Import and export flows

A flow can be saved as a JSON file and imported again. This is useful for:

• Backups before a big change.
• Moving a flow between websites (workspaces).
• Starting from a ready-made flow, like the sample below.

Export a flow

Open Chatbot, open the flow's menu and choose Export. You'll get a file named like welcome-triage.retrochat-flow.json.

Import a flow

1. Open Chatbot and click Import.
2. Choose a .json file and give the flow a name.
3. RetroChat checks the file before importing. Anything it can't use is left out, and any problems are listed so you can fix them in the builder.
4. Review the flow, press Test, then Activate it when you're ready.

Importing never replaces your existing flows: it always creates a new one.

Sample flow

This is a complete, working flow for a fictional bike shop, Northwind Bikes:

1. It greets the visitor and offers four choices.
2. Buying a bike: it asks for a budget. Big budgets go to a specialist (after taking an email); everyone else gets a tip that repeats their budget back.
3. Booking a service: it takes an email and ends with a confirmation.
4. A quick question: an AI answer step replies from your knowledge base, and hands off if it isn't sure.
5. Talk to a person: it checks agents_online, so it only promises a quick reply when someone is actually online.

Download the sample flow, or copy it from here:

{
  "format": "retrochat-flow",
  "version": 1,
  "name": "Northwind Bikes: sales and service",
  "exported_at": "2026-10-06T09:00:00.000Z",
  "graph": {
    "start": "welcome",
    "steps": [
      {
        "id": "welcome",
        "type": "message",
        "text": "Hi! 👋 Welcome to Northwind Bikes.",
        "next": "topic"
      },
      {
        "id": "topic",
        "type": "question",
        "text": "What can we help you with today?",
        "input": "choice",
        "variable": "topic",
        "options": [
          { "id": "o_buy", "label": "Buying a bike", "next": "budget" },
          { "id": "o_service", "label": "Booking a service", "next": "service_email" },
          { "id": "o_question", "label": "A quick question", "next": "ask_ai" },
          { "id": "o_person", "label": "Talk to a person", "next": "who_is_online" }
        ],
        "next": null
      },
      {
        "id": "budget",
        "type": "question",
        "text": "Great choice! Roughly what's your budget in US dollars?",
        "input": "number",
        "variable": "budget",
        "options": [],
        "next": "budget_check"
      },
      {
        "id": "budget_check",
        "type": "condition",
        "rules": [
          { "id": "r_premium", "variable": "budget", "op": "gt", "value": "1500", "next": "premium_email" }
        ],
        "else_next": "starter_tip"
      },
      {
        "id": "premium_email",
        "type": "question",
        "text": "Our specialists will help you choose the right model. What's the best email to reach you?",
        "input": "email",
        "variable": "email",
        "options": [],
        "next": "who_is_online"
      },
      {
        "id": "starter_tip",
        "type": "message",
        "text": "Good news: plenty of our city and hybrid bikes fit a budget of ${{budget}}, and every bike comes with a free first service.",
        "next": "anything_else"
      },
      {
        "id": "service_email",
        "type": "question",
        "text": "Happy to book you in. What's your email so we can confirm a time?",
        "input": "email",
        "variable": "email",
        "options": [],
        "next": "service_done"
      },
      {
        "id": "service_done",
        "type": "end",
        "text": "Thanks! We'll email {{email}} with the next free service slots."
      },
      {
        "id": "ask_ai",
        "type": "ai",
        "text": "Ask me anything about our bikes, delivery or servicing.",
        "instructions": "Keep answers short and friendly. Suggest a test ride when it fits.",
        "max_turns": 3,
        "on_unsure": "handoff",
        "next": "anything_else"
      },
      {
        "id": "anything_else",
        "type": "question",
        "text": "Is there anything else I can help with?",
        "input": "choice",
        "variable": "more",
        "options": [
          { "id": "o_yes", "label": "Yes, talk to a person", "next": "who_is_online" },
          { "id": "o_no", "label": "No, that's all", "next": "bye" }
        ],
        "next": null
      },
      {
        "id": "who_is_online",
        "type": "condition",
        "rules": [
          { "id": "r_online", "variable": "agents_online", "op": "equals", "value": "true", "next": "to_team" }
        ],
        "else_next": "offline"
      },
      {
        "id": "to_team",
        "type": "handoff",
        "text": "Connecting you with our team now. It usually takes a minute or two."
      },
      {
        "id": "offline",
        "type": "handoff",
        "text": "Our team is offline right now. Leave your question here and we'll reply by email first thing tomorrow."
      },
      {
        "id": "bye",
        "type": "end",
        "text": "Thanks for stopping by. Ride safe! 🚲"
      }
    ]
  }
}

The AI answer step needs the Autopilot plan, or AI replies left in your trial. Without them, the step hands the visitor to your team instead.

File format

A flow file is a JSON object:

Every step has a unique id and a type. Steps link to each other by id, and null means "nowhere": the flow stops there.

The op values are listed in Variables and conditions. In any text, {{variable}} is replaced with the visitor's answer.

RetroChat also accepts a bare { "start": …, "steps": [ … ] } object without the outer wrapper.