Batch Export & Backup

Batch Export allows you to export multiple PerplexityAI conversations to Markdown files in one operation, creating a complete backup of your research history.

Prerequisites

• Extension installed and enabled
• PerplexityAI page must be open in a browser tab
• Stable internet connection

Access Batch Export

Open the extension options page by clicking the extension icon and selecting “Batch Export” or “Options”.

Step 1: Select Export Mode

The extension supports multiple export modes:

All Threads (Default)

Export all conversations from your PerplexityAI history.

Options:

• Latest Page: Export the most recent conversations (approximately 20-30 items)
• All Pages: Export your entire conversation history by reading all pages

Filter by Space

Export conversations from specific PerplexityAI Spaces.

Options:

• Select specific Space: Choose one Space from the dropdown
• Multiple Spaces: Select multiple Spaces for targeted export
• All Spaces: Export conversations from all your Spaces

Filter by Date

Export conversations from a specific date onward.

Options:

• Select start date using date picker
• Only conversations created after this date will be exported
• Perfect for incremental backups

Step 2: Configure Export Settings

Space Subdirectories

Enabled: Automatically organize exported files into subdirectories by Space name

• Example: Research Projects/quantum-computing.md
• Perfect for managing different research topics

Disabled: All files saved to Downloads folder root

• Example: quantum-computing.md

Include Sources

Toggle to include/exclude the Sources section in exported Markdown files.

Enabled: Sources section with reference links included Disabled: Sources section omitted for cleaner files

Include Related Questions

Toggle to include/exclude the Related Questions section in exported Markdown files.

Enabled: Related Questions section included Disabled: Related Questions section omitted

Download User Attachments

Toggle to download files uploaded by users in their questions.

Enabled:

• PDFs, documents, images, etc. downloaded to attachments/ folder
• Obsidian wiki link format [[filename]] used in Markdown
• All research materials kept together

Disabled: Attachments not downloaded

Step 3: Start Export

1. Review your configuration
2. Click “Start Batch Export” button
3. Monitor the progress bar and status messages
4. Wait for export to complete

Important: Keep the options page open during export. Do not close the browser or navigate away.

Smart Retry Mechanism

The extension automatically handles network issues:

• Automatic Retry: Up to 3 retries for failed exports
• Rate Limit Handling: 60-second wait for 429 errors
• Progress Indicators: Shows current Space being processed
• Retry Countdown: Displays wait time during retries

Export Results

After export completes, you’ll see a summary:

• Success Count: Conversations exported successfully
• Failed Count: Conversations that failed to export
• Total Time: Time taken for the entire operation
• Download Location: Where files were saved

Export History

View all past export operations:

1. Scroll down to “Export History” section
2. See details for each export:
   • Timestamp
   • Export mode (All Threads / Space / Date)
   • Success/failed counts
   • Settings used
3. Available actions:
   • View details
   • Delete individual records
   • Clear all history

Performance & Limits

Free Tier:

• 10 exports per batch session
• Quotas reset daily

Subscribed Users:

• Unlimited exports

Performance Tips:

• Average: ~2-3 seconds per conversation
• Keep PerplexityAI tab active during export
• Stable internet connection required
• For large batches (100+), consider exporting in smaller chunks

Organizing Exported Files

With Space Subdirectories Enabled

Files are automatically organized:

Downloads/
├── Research Projects/
│   ├── quantum-computing.md
│   └── ai-ethics.md
├── Work Notes/
│   ├── project-planning.md
│   └── meeting-notes.md
└── attachments/
    ├── research-paper.pdf
    └── diagram.png

Moving to Obsidian Vault

1. Locate exported files in Downloads folder
2. Move entire folder structure to your Obsidian vault
3. Obsidian will automatically recognize the organization
4. Use Obsidian’s graph view to visualize connections

Troubleshooting

“PerplexityAI page required”:

• Open https://www.perplexity.ai/ in a tab
• Refresh the page
• Reopen batch export

“Extension can’t connect”:

• Refresh your PerplexityAI tab
• Wait a few seconds
• Try again

Export stops midway:

• Check internet connection
• Ensure PerplexityAI tab is active
• Refresh PerplexityAI page and retry
• Smart retry will automatically handle temporary issues

Some conversations failed:

• Check export history for error details
• Failed items can be retried individually
• May be due to rate limits or network issues
• Switch to ‘All threads’ mode if rate limited in Space mode

Rate limit errors (429):

• Extension automatically waits 60 seconds and retries
• Switch to ‘All threads’ mode for more reliable export
• Consider exporting in smaller batches

Best Practices

1. Start small: Test with Latest Page first
2. Use Space subdirectories: Better organization in Obsidian
3. Monitor progress: Don’t close browser during export
4. Check results: Review export history after completion
5. Regular backups: Schedule periodic exports to keep archive up to date
6. Incremental exports: Use date filter for syncing only new conversations

FAQ

Q: Can I export while using PerplexityAI? A: Yes, but keep the tab active. Don’t navigate away during export.

Q: How do I export only new conversations? A: Use the date filter to export conversations from your last backup date onward.

Q: Can I cancel a running export? A: Yes, click the “Cancel Export” button. Already-exported files will remain in your Downloads folder.

Q: Do I need to keep the options page open? A: Yes, the export process requires the options page to remain open. Closing it will stop the export.

Q: What happens if I hit rate limits? A: The smart retry mechanism automatically waits 60 seconds and retries up to 3 times. If issues persist, switch to ‘All threads’ mode.

For more help, contact [email protected]