# Benefits of exporting or importing elements

The ability to export and import most kinds of elements allows you to reuse or restore them without having to create them again.

- You can reuse elements in a different SMC.
- You can import old versions of elements or deleted elements by restoring them from a Policy Snapshot or from an Element Snapshot.
- You can restore elements that have been moved to the Trash.

You can export and import elements using the following interfaces:

- SMC Client
- Command Line Interface tools (sgExport or sgImport)

You can export elements to the following file types using the Menu > File > Print option:

- .html
- .pdf

Note: Exported files are meant for importing elements into the database of a Management Server. They are not meant to be viewed or edited in external applications.
You can import elements from the following file types:

- .csv — You can create a .csv file and import values from it.
- .tsv — You can create a .tsv file and import values from it.
- .zip — You can import elements from a .zip file of elements exported from the SMC Client.

Note: When you export and import elements that have been moved to the Trash, all references to the elements remain valid. An element that has been exported from the Trash remains in the Trash when imported to an environment with several Management Servers.