# Import a component or project into BRIX AI

> [HTML Version](cortex-import.html)

To import an individual component or a project containing multiple components, upload a **.zip** file into **BRIX AI**. This allows you to add ready-made components and update existing ones.

You can obtain an import file:

- By [exporting](cortex-export.md) it from your **BRIX AI** server, for example, when moving a component from a test environment to production.

- From a third party by uploading a ready-made component configured by another developer.

- From the official BRIX Store catalog by using pre-built turnkey solutions that include components for BRIX and **BRIX AI**.

For example, this can be an AI-based solution for primary customer request processing. The workspace containing the business process configured to trigger an AI action is uploaded to BRIX, while the project containing the action itself is uploaded to **BRIX AI**. To learn more about these solutions and their installation steps, see [Comprehensive business solutions for BRIX and BRIX AI](cortex-complex-solutions.md).

The import process includes the following steps:

1. [Start the import](#start-import).

2. [Configure the import of dependent components](#import-dependencies).

3. [Configure language models and connections to BRIX](#llms-and-connections).

## Step 1. Start the import

1. If you are uploading an individual component, such as an AI agent, select the [project](cortex-projects.md) to import it into from the drop-down list in the left menu.

2. Depending on the component or project you are uploading, navigate to the relevant page in the left menu of **BRIX AI**: **Agents**, **AI Actions**, **Smart Search**, **Tools**, or **Projects**.

3. Proceed with the import:

- To add a new component or project:

	- If no components of this type have been added to **BRIX AI** yet, click **Import** in the center of the page.

	- If components already exist, click the arrow icon next to the create component button under the page header and select **Import**.

**(cortex-import-1.png)**

- To update a component or project, click the three dots next to it and select **Import**.

4. Select a **.zip** file containing the **BRIX AI** component or project from your computer.

## Step 2. Configure the import of dependent components

If the component being imported has linked components—for example, child agents added to an AI action or smart search connected to it—the **Import Setup** window opens.

1. Configure the import settings for dependent components referenced by the main component, such as child AI agents, smart search projects, and others. To do this, choose an option from the drop-down list next to each component:

- The **+ Create new** option to import the dependent component along with the main one.

- An existing component from the current project.

**(cortex-import-2.png)**

2. For smart search, also configure the import of data sources. You can use the following options:

- **Re-download and index imported sources?** Enable this setting to get the latest version of the data and process it. For example, if the data source is a website, you can re-download all its pages and index them for smart search.

If you want to import sources with data that was downloaded and indexed prior to export, leave this setting disabled. This reduces token consumption and preserves existing index data when no changes are needed.

- **Delete existing sources that could not be matched in the archive?** If you are updating a smart search project that is already added to **BRIX AI**, you can delete old sources and keep only those configured in the imported file. If you leave this option disabled, existing sources in **BRIX AI** are kept even if they are missing from the file.

Once you finish configuring the import settings for dependent components, click **Next**.

## Step 3. Configure language models and connections to BRIX

In this step, configure connections to [language model providers](cortex-llm-providers.md) and [BRIX companies](cortex-connect-tools.md#add-system-connections), as they are not transferred along with the component or project.

In the **Configure Connections** window that opens, the original provider names and BRIX connections are displayed for each imported component. Select the corresponding settings from the current **BRIX AI** server.

You can skip this step and specify these values later in the component settings. Note that components will not function correctly without specified language model providers and BRIX connections.

After completing the configuration, click **Continue** and wait for the import to finish.

**(cortex-import-3.png)**

The **BRIX AI** component or project is added to the list on the corresponding page. If it already existed, its contents and settings are updated.

To view the contents of the imported project, [open it](cortex-projects.md#open-project).