Suitcase is a powerful tool for transferring items from one Slate database to another.

Each Suitcase is given a unique ID. You can copy and paste that ID into the Suitcase Import tool to copy its contents into the desired Slate database. You can find the Suitcase Import tool in Database → Suitcase Import.

With Suitcase, you can compile and transfer all the functional elements of an entire process in one complete package.

This article provides an overview of the tool and the best practices for using it efficiently.  For specific information on importing Suitcase items, see Suitcase Import.

With Suitcase, you can easily share a number of Slate objects between databases, including:

• Application configurations

• Application logic

• Bots

• Components

• (🏔️ Summit 2025 Feature) Datasets

• Deliver mailings

• Files

• Forms, including form communications, form logic, and form rules

• Message mailings

• Message templates

• Portals

• Queries

• Reports

• Rules

• Slate Scholar Classroom courses

• Source formats

• Trips

Creating a Suitcase

👤 Required Role: Administrator (All Access)

To create a new Suitcase:

1. Select Database from the main navigation, then select Suitcase under Import and Data Processing.

2. Click New Suitcase.

3. Enter a name. The author is set automatically to the current user logged into Slate.

Adding Items to a Suitcase

Click Add Item. A pop-up appears with two tabs, Choose Item to Add and Review Dependencies to Include.

Within the Choose Item to Add tab, the Select Item Type menu lets you select from a list. Selecting an item type generates a list of available options. Select your item directly from the list, or use the search bar to filter your results.

Import templates first, then their individual items

The order in which items are added to your Suitcase matters. If adding an Event and a Template to your Suitcase; make sure to add the Template before you add the associated event.

Can’t import objects where the base doesn’t exist

Query and report bases must exist in the database into which you want to import a Suitcase. Form-Specific Form Response bases are also database-specific. We recommend using the “All forms and events” setting for Form Response bases instead.

Review dependencies

Selecting an item moves you automatically to the Review Dependencies to Include tab, which breaks the item you selected into its constituent parts (in this example, a form, and a follow-up communication).

Expanding the form in this example, we see the form fields and the form message that follows submission. Deselect any items you wish to exclude from the Suitcase.

Click Add Item at the bottom to add the item to Suitcase; it appears as a new item in the Items tab. Click the arrow next to its name to view the nested types contained in.

Fields and prompts

The Fields and Prompts tabs include any field IDs and prompt names contained in the added items.

Clicking the different column headings in the Fields tab toggles the sort between ascending and descending alphabetical order.

In the Prompts tab, clicking the arrow next to each prompt key displays its associated values. Click the prompt's name to open the Edit Prompt Value window, which lets you deselect any prompt items to exclude from your Suitcase.

Editing Suitcase Properties

Click the Edit button at the upper right, and a pop-up appears. In this pop-up, you can:

• Change the Suitcase's internal name;

• By selecting Is Shared, generate a Suitcase ID to share the Suitcase with specific individuals as needed;

• Set an Expiration Date that determines the length of time the Suitcase ID remains active; and

• Add comments

Sharing a Suitcase

To share a Suitcase:

1. Click the Edit button in the upper right corner.

2. Select the Is Shared option in the pop-up.

3. This will generate the Suitcase ID.

4. Copy the Suitcase ID by clicking on the copy icon.

5. Share the copy of the Suitcase ID with specific individuals as needed.

📝 Note: The generated Suitcase ID references items contained within as they existed, either at the time they were added to the Suitcase, or the last time that the Suitcase content was updated using the Update Content button. This date is reflected in the As Of column.

Merge/Replace with Suitcase

(⛰️ Summit 2025 Feature) The Merge/Replace feature in the Suitcase tool lets you update forms from Test to Production without deleting and reimporting them. This works by matching the unique ID (GUID) of your form in Test and Production to identify forms that can be merged or replaced.

1. In the test environment, navigate to Database → Suitcase

2. Add updated form to a new Suitcase following the steps above, marking the new Suitcase as Shared

3. Copy that Suitcase ID

4. In the production environment, navigate to Database → Suitcase Import

5. Paste the Suitcase ID from the test environment and select Import

6. In the Import Suitcase popup screen, select Merge with Existing as the Action

7. Select Import

After you import the suitcase, the form in Production will show your changes.