How to import from a file ?
There are two ways :
- Using any file browser, click the compatible file to launch it with COOKmate
- Copy your file on your device in the backup directory of COOKmate and use the import menu (File Import/Export). You can find or modify the backup directory in the settings of the app
Compatible formats
COOKmate mcb format, xml format, Master Meal (.mmf, .mm, .txt), MasterCook (.mz2, .mx2, .mxp, .txt), LivingCookBook (.fdx), RezKonv (.rk, .txt), CookML(.cml), CookBook Wizard Recipe Software (.txt), Springpad (.json), Handy CookBook iOS app (.hcb) and Digital Recipe Sidekick android app (.xml)
Meal Master recipe format is one of the most common recipe format, you should find many compatible software on your PC :
Windows : NYC, RezKonv, LivingCookBook, …
Linux : Krecipe
What are mcb and xml format ?
.mcb files are complete backup of one or more recipes with pictures, perfect for sharing or transfering recipes. .mcb files are ZIP archives.
.xml files are for a local backup of one or more recipes, it doesn’t not include pictures. You can find a description of our xml schema here : COOKmate XML Schema
How to import recipes from a file ?
You should save your compatible recipe file (.xml, .mmf, .mm, .txt, .rk) on your phone SD card in the COOKmate backup directory.
Then choose the import mode and use import button on the line of your file.
How to export recipes to a file ?
In the action bar, select the destination where you want to send your file (SD Card or DropBox), and use the export button.
Select recipes that you want to export and click export button.
Choose the file format and the file name.
Your file will be saved on your phone SD card in the COOKmate backup directory, or on your dropbox account.
Where is the COOKmate backup directory
You can find or modify the backup directory in the settings of the app.
The default backup directory is located on your emulated sdcard. Depending on the device it may be /sdcard/MyCookBook/ or /mnt/sdcard/MyCookBook or /storage/sdcard0/MyCookBook or…
Known issues
- Krecipe only support UTF8 encoding, mmf and rv files are exported in iso-8859-1. To avoid trouble with special characters switch to UTF-8 mode in the preferences.
- Others file format than COOKmate are not well fitted to COOKmate, you will loose some informations like your comments, recipe URL or cooking time.
208 thoughts on “File import/export (documentation for Android)”
Hi. I love this app and the timer app that it is tied to! I imported all of my MasterCook .MXP files just fine…EXCEPT my notes (on the “Notes” tab in Mastercook) did not import. Might there be a solution to this? I would hate to have to recreate my notes – there are many many. Thanks! – Reber Clark
Hi,
Notes are currently not imported… But we could import them in My CookBook in the comments. We will have a look
Being able to import notes from Mastercook with your new update is fantastic! Thank you for responding so quickly with this update. It has made a major difference in my use of your app!
I tried to import from MasterCook using the .mxp file stated above. My URL are all missing and my cooking times. I did see where you stated that this sometimes happens. Is there a way to fix it without having to enter the URL and cook time for each one individually?
Could you send us by email an example of .mxp file which contains the URL and cook time? In the specification we have found it is not explained how these information are stored. Thx
I’m sorry I did not see this response 🙂 Do you still need an example of an .mxp file that contains URL and cook time information? Or has this been fixed? I was about to import a large MC cookbook and didn’t know if this was fixed. Thanks.
Yes please, send us an example. That was not fixed…
I sent the files requested. Thanks again!
I really love your app. I just wish you would update this app with a user name and password. That way we can get our recipes from any device and never fear losing all the r. Recipes that I worked so hard to add. I’m a mother of 2 toddlers and it very hard for me to try to keep my recipes on both my tablet and my phone. A lot of my recipes are old and can’t be found online which means I have to manually add them. Please help me out. Thank you. 🙂
Yes it would be a great improvement to have a web version of my cookbook. Maybe next year!
I think that your app has great potential BUT I have imported my mastercook file and as stated in the upgrades lots of my ingredients are missing. I have imported them perfectly in other cooking apps but I like the way yours lookssand searches better. Is it to do with my file size My y mastercook file has over 500 recipes in it?
The file size should not be the issue, it only increase the time of import (sometimes a bit long). Unfortunately we cannot state about your issue without having a look at your recipe file.
I ended up exporting all free version recipes to the SD card (from the free version), then going to the Pro version and importing all.
Great, you found the solution, you can also synchronize your recipes using Dropbox backup/sync feature.
I just upgraded to the Pro version. Unfortunately my recipes didn’t automatically import from the free version. I’ve not found instructions to import them in bulk. Fortunately the free version and its recipes wasn’t deleted!
I tried to export from MasterCook 11 using the MC4 format as recommended. The file does import but letters with accents (é, è, ê, à) are not coming across properly. I tried both the ISO and UTF-8 settings in parameters and it did not work. Any suggestions to make the accents go through properly?
Could you send us your file via email (androidcookbook@gmail.com) , we will try.
Thanks
Forgot to say that the last try is readable by Color Note as an MMMMM text. A bit all over the place, but definitely readable.
Don’t forget to import your file using the “import” button as explained at the beginning of the page
OK, I tried that, but when I opened my recipes, there was nothing. Deleted that file and downloaded the recipe as .mx2 and copied it from downloads to My Cookbook folder, but it does not show up in my recipes either.
I exported a recipe from Macgourmet as MMA to my Minus account. I imported the file to my phone, S.E. Xperia Arc. Using File Manager I found the file in downloads and unzipped it. Now, how do I get the file from there to My Cookbook?
We don’t know what is a MMA file. If it is the same as MMF, try to rename your file with a .mmf extension, and copy it in the directory sdcard/MyCookBook.