Saving projects and reopening

In the current Code Lab workspace, the reliable preservation flow is based on export and import.

What preservation looks like today

The workspace exposes controls for:

• exporting the current workspace
• importing a previously exported workspace file
• clearing the current workspace when you want to start over

That means a learner can still keep work, even if the flow does not behave like a cloud notebook.

How to save your current workspace

1. Finish the changes you want to keep.
2. Find the export control in the top action area.
3. Export the workspace.
4. Keep the downloaded XML file somewhere you can find later.

The current export flow gives you a downloadable workspace file, so think of it as your safest checkpoint before experimentation.

How to reopen that work later

1. Open Code Lab again.
2. Use the import control in the top action area.
3. Choose the XML file you exported earlier.
4. Wait for the workspace to load the saved content.

After importing, check that:

• the expected blocks returned
• the widgets you depend on are present
• the workspace still matches the version you meant to reopen

Important caution with templates

Loading a template replaces the current workspace. Export your current work first if you do not want to lose it.

The same caution applies to Clear All. Treat it as a reset, not a harmless visual cleanup.

Good beginner habit

Export before big experiments, especially before:

• loading a different template
• clearing the workspace
• making large structural changes you may want to undo later

That simple habit protects beginner progress.