you see the Pro screen when opening a file, sign in (if your company gave you a seat) or subscribe, then open the file again. Team members should sign in before tapping the attachment.

Privacy note

When you export a list, the file is created on your device and sent only to where you send it. Punch List never sees the contents of exported files. It's a direct handoff between you and your recipient.

What's next

Learn about the difference between free and premium features.