> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/juanceresa/sift-kg/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# sift export

> Export knowledge graph to various formats

## Overview

Export the knowledge graph to standard formats for use in external tools, analysis platforms, or visualization software.

## Usage

```bash theme={null}
sift export FORMAT [OPTIONS]
```

## Arguments

<ParamField path="format" type="string" required>
  Export format. Supported values:

  * `json` - JSON graph format
  * `graphml` - GraphML XML format (default)
  * `gexf` - GEXF XML format for Gephi
  * `csv` - CSV edge/node lists
  * `sqlite` - SQLite database
</ParamField>

## Options

<ParamField path="--output" type="string">
  Output directory containing graph data. Use `-o` as shorthand.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--to" type="string">
  Export file or directory path. Overrides default location.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--verbose" type="boolean" default="false">
  Enable verbose logging. Use `-v` as shorthand.
</ParamField>

## Supported Formats

### GraphML (Default)

XML-based graph format supported by:

* Cytoscape
* yEd
* Neo4j
* NetworkX

Default output: `{output_dir}/graph.graphml`

### GEXF

Graph Exchange XML Format for:

* Gephi
* Sigma.js
* Graph visualization tools

Default output: `{output_dir}/graph.gexf`

### JSON

Structured JSON with full graph data:

* Nodes with attributes
* Edges with properties
* Metadata

Default output: `{output_dir}/graph.json`

### CSV

Two CSV files:

* `entities.csv` - Node list with attributes
* `relations.csv` - Edge list with properties

Default output: `{output_dir}/csv/`

### SQLite

Relational database with tables:

* `entities` - Entity nodes
* `relations` - Edges
* `attributes` - Entity attributes

Default output: `{output_dir}/graph.sqlite`

## Entity Descriptions

If `entity_descriptions.json` exists (from `sift narrate`), descriptions are included in exports:

```bash theme={null}
sift narrate
sift export graphml
```

Descriptions appear as node attributes in exported formats.

## Examples

### Export to GraphML

```bash theme={null}
sift export graphml
```

Creates `output/graph.graphml`.

### Export to Gephi format

```bash theme={null}
sift export gexf
```

Creates `output/graph.gexf` for Gephi visualization.

### Export to CSV

```bash theme={null}
sift export csv
```

Creates `output/csv/entities.csv` and `output/csv/relations.csv`.

### Custom export path

```bash theme={null}
sift export json --to ./exports/my-graph.json
```

Exports to specified file path.

### Export from custom output directory

```bash theme={null}
sift export graphml --output ./project/results
```

Exports graph from custom output directory.

### Export to SQLite

```bash theme={null}
sift export sqlite --to ./database/knowledge.sqlite
```

Creates SQLite database at specified path.

## Output Summary

Displays:

* Export format
* Entity count
* Relation count
* Output file location(s)

### Example Output

```
Exported! (GRAPHML)
  Entities: 1,234
  Relations: 3,456
  Output: output/graph.graphml
```

For CSV:

```
Exported! (CSV)
  Entities: 1,234
  Relations: 3,456
  Output: output/csv/entities.csv, output/csv/relations.csv
```

## Common Workflows

### Export for Gephi

```bash theme={null}
sift export gexf
# Open graph.gexf in Gephi
```

### Export for Python analysis

```bash theme={null}
sift export json
```

```python theme={null}
import json
with open('output/graph.json') as f:
    graph = json.load(f)
```

### Export for Neo4j

```bash theme={null}
sift export csv
# Import CSVs using Neo4j's LOAD CSV
```

### Export for R/igraph

```bash theme={null}
sift export graphml
```

```r theme={null}
library(igraph)
g <- read_graph("output/graph.graphml", format="graphml")
```

## Error Handling

Exits with error if:

* No `graph_data.json` found (run `sift build` first)
* Unsupported format specified
* Invalid export path

### Format Validation

```bash theme={null}
sift export xyz
# Error: Unsupported format: xyz
# Supported: json, graphml, gexf, csv, sqlite
```

## Common Mistake Prevention

If user types `sift export --to json` (meaning format):

```bash theme={null}
# Incorrectly interpreted as:
sift export graphml --to json

# System corrects to:
sift export json
```

The CLI detects this pattern and auto-corrects.

## See Also

* [view](/api/cli/view) - Interactive visualization
* [narrate](/api/cli/narrate) - Generate descriptions for export
* [build](/api/cli/build) - Build graph for export