What exporting a Gearswap equipped set does

Exporting a Gearswap equipped set saves the gear you have currently equipped in Final Fantasy XI to a text file on your computer. This file contains the exact names and quantities of every piece of armor, weapon, and accessory you are wearing, along with the set name you gave it. You can then share this file with other players, import it back into Gearswap after reinstalling it, or use it as a backup if something goes wrong with your setup.

The export happens through Gearswap's built-in command system. You type a single command in the game chat, and Gearswap writes the file to a specific folder on your hard drive. The file is plain text, so you can open it in Notepad or any text editor to see exactly what was saved.

Key Takeaways

  • Export a set by typing //gs export [setname] in game chat, where [setname] is the exact name of the set you want to save.
  • The exported file appears in your Gearswap data folder, usually at Windower\addons\Gearswap\data\[character name].
  • Exported files are plain text and can be opened, edited, or shared with other players using any text editor.
  • You must have the set currently equipped or loaded in Gearswap before exporting it, or the command will not work.

How to find and use the export command

Open Final Fantasy XI and make sure Gearswap is loaded. Type //gs export [setname] into the chat box, replacing [setname] with the exact name of the set you want to export. For example, if your set is called "Melee", you would type //gs export Melee. Press Enter.

If the command works, you will see a message in the chat confirming the export. If you see an error, the most common reason is that the set name does not match exactly — Gearswap is case-sensitive, so "melee" and "Melee" are different. Check your Gearswap lua file to see the exact spelling of the set you want to export.

Where the exported file is saved

The exported file goes into your Gearswap data folder. The path is usually Windower\addons\Gearswap\data\[character name], where [character name] is the name of the character you exported from. If you installed Windower in a custom location, navigate to that folder first, then follow the path above.

The file itself is named after the set you exported. If you exported a set called "Melee", the file will be called Melee.lua. You can open it with Notepad, Notepad++, or any text editor to see the contents. Do not edit the file unless you know what you are doing — incorrect syntax will cause Gearswap to fail when you try to import it.

Exporting sets you have not yet equipped

If you want to export a set that is currently in your Gearswap lua file but not equipped, you must load it first. Type //gs equip [setname] to load the set into Gearswap, then use the export command. Gearswap will only export what it currently has loaded, not every set defined in your lua file.

If the set does not load, check that all the gear in that set actually exists in your inventory or is available to you. Gearswap will not load a set if any piece of gear is missing or if you do not have the job level required to equip it.

Sharing exported sets with other players

Once you have exported a set, you can send the .lua file to another player. They can place it in their own Gearswap data folder and import it using //gs import [setname]. The set will load into their Gearswap, but only if they own all the gear listed in the file.

If another player sends you an exported set, place the .lua file in your Gearswap data folder at Windower\addons\Gearswap\data\[your character name]. Then type //gs import [setname] in game chat. If you are missing any gear, Gearswap will tell you which pieces are not in your inventory.

Troubleshooting export problems

If the export command does not work, first check that Gearswap is actually loaded. Type //gs status to see if Gearswap is running. If it is not, load it with //lua load gearswap.

If Gearswap is loaded but the export still fails, make sure the set name matches exactly. Open your Gearswap lua file and find the exact spelling and capitalization of the set you want to export. Copy and paste the name into the export command to avoid typos. If you still get an error, try equipping the set first with //gs equip [setname], then export it.

If the file is not appearing in your data folder, check that you are looking in the right place. Navigate to Windower\addons\Gearswap\data and look for a folder with your character's name. If that folder does not exist, create it manually, then try the export again.

Backing up your sets with export

Exporting all your sets is a good way to back them up before you reinstall Gearswap or update Windower. Export each set one at a time, then copy all the .lua files to a folder on your desktop or cloud storage. If something goes wrong later, you can copy them back into your Gearswap data folder and import them.

You can also use exported sets as a template if you want to create a similar set for a different job. Export the set, open the file in a text editor, change the gear names to match what you own on the other job, save it with a new name, and import it. This is faster than building the set from scratch in Gearswap.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I export multiple sets at once?

No, you must export one set at a time using the //gs export [setname] command. If you have many sets, you will need to run the command once for each set. There is no batch export feature in Gearswap.

What happens if I edit an exported .lua file?

If you edit the file correctly, you can change gear names, add or remove pieces, or modify the set in other ways. However, if you make a syntax error, Gearswap will not be able to import the file. Only edit the file if you are comfortable with lua syntax, or keep a backup of the original.

Can I export a set from one character and use it on another?

Yes, if the other character owns the same gear. Export the set from the first character, then place the file in the second character's Gearswap data folder and import it. If the second character is missing any gear, Gearswap will tell you which pieces are not available.

Where do I find my Windower folder if I do not remember where I installed it?

Right-click the Windower shortcut on your desktop or in your Start menu and select "Open file location". This will take you to the Windower folder. From there, navigate to addons\Gearswap\data to find your character folders.

Can I export a set if I am not currently logged in to that character?

No, you must be logged in to the character and have Gearswap loaded in the game. You cannot export sets from outside the game or for characters you are not currently playing.