How to Import/Export Postman Collection Data

Postman is a powerful tool that allows developers to test APs efficiently. One of the key features of Postman is the ability to create and share collections, which are groups of API requests that can be organized together.

However, when it comes to sharing and collaborating on collections, Postman has some limitations that can be frustrating for developers. In this article, we will discuss how to import/export Postman collections and explore alternative method  to fix it, which offer more flexibility without any restrictions on the number of runs.

Postman Collections

Postman collections allow you to organize and group related API requests together. You can create a new collection, give it a name and description, and save individual requests to that collection by clicking the "Save" button. Postman also lets you export all collections as a JSON file and data. The exported file contains all requests, folders, and metadata. You can share these collection files with teammates and import them into other Postman instances. This enables collaboration and reusability.

Overall, Postman collections help structure APIs in a logical way to boost efficiency. The export/import function allows you to easily reuse collections for better productivity.

How to Import Postman Collections

Step 1. Open Postman and navigate to the Collections tab on the left-hand side. Click on the "Import" button located in the top-left corner of the screen.

Step 2. In the "Import File" modal, click on the "Choose Files" button and select the Postman collection file you wish to import.

Step 3. Once the file has been selected, click on the "Import" button to initiate the import process.

Step 4. After the import process is complete, you should see your newly imported collection listed in the Collections tab.

How to Export Postman All Collections

Step 1. Open Postman and navigate to the collection you want to export. Click on the ellipsis (...) icon next to the collection name.

Step 2. Select "Export" from the drop-down menu. Choose the format in which you want to export the collection. Postman supports a variety of formats including JSON, CSV, and YAML.

Step 3. Choose the location on your computer where you want to save the exported file.

Step 4. Click "Save" to export the collection.

Note that if you want to export a large collection in Postman, the export process may take a few minutes to complete. With the exported file, you can easily share your Postman collections with others or back up your collections for future use.

Postman Collection Runner Restriction and Solution

You certainly know that Postman now limits the number of runs for its Free and Basic plans to 25 runs per month, with 250 runs per month for Professional plans, and unlimited runs for Enterprise plans. This change has left many developers feeling frustrated, as they face restrictions on running their local collections.

But there is a solution. If you want to run local collections without any restrictions, we highly recommend Apidog, a powerful testing tool that offers more flexibility and a superior testing framework to Postman. With real-time feedback, comprehensive test reports, and seamless integration with other testing tools, Apidog enables developers to efficiently create, test, and manage APIs without any limitations, resulting in a more efficient and productive development process.

If you think Apidog is more suitable for your reference, here is a detailed guide for you.

Alternative Method: Import Postman Collection in Apidog

Step 1. Log into Apidog, select "Settings" from the left menu, and then select "Import " to import the exported file as displayed in the image.

Step 2. Select "Postman" and upload file from downloads.

Step 3. Upload output data source from Postman. Click “Confirm” as displayed below.

Step 4. After importing your Postman collection into Apidog, you can easily manage it.

You'll have full access to your requests and can modify them as needed. Additionally, requests can be organized into folders, making it easier to navigate through your collection. Overall, Apidog provides a user-friendly interface for managing and organizing collections.

Conclusion

In conclusion, importing and exporting Postman collection data is essential for efficient API testing and management. While Postman offers this functionality, its limitations on collection runs can be frustrating for many users.

Therefore, we recommend switching to Apidog, which not only provides unlimited runs but also allows you to seamlessly import existing Postman collections with just one click. With its advanced testing features and flexible testing framework, Apidog is an ideal alternative to Postman for developers looking for a more powerful and efficient API testing tool.

FAQ：

How do I import a JSON collection into Postman?

Here are the steps to import a JSON collection into Postman:

1. Open Postman and click on the "Import" button in the top left.
2. In the import modal, select "Import File" and choose the JSON collection file from your local file system.
3. Click on the "Import" button to load the collection.
4. The collection will now be available in Postman under "Collections" on the left sidebar. All the requests, folders, etc will be imported.

How to import collection from one workspace to another in Postman?

To import a collection from one workspace to another in Postman:

1. Open the source workspace and find the collection you want to import.
2. Click on the three dots next to the collection name and select "Export".
3. Save the exported JSON file to your local machine.
4. Switch to the destination workspace in Postman.
5. Click on "Import" and select the just exported JSON file.
6. The collection will now be imported into the new workspace.